3.5

Release data:

Airwaves – Second Shift
CD, Opcion Sonica, 1995

This album is the second and (last?) release by Oscar Menzel, aka Airwaves. Having enjoyed his first one, “Ambient Tracks”, it’s nice to hear Mr Menzel has further explored his own style on this successor, this time blending his atmospheric, slightly minimalist style with a sparse dose of rhythms.

This does not immediately apply for “Tantric Flesh Dream”, a slow drifting and rather mystic soundscape. Smooth sequencing and light rhythms open the spacy “The Garden Trellis”. Warm and spacy synth layers fill the free form “Other Stars”, later on shifting to more darker shades and deep space territory.

“Waveforms” is a happy, sequenced and melodic tune, but nothing special, while deep, cosmic textures return on the slightly sequenced “Like floating in Space”. Here, the music of Alpha Wave Movement isn’t that far away.
Soft and foggy Gregorian chants accompany the slightly melodic and well-done ambient excursion “Exits into Daylight”.

The closing 10-minute piece “The Deep Ones” is the most rhythmic and sequenced ambient track found here, featuring some fx’s and a cosmic feel towards the end.

All in all, “Second Shift” makes quite a tasty ambient recording, which unfortunately seems hard to find, as the label has discontinued it since quite some time.

Website: carpesonum.bandcamp.com/album/biomechanical

You can see what reviews I have done of this artist on the Airwaves artist page