3.5

Release data:

Circular – Moon Pool
CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Ultimae Records, 2014

With “Moon Pool”, Circular (aka Bjarte Andreassen and Jostein Dahl Gjelsvik) have delivered another fine chilled-out ambient journey to please the ears.

By the means of contemporary electronics and cross-over ingredients, they’ve molded a spacious sonic environment of beatless soundscapes alongside more spiced down-tempo elements, smooth sequencer-lines and environmental noises. “Imbrium”, done together with Aes Dana, is the single more active piece on the release where some -in my view impropriate- drums ‘n bass elements fly by.

I personally prefer the lush, introspective-oriented sound creations filling the rest of the album. This (at times quite watery sounding) outcome is immersed in the gracious magical touch heard in Scandinavian ambient music, but which is still very hard to pinpoint any further. Maybe it has to do with the subtle ambient/electronic orchestrations, a gentle current of minimalism and a fine ear to detail which all make “Moon Pool” a very enjoyable and cinematic listening experience.
Use a good pair of headphones if you want to experience this meticulously produced and mastered recording.

Website: www.circular.no

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