Release data:

Darshan Ambient – Skyful of Bliss
CD-R, Private Release, 1998

“Skyful of Bliss” is one of the early recordings by Michael Allison, aka Darshan, before he would end up on James Johnson’s Zero Music label. The release contains three long pieces and one short composition of ambient music, all made between 1996 and 1998.

The almost 22-minute title track takes off with graceful, heavenly, soft-breathing and meditative-oriented soundscapes that glide and evolve slowly. In a way it’s quite reminiscent of Robert-Haig Coxon or Constance Demby. The brief “A Fragant Snow” addresses a lighter tone and melody along a gentle way of movement while the bit out of place “Infinite Space” melts minimalist-floating textures with a groovy bass line and deep beats during its 20-minute duration. The blissful ambient environs with a mournful/melancholic touch (as heard on Darhan’s later releases) surfaces on the closing piece “Gently, Gently Away”.

Website: www.darshanambient.com/home.html

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