Release data:

Forrest Fang – Phantoms
CD, Projekt Records, 2009

A couple of years ago, I was impressed by the album Forrest Fang made with Carl Weingarten, so it’s nice to see him now show up with a solo album, which took him eight years to finish.

Building on gamelan-influenced textures, “Phantoms” offers a multi-layered tapestry of rich, transparent atmospheres of fluid string soundscapes to which a wide variety of acoustic rhythms and instruments are added.
More than once, the sonic outcome has a strong hypnotizing effect, especially on the soft waves of “Little Angklung” (with its gorgeous electric violin) or the elevating, minimal textural realms of “A walk through the Clouds” with dreamy, mysterious undercurrents.

The mystic realms continue beautifully on the 23-minute ambient suite “The Hallucinations of Hung Tung” (inspired by the otherworldly paintings of a Taiwanese fisherman and outsider artist), of which the deep freeform atmospheres, mesmerizing gamelan sounds and assorted, multicoloured percussion make this track the highlight of the album.

The meandering, softly cascading soundwave textures return on the contemplative, 9-minute “Ebb of Winter”, finding a nicely rendered ending in the minimal shapes of “Float”.

“Phantoms” is a very fine release full of great in-depth atmospheres that any fan of Robert Rich, David Parsons or Steve Roach should absorb.
The excellent cd-mastering was done by Robert Rich.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/Forrest-Fang

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