Release data: Mario Schönwälder – Traum & Trauma CD, Manikin Records, 2015 Berlin-based Mario Schönwälder, well-known as synthesist of the trio BKS, hereby present a new solo album after a lengthy pause of 19 years. I would rather call the outcome an Ep, as it contains only 40 minutes of music. The two-track “Traum & Trauma” though doesn’t stray that…
Release data: Edgar Froese – Pinnacles LP/CD, Virgin Records, 1983 Being fascinated by the outback found in Western Australia, Edgar Froese named his fifth album after strange stone figures found in Western Australia, north of Perth. Sonically, “Pinnacles” lines up nicely next to TD’s output made at the beginning of the ’80’s (“Hyperborea”, “White Eagle”), and the sampling techniques, sequencing…
Release data: The Grey Encounter – State of Decay CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2015 Since 2013, The Grey Encounter (aka UK synthesists Xan Alexander and Phil Booth) starting building a nice collection of gloomy, spacious and dark sound collages, only suitable for the experienced ambient listener. The 75-minute “State of Decay” is dominated by strings of post-apocalyptic, dense, desolate and…
Release data: Stefan Erbe – 2Club Genetica CD, Erbe Music, 2015 This is an album for all who love contemporary electronic music incorporating slight influences of dance, chill-out and techno. Wandering through the vibrant and fresh 71-minute “2Club Genetica” (a follow-up to the 2008 “Club Genetica” release), I was reminded quite often of Schiller’s instrumental tracks. Mr Erbe’s music though…
Release data: Pyramaxx – Distance CD, Private Release, 2015 Well, what a surprise to see this joined project-release of Axel Stupplich and Andreas Morsch (aka Pyramid Peak) accompanied by Max Schiefele (Maxxess). All are known as respected, successful and talented Germany musicians for many years within and outside the EM-genre. “Distance”, referring to the traveling distance between the composers, sees…
Release data: Eddie Jobson – Theme of Secrets LP/CD, Private Music, 1985 When we have a look at ’80’s synth albums, Eddie Jobson’s “Theme of Secret” is a most interesting and creative one. The 40-minute release, composed solely on the polyphonic Synclavier synthesizer offering lots sampling techniques to the user, sees Mr Jobson exercise his great playing skills and explore…
Release data: Martin Nonstatic – Granite CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Ultimae Records, 2015 I’ve encountered the name of German producer, sound designer and composer Martin Nonstatic (aka Martin van Rossum) on various compilation albums previously, but this is the first full-length release I get my teeth into. “Granite” is a 70-minute dub/down-tempo ambient album inspired by natural rock formations, featuring lots of…
Release data: Harold Budd – The Room LP/CD, Atlantic Records, 2000 The core inspiration for this quiet album was drawn from a painting of the same name LA-composer Harold Budd encountered in the late ’80s. “The Room” eventually ended up as a base and the start to explore the various aspects of what rooms can actually be or become, which…
Release data: Harold Budd – Lovely Thunder LP/CD, Editions Eg Records, 1986 Mr Budd’s aim to make his music as beautiful as possible at every moment is a firm understatement when it comes to the music found on this amazing recording, which lines up nicely to his collaborative effort “The Pearl” with soul mate Brian Eno. Composer and sound engineer…
Release data: Steve Roach – Ultra Immersion Concert CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Timeroom Digital, 2007/2013 In the summer of 2007, Steve Roach performed a 12-hour nocturnal concert at his Epona Range for a selected audience. Of the full set, a 2,5 hour montage ended up on two cd-r’s (limited to 50 copies) that were given to the people who attended as part…
Release data: Gert Emmens – Triza CD, Groove Unlimited, 2015 Telling sonic narratives is something Gert Emmens is getting very good at when you look back on his output in recent years. The 73-minute “Triza” travels through a dark, mysterious and post-apocalyptic world, aptly depicted on the cd cover. Moreover, it deals with suffering in different aspects, which is also…
Release data: Simon Lomax – 5 Textures CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Council of Nine, 2015 Dissolving and immersion in the beckoning silence of a foggy world would be an appropriate description in a nutshell for Simon Lomax’s release “5 Textures”. The spacious, gentle evolving glide of emotive, cinematic-flavored and at times slightly blurred soundscapes on each of the six tracks merges the…
Release data: Erik Seifert & Josef Steinbüchel – Softlock USB-STICK, Pleasure Sound Music, 2014 “Softlock” a limited edition USB-stick (embedded in a card in the size of a credit card) which premiered at the Schallwelle Award on March 29th 2014 in Planetarium Bochum, Germany, where an outtake from the album was performed live in concert. Next to 90 minutes of…
Release data: Kitaro – Ten Kai/Astral Trip/Astral Voyage P/CD, Zen/Polydor/Geffen Records, 1978 After having joined the progressive Far East Family band, Kitaro decided to pursue a solo trip, starting with the spiritual, heavily synth-based “Ten Kai/Astral Voyage”. The latter proves a rather weird and trippy release featuring both calm and more dramatic passages that not yet connect to the stronger…
Release data: Jonn Serrie – The Stargazer’s Journey CD, New World Music, 2003 After too many cheesy, chill-out, feel-good and profound romantic albums I gave up hope Jonn Serrie would ever be able to release any new mature space music. Well,the 60-minute “The Stargazer’s Journey” is exactly that, a full-length release of traditional cosmic music with no weak spot. Words…
Release data: [‘ramp] Doombient.Two – A Declaration of War CD-R, Private Release, 2006 When we talk about menacing, intense and gloomy ambient music, the output of the German project [‘ramp] has always something special to offer. In this case it’s a live-set Stephen Parsick and Frank Makowski played at the German Emil EM festival 2003, accomplished under very hard circumstances…
Release data: The Circular Ruins – Confluence CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, In the Bubble Music/DataObscura, 2002 The Circular Ruins is one of the four projects that Canadian ambient musician Anthony Paul Kerby -alias APK- is involved with, yet The Circular Ruins seems to be the most important of them all. “Confluence” dates from June 2001 and was originally only available in…
Release data: Deborah Martin – Eye of the Wizard CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2015 More than once I’ve felt US-composer Deborah Martin was the female sonic equivalent of Austrian multi-instrumentalist Gandalf in a certain way. “The Eye of the Wizard”, an epic musical odyssey through a realm of wizardry and sacred alchemy, weaves an enchanting tapestry of sounds of…
Release data: Urenga – Pacific Depths CD, Gterma, 2015 This album, assembled from various recordings made between 2011 and 2013, extends on Urenga’s album “Mu”. Andras Kiss delivers another dedication to the beauty and wonders of the water element while expressing the exotic nature of the vast Pacific Ocean. The 73-minute spacious sounding and continuous outcome (including the two lengthy…
Release data: Michael Padilla – Atmospheres (Ambient Works Vol. One) LP + CD, Fruits de Mer Records/Strange Fish, 2016 What I got here is a beautiful designed 40-minute ambient album (strictly limited to 400 copies) by one Michael Padilla, who seems to be known as front man of various psych rock and pop bands. Released on a vinyl picture disc…
Release data: Uni Sphere – EndLess EndeavoR CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2015 What to expect from two accomplished musicians in their own right who decide to collaborate in a new project? Well, combining the sonic pathways of Eric van der Heijden and René Splinter under the Uni Sphere moniker has led to an emotive, sparkling and evocative outcome on their…
Release data: Skare – Solstice City CD, Glacial Movements, 2009 Assorted field recordings, found sounds and treated/manipulated instruments were the means used to create the narrative outcome of the 50 minute “Soltice City”, a project by Swedish trio Mathias Josefson, Fredrik Olofsson and Per Åhlund. The minimalist ambientdrone soundscapes delivered on the three tracks was inspired by their fascination of…
Release data: Mark Shreeve – Nocturne CD, Sonic Images, 1995 “Nocturne” -released on Chris Franke’s Sonic Images label- is the last solo album by British synthesist Mark Shreeve he would out out under his own name. Just a year after, he founded the notable band Redshift. The 15 tracks/65-minute “Nocturne” serves a varied meal: it ranges from melodic-, energetic, up-tempo…
Release data: Fryderyk Jona – Wind Experience CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Synth Musik, 2014 Fryderyk Jona is a young Polish synthesist now living in Mainz, Germany, who hereby presents his debut album of contemporary, Berlin School-oriented electronic music. On the 56-minute overall mellow sounding “Wind Experience”, Mr Jona pairs smooth pulsating and sequenced music with textural spheres. Already on the opening (title)…
Release data: Netherworld – Alchemy of Ice CD, Glacial Movements, 2013 Here’s another piece of well-rendered arctic ambient, a 43-minute sonic endeavour created by Alessandro Tedeschi (also founder of the Italian label Glacial Movements). According the composer, the conceptual elements highlighted in this recording are Alchemy – a view from the metaphysical point in both spiritual development and liberation –…
Release data: As if – Havet CD, Gterma, 2015 “Havet” is the second full-length album by musician/visual artist Kenneth Werner (Jensen) on Johan Rehn’s Gterma label. The almost 80-minute outcome, melting dubtechno and ambient moods, was highly inspired by the vast ocean that surrounds the composer’s home island of Bornholm along the passing of the various seasons in the southern…
Release data: Redshift – Life to come CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Distant Sun Production, 2015 It’s been a while since the previous release, but this new chapter of the Redshift discography has been worth the wait. Fans still don’t need to worry as the big and fat sounding modular machinery again was treated by the very capable Mark Shreeve, who seems to…
Release data: Jonn Serrie – Planetary Chronicles, Volume 1 CD, Miramar, 1992 This album is the first of two releases filled with a selection of Jonn’s earlier (commissioned) planetarium works along library music, all accomplished using analogue gear only. Such a recording gave Jonn an opportunity to put forth his deepest ideas about space and to experiment with new textures,…
Release data: Jonn Serrie – Planetary Chronicles, Volume 2 CD, Miramar, 1994 As Jonn had more earlier planetarium work and library music shelved, I’m glad he has been given the free hand to collect and release a second batch focusing on his deep space excursions only. Coming with a much nicer cover than the first volume, the spatial outcome features…
Release data: Jonn Serrie – Tingri CD, Miramar, 1990 On his third album “Tingri”, situated in a remote village in Tibet, composer Jonn Serrie started infusing spiritual, feel-good romantic flavors into parts of his music. While still sounding spacious and sticking to his signature sound, the album turns out far less “space” overall. On his later album “Midsummer Century”, Mr…
Release data: Bob Holroyd – Blueprint CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Real World Works, 2015 What I got here is a 46-minute album with 14 cyclical ambient tracks, in part inspired by work in therapy, and in part by the creative process itself. Moreover, each piece on Bob Holroyd’s “Blueprint” explores the relationship between repetition and progression where the music develops over time,…
Release data: Jonn Serrie – Ixlandia CD, Miramar, 1995 “Ixlandia” is the sister album of “Midsummer Century”, following the poignant sense of romance of the previous album while its melodic, song-written music describes the environments and places of the classified story. Jonn again used soft romantic images and traditional songwriting techniques which were more common to everyone while introducing the…
Release data: Jonn Serrie – Midsummer Century CD, Miramar, 1993 On this emotive recording, Jonn Serrie takes the mixing of romantic elements into his space music (as introduced previously on “Tingri”) to an even higher level while moulding it into narrative storytelling. “Midsummer Century” is the first of two concept albums where the composer unfolds a musical sf-story based on…
Release data: Matthew Florianz – Tauern DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2008/2015 When we look at imaginative and narrative ambient, the works of Matthew Florianz always stir a different pair of emotive strings for me that I find rather hard to pinpoint. The version of “Tauern” reviewed here is actually a re-release of the original 2008 album in a revised, 24-bit…
Release data: Paul Ellis – Listen Silent DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2014 The words in the title of this release use the same letters as well as being descriptive of the overall mood the outcome generates. For “Listen Silent”, composer Paul Ellis had the idea to create some music that would generate a very gentle, quiet nature. The free form…
Release data: Jonn Serrie – Flightpath CD, Miramar, 1989 For his second album “Flightpath”, Jonn Serrie didn’t want to repeat the concept of his debut-album “And the Stars go with you”. Instead, being an experienced pilot himself, he decided to return to his boyhood love for flying, aerospace and the various aspects of flight. He delivered six compositions commemorating the…
Release data: Jaja – Starlight CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Cyan, 2015 The signature sound wrapped up in expansive freeform soundscapes as known from Jana Rockstroh’s previous album “Stellamare” are only present on “Starlight” to a certain degree. In 70+ minutes and four correlated chapters, the listener once more travels through vast and freeform galactic realms. This time around, the morphing trails of…
Release data: Jonn Serrie – And the Stars go with you CD, Miramar , 1988 I remember “And the Stars go with you” marked my introduction into the mesmerizing world of classic space music that started to spread slowly over Europe through distributors in the mid ’80’s. After nine years of shaping his skills and building quite an extensive library…
Release data: Jeffrey Koepper – Konnektions CD, Air Space Records, 2015 After a hiatus of a couple of years, accomplished synthesist Jeffery Koepper returns with “Konnektions”. It’s an inspired release maintaining his connection to the pure emotional impact of pure analog sound firmly while putting Steve Roach at the helm regarding final assembly, enhancements and mastering to meet ends there…
Release data: Andrew Lahiff – Quiet Correlations DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Pocket Fields, 2012 Serene, lush and gently morphing are the keywords applying to the nature-inspired/related outcome featured on “Quiet Correlations”, coined by the label as high-level primeval innerspace deep ambient. The cosmic, meditative and reflective atmospheres filling the ten spacious soundscapes pass by as a comfortable glide, glistening smoothly as they…
Release data: Bryan Carrigan – Fall into Winter CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Peonies Music, 2015 The winter season has already inspired many electronic musicians to compose music, those in the ambient genre especially. With his sixth album “Fall into Winter”, accomplished American producer, engineer, and electronic composer Bryan Carrigan invested two years of production in refining and sculpting his creative output, coming…
Release data: Von Hallgath – Easterfield DIGITAL DOWNLOAD EP, Private Release, 2015 von Hallgath is a side project of Jörg Erren and Jochen Schöttler, both members of the fine German quartet Erren-Fleissig-Schöttler-Steffen. “Easterfield” is a four-track EP with mature, Berlin School-inspired electronic music. At first glance, it takes on a bit more abstract approach on opener “Engine”, later shifting to…
Release data: Schiller – Die Einlassmusik 10 CD, Sleepingroom Musik, 2013 Schiller’s “Die Einlassmusik 10” is an eight-track album featuring music Christopher von Deylen composed to entertain his audience before the actual concert during his 2013 “Neue Klangwelten” tour. Contrary to his regular commercial releases, no vocals or melodic tunes are featured here. Instead one gets a selection of continuous…
Release data: Syn – Valles Marineris CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2015 Cosmic music in the tradition of the ‘70’s German/Berlin style has seen many followers and faces. Syn, aka synthesist David T. Dewdney, gives things a go in a very engaging and evocative manner on “Valles “Marineris”. It already starts out tasty with the atmospheric title track (which appeared previously…
Release data: Jean Michel Jarre – Electronica 1: The Time Machine LP/CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Sony Music, 2015 This release, working title “E-Project”, has been rumored about long time before the actual release in October 2015. Prepared over a long period of time, “Electronica” is an ambitious project presented in two separate volumes in which 30 collaborators in total are involved, with…
Release data: Apocryphos, Kammarheit & Atrium Carceri – Onyx CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Cryo Chamber, 2015 Dark ambient comes in various flavors, especially when it’s the result of a collaboration of talents. In case of “Onyx”, Apocryphos (aka Robert Kozletsky), Kammarheit (aka Pär Bostrom) & Atrium Carceri (aka Swedish composer Simon Heath) achieved something special in the deep dark realm which the…
Release data: Scott Lawlor – Daedalus DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Earth Mantra, 2015 The works of Scott Taylor fit the bill most satisfactory if you’re into imaginary and long form spacemusic. “Daedalus” is the soundtrack for a probe that was never build/designed despite initial ideas in the ’70’s, as it journeys for many years through the grand design of the interstellar void.…
Release data: Mindglide – Down the Light DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Altera Orbe, 2007/2012 “Down the Light” is the debut-release of Spanish synthesist Rafael De Julián Garcia aka Mindglide, which has been re-released in extended and remastered form by the Altera Orbe label in 2012. Its music is inspired by the contemplation of landscapes where light writes the history of the universe…
Release data: Massergy – A Novel Sense of Calm DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Relaxed Machinery, 2015 Massergy is an ambient project of Texas-based self-taught musician Eric Jensen who made his live debut at Finland’s Ambient Music Conference in June 2014, where he also launched his album “Beautiful Narcosis”. Listening to the 87-minute “With A Novel Sense of Calm” with a pair of…
Release data: Markus Reuter & Zero Ohms – From Worlds Unseen A Light Yet Streams A Sound Replete CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Relaxed Machinery, 2015 Being a longtime fan of ambient space music I got to know and reviewed quite a lot of stuff in this genre. The collaborative work “From Worlds Unseen A Light Yet Streams A Sound Replete” is a…
Release data: Colin Rayment – Abstract Dimensions CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Syngate, 2015 On previous albums, London-based composer Colin Rayment already offered electronic music fans a fine collection of fresh, melodic and sequencer-flavored electronics of high quality. What’s unfolding on “Abstract Dimensions” is a personal ‘journey’, deriving its musical inspiration from some abstract thinking, while reflecting some of the positive feelings in…
Release data: Andrew Lahiff – Inner Worlds Returning CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Relaxed Machinery, 2012 I’ve been following the soundscape music of Andrew Lahiff for many years, which fits in the league of Robert Carty, Altus, Thom Brennan and alike. “Inner Worlds Returning” contains assorted nature-inspired compositions made in different timeframes, but they are linked together most effectively, addressing the tranquil, cinematic…
Release data: Particle Image Velocimetry – Molecule Assembler DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, GerningsStedet Records, 2015 Danish label manager, dj and producer Michael Klit is the sole founder of the PsyChill project Particle Image Velocimetry. The projects music is inspired by “The sound of the Future” as created in the vintage ’70’s, featuring small self-contained sequenced parts along dark electronic chill-out. The outcome…
Release data: Paul Ellis – Moth in Flames CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2015 Upon request, Mr Ellis let me know the title of this release could mean several different things, from unrequited love to environmental problems. But the main thing he was actually thinking of with the phrase “Moth in Flames” is an artist becoming completely lost in the…
Release data: David Wright – Live at the London Planetarium CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AD Music, 1996/2015 This release is actually the remastered version of the album David originally put out on cd in 1996. It features outtakes of music he played together with guitarist Nik Smith during two nights at the London Planetarium. The outcome is imaginary, dramatic and enchanting, releasing…
Release data: Erik Wøllo – Echotides CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 2015 The atmospheric/cinematic and overtly relaxed music which Mr Wøllo offers on the 43-minute EP “Echotides” will suit all who love Erik’s contemplative ambient style and expansive textural outings. The uplifting and positive approach already featured on the opening piece is one of pure delight, later on shifting to introspective,…
Release data: Audiometria – Submúltiplo CD-R, el Hombre Bala Records, 2015 The idea for this album emerged while Javi Cánovas and Miguel Justo were improvising at a couple of meetings. It made them realize they could actually record a full album almost in one go without losing the magic of music created in the moment. “Submúltiplo” ended up containing four…
Release data: Various Artists – Enfold 01 DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Ultimae Records, 2014 The free of charge compilation “Enfold”, a 24-bit studio master, celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Lyon-based Ultimae label, a collection of songs created with the idea of gentleness and chill. In ten winter ambience tracks, Lars Leonhard, I Awake, Fingers In the Noise, Scann-Tec, Asura, Miktek, Martin…
Release data: Chronotope Project – Dawn Treader CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2015 Judging the high quality of his previous releases it was just a matter of time before Jeffery Ericson Allen, aka Chronotope project, would be signed to a record label, giving full scope to his contemplative art music. According the composer, “Dawn Treader” (which is inspired by C.S.…
Release data: Solitaire – Nocturnes CD, Arya, 1997 “Noctures” sees a continuation of the minimal, tribal-infused ambient by the German duo Schulte/Gleisberg as known from previous works, but with a slightly livier vibe discernable between the Eastern-spiced drony tapestries and hypnotizing rhythms. The addition of female vocals evokes something ethereal, while the mood also shifts to psychedelic/gothic realms occasionally (“Simulation…