Release data: Optical Image – Moonchild CD, SoundArt Productions, 1998 “Moonchild” is an album continuing the signature sound of Dutch composer Tom Habes, aka Optical Image, has been developing of the years. The five pieces all have a positive air, on which Mr Habes displays fast-paced sequencers, smooth solos hovering over warm textures and synthetic drum. The opening title track…
Release data: Peter Challoner –Peter Challoner – Livescapes_Inception CD-R, Ambient Sound Projects, 2013 “Livescapes_Inception” contains two interconnected lengthy sonic innerscapes of 30 and 34 minutes each. Each ambient piece is a constellation of uninterrupted, slow morphing soundscapes that trigger the imagination while staying overtly relaxing as it unfolds gently wave after wave. The first part is a bit more abstract-oriented,…
Release data: Troika – Shaman CD, Enso Records, 2000 Subtitled as the “mystical, powerful world of spirit healers”, “Shaman” sets out on a 47-minute harmonic journey. This time, David Arkenstone offers no smooth synthesizer orchestration anymore but an assortment of native/shamanic rhythms, chants and native flutes with just a slight breeze of melodic synthesizer to accompany them. It makes for…
Release data: Three-Six (36) – Void Dance CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, 3Six Records, 2015 It’s time for change, as Dennis Huddleston (aka 36) has tried his hand on incorporating more melodic flavors and a slight song-like approach in the ambient and symphonic atmospheres of “Void Dance”. ” The emotive and soaring already kick in beautifully on opener “Hold On”, leading into an…
Release data: Steve Roach & Vidna Obmana – InnerZone CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 2002 On both “Well of Souls” and “Ascension of Shadows”, the duo Steve Roach and vidnaObmana made clear they are an accomplished and powerful combo in exploring deeper sound worlds while applying a large assortment of acoustic and electronic instruments. The 73-minute “InnerZone”, an expansive ride balancing…
Release data: Steve Roach & Vidna Obmana – Well of Souls CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 1995 “Well of Souls”, actually the first fully-realized duo project by Steve Roach and Vidna Obmana (aka Belgium-based composer Dirk Serries), lines up perfectly when talking about expansive ethno-electronic music, sketching out an abundance of tribal , mysterious and groovy (under)currents coloring the nebulous atmospheres.…
Release data: Various Artists – Subtextures CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Interchill, 2015 If you look for any regular names of the Interchill stall, you will look in vain for them on this compilation which introduces a brand new league of contemporary musicians and bands. What you get though are 14 tracks of experimental and break beats, intelligent dubstep, bass IDM and down/tempo…
Release data: Steve Roach & Roger King – Dust to Dust CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 1998 “Dust to Dust” is a 61-minute trip into sonic desert terrain, a concept album about people who decided to go west, travel though the vast and remorseless desert and the mythology of the the west both now and a hundred years ago. It sees…
Release data: Hemisphere – From Inside the Cyclone CD, Groove Unlimited, 1997 Despite a few contemporary, melodic-oriented rhythmic tracks opener “Zombie Attack” is one of them), there is a mellow/dark current on the 72-minute “From Inside the Cyclone”. That flavour is felt well on the gloomy “Galaxy of Terror”, which resembles the in-depth air of previously released Hemisphere long-tracks. Still…
Release data: Stellardrone – Light Years DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Energostatic records, 2013 In my ongoing search for interesting ambient space music I ran into the music of Lithuanan composer Edgaras Žakevičius and his 6th album “Light Years”. On the menu are ten tracks ranging from lush, harmonic and warm ambientspace soundscapes to symphonic-oriented, sequencer-rhythmic spiced excursions with a gentle dose of…
Release data: AirSculpture – Vanishing Point Volume One CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2015 The UK-trio AirSculpture is at their element when they perform live, improvised and in the moment, which has been documented by several releases by now. “Vanishing Point Vol. 1” contains almost 80 minutes of music played on radio (Star’s End, Secret Music) and concert performances (One Thousand…
Release data: Chad Kettering – Pathways CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Soniclayers Music, 2015 The third album by Chad Kettering, which took three years in the making, takes on a new sonic approach. It fuses the world of orchestral instrumentation with the world of electronics heard on his previous releases “Into The Infinite” and “Voices of the Ancients”, thereby exploring a much larger…
Release data: Vauxia Errante – Cambrian Spirits DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Altera Orbe, 2012 Vauxia Errante is a Spanish composer who was signed to the Altera Orbe label in the second half of 2012. His debut release “Cambrian Spirits” (on which he received assistance by Ran Kirlian on synths, flutes and tribal groove creation) is a deep organic soundtrip into subterranean landscapes…
Release data: Jaja – Stellamare CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, CYAN Music, 2015 “Stellamare” (Sea of Stars) is the first physical release by Jana Rockstroh, who put herself on the map as accomplished space music composer since a couple of years. Similar to previous albums, she again sticks to lengthy tracks, allowing the free form textural soundscapes to wander along while evolving in…
Release data: Frore & Shane Morris – Blood Moon CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music , 2015 Next to Steve Roach, the US-duo Frore (aka Paul Casper) and Shane Morris were also attracted and inspired by the solar eclipse, which led to this tribal-ambient release featuring a trance-inducing, ingenious melt of electronic and acoustic instruments. In there are five rhythm-oriented rides…
Release data: Time Being – A Place to Belong CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2015 Launched as a theme-continuation from their previous album, the music featured on “A Place to Belong” takes the next step into deep exploration of ambient sounds and design. The eight free form tracks further extend on timeless, deep-drifting ambient atmospheres and textural land/farscapes, addressing cosmic,…
Release data: Bertrand Loreau – From Past to Past CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spheric Music, 2015 According to Mr Loreau’s liner notes in the booklet, the outcome of 60-minute “From Past to Past” is his best effort to date to express his love and admiration for the Berlin School style, but now applied to lengthy cosmic improvisations. In addition, this should sound…
Release data: Kristoffer Oustad – Filth Haven CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Malignant Records, 2015 Haunting, dark, machine-like and slightly doomsday ambient dronescapes are what the listener is receiving on the rather analogue sounding “Filth Haven” by Norwegian composer Kristoffer Oustad. The first half (the first three pieces to be more accurate) of the 49-minute outcome are a spiralling procession of grimy and…
Release data: Rene de Bakker – Returning Winds CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2014 On your search for well-tempered Berlin School music the works by Rene de Bakker will surely please quite an audience, as it is well composed and structured. Did his self-titled first album still need a bit of work on various fronts, the 66-minute “Returning Winds” (Rene’s third…
Release data: Alpha Wave Movement – Earthen CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Anodize, 2015 On “Earthen”, Gregory Kyryluk has somehow been able to collect the best ingredients from his output as Alpha Wave Movement, blending his trademark of evocative ambient atmospherics and contemporary electronic sounds together with flares of Berlin School. The beautiful opener “Immerse” already illustrates smooth spacescapes intwine perfectly with gentle,…
Release data: Akikaze – Blue Sky Events CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Criminal Records, 2014 Dutch composer Pepijn Courant, aka Akikaze, has been around in the electronic music scene for a very long time, 25 years if I’m not mistaken. Some might even have his early cassettes or cherish contributions to samplers such as his fine track “The Master and the Apprentice” to…
Release data: Damián Anache – Capturas del Único Camino CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Concepto Cero & Inkilino Records, 2014 For this peculiar album we travel to Argentina, homeland of experimental composer Damián Anache. The latter constructed so called generative “landscape” ambient using an algorithm applied to the sounds of a large range of instruments, field recordings and voice. The 58-minute “Capturas del…
Release data: Yen Pox – Between the Horizon and the Abyss CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Malignant Records, 2015 Massive distorted sounds and textures along a great sense of discomfort are at play on the 73-minute “Between the Horizon and the Abyss”, a maelstrom of dark ambient where quite a lot of industrial and abstract influences kick in. The unforgiving and harsh apocalyptic…
Release data: Ishvara – Under A Hexagon Sky CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Virtual World, 2012 Intelligent electronic space lounge is a description that flew through my mind while I was digging Ishvara’s album “Under A Hexagon Sky”, “an album of futuristic prismatic soundscapes and flowing musical pieces inspired by sci fi imagery and dedicated to all those who have wandered under liquid…
Release data: Michael Stearns – Spirits of the Voyage CD, Earth Turtle Music, 2000 “Spirits of the Voyage”, soundtrack music from the same-titled documentary, features exotic, at times slightly mysterious-infused ambient music weaving native island songs and navigator chants from Micronesia with lush instrumental pieces. The 63-minute recording goes by as an unhurried dreamy trip on which I especially fell…
Release data: Steve Roach & Elmar Schulte – Ritual Ground CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Silent/Relic/Projekt Archive, 1993/2000 The electro-acoustic alchemy that ended up on “Ritual Ground” (originally released on the Silent-label in 1993 under the nom-de-plum Solitaire) was created in the period when Steve Roach travelled to Europe to play on festivals in The Netherlands and Germany. The 56-minutes of atmospheric, tribal-inspired…
Release data: Numina & Zero Ohms – Broken Stars Through Brilliant Clouds CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2015 “Broken Stars Through Brilliant Clouds“ is the first full-length collaboration of Jesse Sola (aka Numina) and Richard J. Roberts (aka Zero Ohms), which sees both composers journey into the wonders and depths of the galaxy. The five-track/59-minute recording features textural chord and…
Release data: AirSculpture – Graveyard Shift CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2015 This music on this 64-minute album hails back to 2006 when AirSculpture were over the pond visiting Philadelphia to play at The Gatherings concert series. The recording found here though is from the gig played at Chuck van Zyl’s Stars End radio show. Their they played their distinctive style…
Release data: Parallel Worlds & Self Oscillate – World Adapter CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, DiN, 2015 “World Adapter” contains 10 modular improvisations taking the experienced ambient listener into the lands of electronic futurism and mellow IDM with a dash of controlled experimentalism thrown in. Having collaborated previously as Interconnected, Ingo Zobel (Self Oscillate) and Bakis Sirros (Parallel Worlds), both musicians hereby extend…
Release data: Filter-Kaffee – 102 CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Manikin Records, 2015 Filter-Kaffee’s second album “102” came out on E-Day 2015, on which the duo Frank Rothe and Mario Schönwälder also performed parts of it live in concert. The tasty but short “Intro” hails back to TD’s begin/mid ‘70’s retro-days, followed by the halucinogenic atmospherics, lush mellotron textures and vintage sequencing of…
Release data: Alpha Wave Movement – Concept of Motion CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 1998 Although AWM’s third album opens much more energetic, rhythmic and sequencer-driven on the first two pieces, the sophisticate soundscape ambient style heard on his previous releases comes forward on the lovely “Sanctuary”. This tranquil, introspective approach also blooms on “Gaia’s Heartbeat”, the melodic/percussive waves of “Ocean…
Release data: Boreal Taiga – Return to the North DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Wayfarer Records, 2015 Composing cinematic music giving a voice to and feel of cold, hostile but beautiful places is something Boreal Taiga has become very good at. On “Return to the North”, JimD’s contemporary, occasionally minimalist ambient compositions are captivating, quieting, dreamy and mesmerizing. Airy, slow curling and evolving…
Release data: Robert Schroeder – Flavour of the Past CD, Spheric Music, 2015 Now here’s an album that put a slight smile on my face, as it comprises various single and/or commissioned tracks from Mr Schroeder that ended up on samplers, including those he delivered for concept albums of IC and Cue Records. Some of these pieces on “Flavour of…
Release data: Steve Roach – The Desert Collection Volume 1 CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Timeroom Editions, 2014 In a way, this 74-minute album (that started as a collection of desert-themed tracks sequenced for summer road trips between Arizona and California) is a kind of deserted island collection of ambient pieces, but now derived solely from the composers own works made within the…
Release data: Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij – Echoes From Future Memories CD, Groove Unlimited, 2015 After their beautiful excursion into the textural domain on “Signs”, the Dutch duo Emmens/Heij shifts back to the analogue, sequencer-driven soundworlds on “Echoes from Future Memories”. In four lengthy, structured pieces, they once again venture into far-off lands with great combos of sequencer patterns,…
Release data: SiJ & Sergey Gabbasov – Zhang Zhung CD, Gterma, 2015 What I got here is a Himalayan-inspired, slow evolving and grand sounding soundscape meticulously put together by Ukraine composer Vladislav Sikach (aka SiJ) and ethnomusicologist Sergey Gabbasov. The two have come up with a captivating 80-minute tapestry of assorted sounds, textures and environmental recordings that’s most cinematic, enchanting…
Release data: Max Corbacho – Splendid Labyrinths CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, ad 21 music, 2015 Since he started out releasing music in 1999, accomplished composer Max Corbacho had delivered the ambient community a very nice and consistent collection of highly spherical ambiences. “Splendid Labyrinths” (following right after his download-only dark ambient recording “Future Terrain”) is a next chapter in his what Max…
Release data: Jorge Reyes – Bajo El Sol Jaguar CD, Opcion Sonica/Mexican Records/No-CD Records/Musiqu, 1991 “Bajo El Sol Jaguar” (Under the Sun of the Jaguar) is a key ethno-ambient release by Mexican multi-instrumentalist Jorge Reyes, who later on would team up with Suso Saiz and Steve Roach to found Suspended Memories. It’s a concept album addressing ancient mythology of the…
Release data: Dan Pound – Change Of Weather CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2015 With “Change of Weather”, US-composer Dan Pound had delivered another intense and quite enjoyable ambient recording. A captivating atmosphere is already set by the two-part opener “Through the Fog”, aptly weaving thick and lush textural waves with a slight melodic line and even a high-tech touch. “After…
Release data: Sean Washburn – Wave Mantra CD, Gterma, 2000/2015 “Wave Mantra” was originally released privately by the composer in 2000, but has been out-of-print for a long time and been sought after by many. This reissue (with new art work) has been gently remastered by Anders Peterson (A.P.). For a review of the music (a sonic journey through an…
Release data: John Christian – Sol Invictus CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2015 On his fourth album “Sol Invictus”, Airsculpture-member John Christian invites his listeners to join him on a trip that features a good bunch of heavy sequencers. In the process of creation, John experimented with tracks that would slowly alter their mix or sounds to keep the very prominent…
Release data: Circular – Nanotopia CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Origo Sound, 2007 What I got here is the debut album by the Norwegian project Circular, which was established two years earlier. Influenced by the sound that was to be known as arctic ambient (see Biosphere and alike), Bjarte Andreassen and Jostein Dahl Gjelsvik decided to explore a wider and even unfamiliar sound…
Release data: Yagya – The Inescapable Decay Of My Heart CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Kilk Records, 2012 It came as a bit of a surprise to find out accomplished Icelandic dub techno and ambient producer Aðalsteinn Guðmundsson (aka Yagya) hereby presents a record with upfront vocals, as all his previous recordings offered exquisite ambient-techno pieces with none of these. Fortunately, “The Inescapable…
Release data: Tangerine Dream – Mala Kunia CD-EP, Eastgate, 2014 This long-run cupdisc, the first (and also last release I reckon) in “The Quantum Years” was made available on the occasion of TD’s live performances in Australia in the last quarter of 2014, but was recorded upfront. There also was a new band line-up featuring the talented IDM-musician Ulrich Schnauss…
Release data: Steve Roach – Skeleton Keys LP/CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 2015 “Skeleton Keys” is a labour of love for the analogue synth domain and one Steve Roach has been attracted to since he started composing in the late ’70’s. As a matter of fact, he never could resist the urge and growing desire to explore the “essence of the…
Release data: Michael Stearns – Music for the Dome DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Earth Turtle Music, 2016 This release containing selections from planetarium scores recorded over the last several years, had a long time coming. The outcome, all written to picture initially, has been in the works for several years. “Music for the Dome” originally clocked over 70 minutes but felt too…
Release data: Under the Dome – The Heavens CD-R, Cochlear Vision Records, 1997 “The Heavens” was the first cd-r of synthesist Grant Middleton as Under the Dome. It was originally recorded in 1990 on a Fostex X-26 four-track cassette. “The Aeon’s Day” was made with Pro-One, Ensoniq ESQ-1 and Yamaha TX-7 (a DX-7 in a rack). By the time it…
Release data: K2Project – K2Project CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Fairy Nuff Music, 1999 K2Project is a fun electronic music collaboration established in 1999 featuring Stephen Whitlan with local musician Keith Corbett (who he’d met on a community Arts program) while still living in Ireland. The album was actually the result of Stephen re-assembling his studio (which contains lots of analogue goodies) after…
Release data: Zanov – Virtual Future CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Zanov Music, 2014 The fans of vintage electronic music may be in for a surprise to find out legendary French synthesist Zanov, aka Pierre Salkazanov, has resurfaced recently after “disappearing” 30 years ago. Much has change since, but the pioneering/progressive electronic composer of the old days once made a promise to himself…
Release data: Steve Roach – Michael Stearns – Ron Sunsinger – Kiva CD, Hearts of Space/Fathom, 1995 “Kiva” (representing the unbroken circle of the earth, according the album cover notes) is a tribal-ambient release full of sound archaeology which involved Native American singers and Native American ceremonial artists. In its own way, the deep sound current connects to the artists…
Release data: Zanov – In Course of Time LP/CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 1983/2015 Enigmatic, surreal, futuristic and deep mysterious are the keywords to best describe Zanov’s third album “In Course Of Time”. Legendary French synthesist Zanov, aka Pierre Salkazanov, already started work on this landmark album before his last concert in Villebon (near Paris) in June 1978, followed by some…
Release data: Solitaire – Fearless CD, Recycle or Die, 1995 At the time of release, this album was presented as ambient music shifting between various cultures and ages. Sonically, Solitaire’s album “Fearless” sees a switch to more progressive-oriented electronic music with a minimal edge. As a whole though, it’s quite weird and halucinogenic listening experience. Distorted guitar textures already fly…
Release data: Tim Story – Abridged (Selected Miniatures 1979-1988) CD, Hearts of Space, 1991 One of the goals set by Tim Story is to evoke things in the listener that connect them to their own imagery and emotion. His music simply speaks its own language, with its own insinuations and its own life. The 73-minute “Abridged” offers an overview of…
Release data: Something Completely Different – Megacatz CD, Invisible Shadows, 2001 “Megacatz”, the debut cd by Boele Gerkes, is a compilation cd featuring music made in previous years. The 53-minute outcome is a mixed bag offering 14 melodic songs which are not as sophisticated as the ones found on Boele’s next to albums “The Last Gate” and “Book of Love”,…
Release data: Michael Stearns – The Middle of Time CD, Earth Turtle Music, 2000 Sound artist Michael Stearns is an expert in composing ambient soundscapes that imagine the travel through time and space. On the 49-minute “The Middle of Time”, the soundtrack to the PBS documentary The Mystery of Chaco Canyon”, afficionados of space-ambient that incorporates a node of world…
Release data: Hollan Holmes – Incandescent CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2015 With “Incandescent”, composer Hollan Holmes has delivered an excellent album that even beats his previous gem “The Spirits of Starlight”. Mr. Holmes dedicated the album to the late Richard Burmer, who he admits had a profound influence on musical road taken since entering the electronic music domain in 2010…
Release data: Erik Wøllo – Blue Radiance CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 2015 From the first notes on this recording its clear Erik’s characteristic sound design has stayed the same, lining up easily next to the emotive instrumental music of e-guitars, assorted rhythms and synths we’ve accustomed to in previous years. Imaginative, sparkling and with an eye to detail are keywords…
Release data: Max Corbacho – Future Terrain DIGITAL DOWNLOAD/CD, ad21 Music/GSP, 2015 In April 2015, Spanish synthesist Max Cobacho announced two new releases. One of them is download-only album “Future Terrain”. Created alongside the factory-pressed cd “Splendid Labyrinths”, Max imagined the outcome a remote sci-fi futuristic landscape, a dark background filling the space in slow motion. Well, the 58-minute outcome…
Release data: The Lonely Bell – The Lonely Bell DIGITAL DOWNLOAD EP, Private Release, 2015 The Lonely Bell is an isolation ambient project initiated by Scottish/Isle Of Lewis-based musician Ali Murray, merging elements of post-rock and shoegazer in the 30-minute instrumental outcome. Dense, minimalist and dark-atmospheric drone tapestries make up the opening title piece, in which the sound of chimes…
Release data: Vir Unis – Dreamers at the Edge of Decaying Light CD-R, Private Release, 2001 This is the first album on John Strate-Hootman’s own label In the Bubble comprising a collection of atmospheric and ethereal music made in the late ’80’s, early ’90’s and into 2001. The music on the 70+ minute release is based in a more experimental…