Release data: Mathias Grassow – Uttarakuru CD, Gterma, 1999/2012 “Uttarakuru” (the Sanskrit name for a continent in ancient Hindu and Buddhist mythology) is a double-album containing minimal ambient drone music and occasional flute recorded in April 1999 by Mathias Grassow. Both discs contain one expansive, continuous track of 74 minutes each, sonically showing many similarities with the warm mood and…
Release data: Aes Dana – Aftermath 2.0 Archives of Peace DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Ultimae Records, 2003/2013 What I got here is a digital-only re-release of the second album by Aes Dana, aka Vincent Villuis, that originally saw the light of day in 2003. This new version though also includes the profound down-tempo “Aftermath 8” as a bonus, previously found on Nova’s…
Release data: Within Reason – Transient Broadcasts CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Periphery/Anodize, 2013 With his first recording “Subtle Shift”, Gregory Kyryluk (aka Within Reason) already delivered an excellent effort that expands on the fine sounds and impact of some Basic Channel releases. Well, the most pleasant rhythmic but not hasty groove continues on this 66-minute follow-up, turning up and muting the chill-out/pulse…
Release data: Sigma – Sleep of the Shadow DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2013 Sigma is the Finnish duo Mauno Tuominen and Petri Frestadius, who founded the band in 1997. “Sleep of the Shadow”, their fifth release by now, reveals a strong ambient current with an edge of experimental electronic music, of which the seed came from an Electronic Music Box…
Release data: Graham Getty – The Lattice CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Retrochet Records, 2010 All those out there who love massive sequencing and TD’s vintage style from the mid ’70’s will surely like to grab this fine dynamic release. The 50-minute “The Lattice” (recorded real-time straight to multi-track hard disc) just sparkles energy and fun as the ongoing strings of pulsating sequencers…
Release data: Parikrama – Manusyaloka CD, Gterma, 2013 “Manusyaloka” is the second full-length album of German composer Seetyca and his trusted sound technician Artin Mucht for the Scandinavian Gterma label. Sonically, it’s an extension of the fine ambient journey that was undertaken on the previous “The Silent Bōn”. From the first track on, the listeners ascends into a deep, mysterious…
Release data: Simon Lomax – Zone of Cold CD, Private Release, 2013 As Simon states, “Zone of Cold” had a long time coming, as his last effort “.74” (made under the Maitreya-moniker) hails back to 2004. Meanwhile, the Maitreya-project has ceased to be. Its immersive and overall lush ambient soundings are now more or less carried on. With this title,…
Release data: Wellenfeld – Pandemie CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Mellowjet Records, 2013 “Pandemie” is a concept album filled with sequenced, pulsative electronic music, despite its quiet opening track. During the intense sonic ride, the Wuppertal-based German duo Braun/Dominizcak pairs grand orchestral/symphonic outings with modern, dancy-oriented exercises, although an apocalyptic/menacing undercurrent is always more or less shimmering through. Accessible electro-pop tracks like “Prophecy”,…
Release data: James Johnson & Aperus – Ecotone CD, Geophonic Records, 2013 In the genre of organic-infused ambient music, ambient sound sculptors James Johnson and Brian McWilliams (aka Aperus) have made a new offering centred on deeply textured environmental sound. “Ecotone”, a strong statement of appreciation and concern for the natural world and its current fragile state, is a factory-pressed…
Release data: Schiller – Die Einlassmusik 8 & 9 CD, Sleepingroom Musik, 2012 The year 2012 has been very busy for Christopher von Deylen, aka Schiller. So it’s even more surprising he found time to compose not one, but two albums of Einlassmusik to accompany his “Sonne” Live-Tour in fall of that year. Both releases each feature about 48 minutes…
Release data: Erik Wøllo – Celestia DIGITAL DOWNLOAD EP, Projekt Records, 2013 “Celestia” is a digital-only ep by most-talented Norwegian composer Erik Wøllo, containing an instrumental atmospheric suite in four continuous parts. For this work, Erik extensively used a 1976 analogue synthesizer (an Arp Pro/DGX), which resulted in a warm, intimate sound design. The 27-minute “Celestia” suite is a real…
Release data: Fanger & Schönwälder – Earshot CD, Manikin Records, 2013 “Earshot” is a 46-minute release presented in cardboard sleeve on which Klaus Hoffmann-Hoock joins the Fanger & Schönwälder tandem for a sonic ride through Berliner School/vintage territory. Next to three tracks recorded live during the Dutch “E-Live 2012” festival, also two fine tracks from studio sessions in winter 2012/2013…
Release data: The Glimmer Room – Tomorrow’s Tuesday CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Neu Harmony, 2002 “Tomorrow’s Tuesday” is the fine debut-release of UK-based synthesist Andy Condon, aka The Glimmer Room. The album contains 13 instrumental tracks (plus one vocal piece) of rhythmic, pure and moody electronic music, searching a way through funky, groovy, lush and down-tempo realms while featuring lots of light…
Release data: Ian Boddy – Chiasmata CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, DiN, 2004 “Chiasmata” contains the music played live-in-concert at the planetarium of Leicester’s National Space Centre, UK, in November 2003. This is not your average planetarium music, as Mr Boddy combines abstract soundscapes and dense atmospheres with strange pulsating reveries and vintage textural pads. Moreover, its overall mood is somber and occasionally…
Release data: Steve Roach – Future Flows CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Projekt Records, 2013 “Future Flows” is the second part in a triptych that kicked-off with “Soul Tones” at the end of 2012. If you´re looking for any significant change in sound or direction, Roach´s “Future Flows” won’t bring any of that. Still, the surge into deep and immersive sound worlds continues…
Release data: E-Musikgruppe Lux Ohr – Kometenbahn LP, Svart Records, 2013 E-Musikgruppe Lux Ohr is a cosmic music collective from Finland comprising the talents of Pertti Grönholm (synthesizers, sequencers and samplers), Jaakko Penttinen (synthesizers and sequencers), Kimi Kärki,(guitar, e-bow and effects) and Ismo Virta, (Memotron, guitar and effects). According the press info, their debut album “Kometenbahn” is a sonic quest…
Release data: moonbooter – Zeitenwende CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Mellowjet Records, 2013 For the music of his album “Zeitenwende” (that again premiered live in concert at a planetarium in Germany) Bernd Scholl started sketching out ideas behind the piano. Whilst transferring the outcome and ideas to electronics in a later stage, he kept a strong focus on using a versatile range of…
Release data: Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij – Lost in the Swamp CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2012 Compared to their previous albums, the music on the concept-album “Lost in the Swamp” takes on a much spherical, lyrical and introspective approach, although the strong vintage feel is still found at the centre of the duos music. The almost 80-minute sonic narrative…
Release data: Amir Baghiri – Prayers for the Earth CD-R, Attenuation Circuit, 2013 The music found on the 55-minute/six-track “Prayers for the Earth”, Amir Baghiri’s follow-up of the immersive release “The Serenity”, is a freeform, non-rhythmic soundscape addressing both cosmic and earthy territory. The slow, warm and dreamy washes of textural tapestries and floating drone pads on this special collector’s…
Release data: Joost Egelie – Particles DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2013 Joost Egelie is a Berlin-school inspired electronic composer living in Belgium, who derives much inspiration from the electronic music that surfaced between 1973 and 1975. “Particles”, his fourth full-length album if I’m correct, is my first encounter with his music. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise and…
Release data: Enh – Body of Blue CD, Gterma , 2013 Enh is the moniker of Ian Handsley, who resides in an old hotel in a small fishing village on Japan’s Pacific coast. The full-length “Body of Blue” is assembled from some reworked material of Enh’s previous “Anori Radar” mini-album along a number of unreleased tracks and remixes. What we…
Release data: Paul Lawler – Lost EP, Private Release, 2012 With “Lost”, Paul Lawler delivers an Ep with three tracks, sonically depicting the final resting places of three failed Mars probes. No sequencers here, but freeform minimal ambient with a slight experimental edge creating a hypnotic mood. The saddening vintage soundscapes aptly visualize the despair and end of technology in…
Release data: Mark Isham – Songs my children taught me CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Windham Hill, 1991 “Songs my children taught me” is an album by trumpeter, synthesist and (soundtrack) composer Mark Isham containing a set of four neo-classical suites, each intended to accompany the reading of a classic children’s story. The outcome is exceptional mood music with various romantic and pastoral…
Release data: Dan Pound – Spherical CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Pound Sounds, 2013 More than once, the music of Dan Pound has shown similarities to the sonic art of Steve Roach. The 74-minute “Spherical” reveals many improvements in that direction, as it merges immersive textural sound worlds with beats, assorted percussion, guitars, field recordings and some Native American flute, all hinting for…
Release data: Hollan Holmes – Phase Shift CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2013 “Phase Shift” is the third release by US synthesist Hollan Holmes, containing two long form compositions along three shorter takes found at the beginning. The outcome, a contemplative look into the human psyche, is a thought-provoking, spiritual and above all positive work of sonic art, while also an…
Release data: Chuck Van Zyl – Cenotaph CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Synkronos Music, 2012 “Cenotaph” (the name for a monument erected in honor of a dead person whose remains lie elsewhere) is the follow-up release to Chuck’s beautiful album “MemorySpace” (2010). Sonically, Mr van Zyl very nicely expands on his cosmic sequencer style and signature, merging the timeless and the intimate while…
Release data: VoLt – Particles CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2013 Work on “Particles” already started during the process of assembling and finalizing “Circuits”, a VoLt-release that turned out less accessible and much more adventurous in the end. “Particles” however, once again developed and shaped over the internet, takes on an organic, more flowing character. Moreover, it re-invents and re-energizes the…
Release data: Paul Lawler – Opus DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2013 The 61-minute “Opus” is an a instrumental space/rock/EM album by Paul Lawler, starring Zlatko Perica (of TD-fame) and guitarist Paul Speer as guest-musicians to add some melodic prog-rock hooks to a couple of tracks. The whole album airs a sturdy vintage ’70’s realm where anthemic, darkening and cosmic spheres…
Release data: Schiller – Sonne Live CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Universal Domestic, 2013 The double-cd “Sonne Live” by Schiller, aka Christopher von Deylen, contains the full performance played at Berlins O2 World in December 2012. As on previous live-albums, Schiller and band do what the audience is expecting from them: playing an accessible and emotionally-charged set of vocal and instrumental tracks from…
Release data: Red Planet Orchestra – Aurora Symphony DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Path of Action Productions/Sound for Good records, 2012 The Red Planet Orchestra is a collective of well respected musicians who between them have produced works for film, TV and several mixed media events. One of them is renowned SF-author and composer Vincent Rees, also founder member of T30 Control, who…
Release data: Solar Fields – Origin #2 CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Ulimae Records, 2013 With “Origin #2”, Solar Fields (aka Swedish composer Magnus Birgersson) presents the second chapter of retrospective tracks fitting in the atmospheric/downbeat/chill-out realm as the first one, this time featuring tracks by composed between 2003 and 2009. I remember the rather awkward listening experience when I submerged in the…
Release data: Boreal Taiga – At Gutú DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Wayfarer Records, 2013 “At Gutú” (“woods” or “forest” in Tlingit-language) is Boreal Taiga’s fifth ambient release with Wayfarer records. It’s is a concept ambient album influenced by the expansive forest-environments found in USA’s Pacific Northwest and the ancient Tlingit tribes that have been living in this region for thousands of years.…
Release data: Altus – The Sidereal Cycle 4 DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Free Floating Music, 2013 This album marks the last chapter in Altus’ “Sidereal Cycle” series, rounding out the earth’s annual cycle with one more piece of immersive, highly contemplative ambient music. This time though, Mike Carss used medieval composer Thomas Tallis’s “Spem in Alium” (a motet for 40 voices) as…
Release data: Remy & Synth.nl – PrimiTiveS CD, Groove Unlimited, 2013 “PrimiTiveS” is the debut-album by the established Dutch synthesists Remy (aka Remy Stroomer) and Synth.nl (aka Michel van Osenbruggen). Although they are both musically influenced by Jean Michael Jarre, classically-trained Remy and autodidact Synth.nl both have developed their own style, character and approach in their music. After they got…
Release data: Der Waldläufer – Wanderlust DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2013 There’s quite some electronic music around that’s inspired by or strongly connects to the natural world, its beauty and organic foundation. Der Waldläufer, a project by German synthesist, producer and composer Tobias Seidenthal, also fits in this category, as it offers an organic-based mix with elements derived from ambient,…
Release data: Schiller – Sonnenwelten CD, Universal Domestic, 2012 Schiller’s album “Sonnenwelten”, only available in the Limited Ultra Deluxe package of “Sonne”, can be regarded as a kind of Einlassmusik-release. It’s a fully instrumental release featuring tranquil music that fits best to what most fans in our genre characterize as electronic music. Although lasting for only 37 minutes, Mr von…
Release data: Richard Bone – Anthology DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AD Music, 2013 Through the many years of reviewing electronic music, I’ve been able to get to know a fair share of the music created by US-based ambient composer Richard Bone, also owner of the label Quirkworks Laboratories. Regarded as one of the founding members of the New York electronic music scene,…
Release data: Goldmund – The Malady of Elegance CD/LP, Type Recordings, 2008 For as long as I review electronic and strongly related music, I always have had a fascination for intimate soundscape worlds that breath a soft mourning, sadening and melancholic emotion. While searching the internet for something in this genre, I ran into the Goldmund’s release “The Malady of…
Release data: Etherfish – Psyquarium CD-R, Private Release, 2007 “Psyquarium” contains the first live concert (recorded direct from the mixer) that English synthesist Chris Christou, aka Etherfysh, gave at Noetic Sound on April 19th 2007 for an invited audience. It was partly undertaken to see how the logistics worked out in a live environment, and also to see whether he…
Release data: David Gerard – The Dream Chamber DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Orbiting Orion, 2013 The 51-minute “The Dream Chamber” is best classified as sleep-inducing and stress-relief soundscape music, pairing flowing textures and gentle washes into a slowly-evolving outcome. Overall minimal in form, the hypnotic textural current of the first phase is only occasionally interrupted by a few stronger sounding string bits.…
Release data: Bernhard Wöstheinrich – Live in New Jersey 2011 DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2011 I’m not that familiar with the quite extensive output of German experimental electronic musician and multimedia artist Bernhard Wöstheinrich (also known as Redundant Rocker), although I’ve explored a couple of his solo releases and collaborations through the years. These recordings all show cast Berhard has…
Release data: Romerium – Solar Sequences CD-R, Private Release, 2012 With the album “Solar Sequences” (initial title “Planets II”), Dutch synthesist Romerium (aka Rene Montfoort) has chosen for a cosmic music concept. As the title already implies, the music takes a jolly nice sequential/rhythmic approach, kicking off with the 10-minute “Leaving Earth” that’s also available on YouTube with nice imagery.…
Release data: Phobos – Monolith CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Dark Duck Records, 2010 Before he started releasing on his own, Phobos (aka David Thompson) found his first home on the US-based Dark Duck label, known for its expansive catalogue of dark and experimental/abstract ambient music. The 72-minute “Monolith” contains an extensive and deep journey in two parts, where David already displays his…
Release data: Ulrich Schnauss – Quicksand Memory EP, Independiente Music/Domino, 2007 By whatever reason I seem to have missed this EP of Mr Schnauss when it came out, but I’m happy it came on my way after all. “Quicksand Memory” features progressive instrumental music that puts regular electronics normally discussed here in the corner, hitting the shoegazer-button on the first…
Release data: Eyes Cast Down – The Separate Ones CD-R, Kalindi Music, 2013 The sole musician behind Eyes Cast Down is US-based ambient/electronic composer, musician and writer Greg Moorcroft. “The Separate Ones” (that demanded seven years of hard work to complete as life got in the way on many occasions during the process of creation and sculpting) is a concept…
Release data: Mathias Grassow – Bloodmoon CD, Gterma , 2012 German drone-King Mathias Grassow is well-known for his extensive and deep textural music, and the exactly 76-minute “Bloodmoon” (compiled from various projects recorded in the autumn and winter of 2009 and 2010) adds another chapter to that. As usual, Mathias layering of the various sound pads is done with precise…
Release data: Johan Tronestam – Roots and Legends from the North CD, TeamQuasar, 2013 During the creation of the album “Roots and Legends from the North”, composer Johan Tronestam ended up in what he refers to as quite a turbulent journey with both joy and doubt, sometimes feeling afraid of getting lost in something he did not master. Due to…
Release data: Robert Carty – Beautiful Depths DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2013 For the music of “Beautiful Depths”, synthesist Robert Carty implemented an exotic touch to his freeform soundscape music. Overall, the outcome sticks to his trademark of uplifting and lush spacemusic with gentle cosmic washes and an overall floating sound current. This is drifting chill-out music for the slow…
Release data: Stephan Whitlan – Inertial Moments CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 1997 “Inertial Moments” is actually a live (and also pretty rare) album by Irish synthesist Stephan Whitlan. It contains a recording of a concert performed at The Flowerpot, Derby on April 6, 1997, also featuring a rare chance to hear Stephan playing the accordion. Although the sound quality isn’t…
Release data: Skoulaman – Synthesizer Mood CD-R, Private Release, 2012 Skoulaman, aka Dutch synthesist Hans van Kroonenburg, is part of the Berliner School-trio AKS, that some might know from the fine concerts played at the upper room on E-Live 2012. AKS though was put to an end recently. Skoulaman’s motto (The power of a synthesizer is not to imitate but…
Release data: Asymmetric – From Nowhere Came CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Asymmetric Records, 1999 “From Nowhere came” is the only release to date by the UK-duo Peter Challoner and Paul Smith, aka Asymmetric. If you’re fond of melodic and nicely sequenced contemporary EM, I have no doubt the accessible music on this album will be right up your alley. The 63-minute outcome…
Release data: Phobos – Darkness Within CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AmbientLive Records, 2009 Fans of lengthy but inspired drone ambient are at the right spot when it comes to the output of synthesist and sound sculpture David Thompson, aka Phobos. The 76-minute “Darkness Within” taps into the deep end with one continuous track, blending and layering textures in an fashion without the…
Release data: Zorch – Ouroboros CD-R, Zorch Music, 1975/2000 What we got here is a vintage Em-release from the mid-‘70’s made by Zorch, aka the UK-duo Basil Brooks and Howard Scarr (aka Gwyo Zepix). According info on the bands website, it’s the only album ever recorded at Peter Zinovieff’s EMS studio, where the two musicians had access to the massive…
Release data: Ethereal 77 – Landscapes CD, Basedaddy, 1999 Before composer Ulrich Schnauss started releasing music under his own name, he made one full-length album and an Ep under the alias Ethereal 77. “Landscapes” is the highly melodic and crisp drum & bass outcome, both ethereal and groovy. It offers a jolly, uplifting and warm sound overall, with magic currents…
Release data: Apollonius – Birth of the Real Self DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2012 “Birth of the Real Self” is the next chapter in a series of spiritual sonic journeys meant for personal introspection, self-awareness and growth, this time solely composed by Eelke van Hoof, aka Apollonius. The spatial and organic soundscape, where flute and treated vocals were initially meant…
Release data: Ulrich Schnauss – A Long Way to Fall CD, Scripted Realities, 2013 In his own words, Mr Schnauss describes his fourth release “A Long Way to Fall” as an album that would celebrate the synthesizer as the very capable musical instrument that it is, but without the need to disguise it behind a wall of echo and reverb.…
Release data: Bertrand Loreau – Nostalgic Steps CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spheric Music, 2013 On “Nostalgic Steps”, French synthesist Berrand Loreau offers another collection of vintage electronic music, paying tribute to the big names of the Berliner School and their recognizable sequencer style. I think this one is more cohesive, moody and musically stronger than the previous Spheric recording “Journey through the…
Release data: Cell – Phonic Peace CD, Indica Music, 2005 I ran into this album by accident, not aware that Cell (aka Alex Scheffer) had released another full-length album before his “Hanging Masses” release on Ultimae Records and a whole list of fine single tracks on various compilations. “Phonic Peace” presents 70-minutes of evocative and atmospheric ambient chill-out with smooth…
Release data: Chronotope Project – Chrysalis CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Relaxed Machinery, 2102 The musician behind Chronotope Project is Jeffrey Ericson Allen, who has an eclectic background in classical, new acoustic and theatrical music. As a composer, Jeffrey is triggered by themes that contrast yin and yang, of mysteries that open themselves slowly, gradually unfolding and revealing hidden facets. “Chrysalis” contains music…
Release data: Amir Baghiri – The Serenity CD, DataBloem, 2013 German/Iran synthesist Amir Baghiri already started work on “The Serenity” in 2009, but as Amir got further involved in the film music industry and had to deal with many deadlines from then on, the project evolved only very slowly from then on. Work only continued when times became calm and…