Release data: Simon Lomax – We Echo Endlessly DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Council of Nine, 2020 In November 2015, UK soundscapist Simon Lomax crossed the big pond for the first time for playing a live-set at Chuck van Zyl’s Star’s End Radio show, an experience he repeated in November 2019. The set played during the latter is now made available as “We…
Release data: Bertrand Loreau – Eternal Sorrows CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spheric Music, 2019 The music on this 71-minute recording was made in 1981, a time when only limited analogue equipment along simple recording facilities were around and affordable for many electronic musicians. “Eternal Sorrows” offers 14 vintage pieces enhanced slightly and improved best as possible in 2015 without losing its original…
Release data: Maria Warner – Slipstream CD-r/Digital Download, Neu Harmony, 2019 No other than accomplished British synthesist Michael Neil -residing in Berlin since several years- is the musician behind the Maria Warner project. Inspired by his connection to the Berlin School scene both physically and spiritually, Michael tries to emulate the kind of electronic music that inspired him to work…
Release data: Wanderwelle – A State of Decrepitude LP/Digital Download, A Strangely Isolated Place, 2020 Meant as a soundtrack to humanity that once was, “A State Of Decrepitude” is a concept album by Amsterdam-based duo Phil van Dulm and Alexander Bartels (aka Wanderwelle). Moreover it deals with the many faces of deterioration, the various aspects of impermanence and facets of…
Release data: Alio Die & Parallel Worlds – The Utopian Blossom CD/Digital Download, Hic Sunt Leones, 2020 About six years after their previous recording the collaboration between the musical talents Alio Die (aka Italian soundsculptor Stefano Musso) and Parallel Worlds (aka Greek synthesist Bakis Sirros) has become a true ambient effort with a strong minimalist signature. Assembled from various smooth…
Release data: Three-Six (36) – Music for Isolation Digital Download, Private Release, 2020 The power and value of music seems even more important in these hard times as the world’s population suffers heavily from the corona crisis. Secluded in his home ambient composer Dennis Huddleston brings us the free-of-charge “Music for Isolation” for which he used a very minimal setup…
Release data: Chuck Van Zyl – Spacetones CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2019 Well, I guess the review of this one comes quite a bit later than I anticipated as I bought at the E-Live 2019 event where it was released. “Spacetones” presents Chuck’s full concert of minimalist Berlin-School inspired synth & sequencer improvisations performed at “E-Day 2018”. Its three lengthy…
Release data: Merrin Karras – Northwest Passage LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, A Strangely Isolated Place, 2020 What I got here is the second album of Irish electronic music producer Brendan Gregoriy, also known under the moniker Chymera. As the latter Brendan produced progressive electronic dance music whereas his project Merrin Karras heads firmly into the territory of widescreen synthscape ambient. That sonic…
Release data: Nam-Khar – Sur Chöd CD, Winter-Light, 2020 Those who like to immerse in abyssal, long-form and ritualist-dark ambient soundscapes are at the right spot with the full-length “Sur Chöd”, an album following in the footsteps of the 2018-release “Secret Essence / Sangwa Dupa”, also released on Dutch Winter-Light. Using traditional ethno-acoustic instrumentation paired with isolationist, coldish electronic textures,…
Release data: Amongst Myselves – The Good Earth CD-r/DVD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2020 “The Good Earth” is the first album by Australian synthesist Steve Roberts (aka Amongst Myselves) made since he moved away from his suburban house near Adelaide to a large property on the Fleurieu Peninsula, a place Steve considers almost his spiritual centre for a long time. It…
Release data: Nevel – The Hageland CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Wool-E Discs, 2019 I ran into this remarkable release on the Belgium Db2Fluctuation EM-event in February 2020. The concept-album The Hageland, a double cd limited to 300 physical copies, is the debut of Belgium DJ and producer Bart Van Meulebroeck aka Nevel. It’s named after a region of the same name situated between the Belgian…
Release data: Nothing But Noise – Mutanten Maschine CD/USB-Stick/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, DB2fluctuation, 2018 This release saw the light of day previously on cassette-tape and on self-released USB-stick before it landed on silver disc, the latter containing one bonus piece. Stark, progressive and deep vibrating electronics remain on the menu on “Mutanten Maschine” along controlled industrial touches flashing by in the darker-shaded,…
Release data: Stefan Erbe & Steve Baltes – A-11 CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Erbe Music, 2019 Here’s another electronic album inspired by the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. The music on “A-11”, the third full-length collaboration of these skilled German synthesists, is comprised of material performed at Observatory Hagen and ATT–Essen. I’m not familiar with the music played live on…
Release data: Neraterrae – Scenes from the Sublime CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Cyclic Law/Liberation through Hearing, 2020 On the 62-minute “Scenes from the Sublime”, Alessio Antoni (aka Neraterrae) continues his journey into haunting worlds of vast, ominous dronescapes. Coined as an ode to beauty, the unfathomable and the minds capability of channeling the sublime, inspiration came from various art works. Each of…
Release data: Roger Eno and Brian Eno – Mixing C0lours CD/LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Deutsche Grammophone, 2020 Roger and Brian Eno’s collaborative debut-release “Mixing Colours” (created out of a back-and-forth process between the two brothers over a 15-year period) is an exploration into sound through pastel-coloured impressionistic, contemplative soundscapes. All but one of the recording’s eighteen soft resonating tracks take their titles…
Release data: Yagya – Old Dreams and Memories CD/LP/Digital Download, Small Plastic Animals, 2020 This album sees Reykjavik-based composer Aðalsteinn Guðmundsson redefining his own sound, continuing his quest in exploring new sonic pathways that he already started on his previous effort “Stormur”. Subtle moving away from the icy dub techno sound, “Old Dreams and memories” follows the road taken on “Stars…
Release data: Thom Brennan – Departures CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, TMB Soundworks, 2020 Often, life events are a source of inspiration for music releases. “Departures” was actually not planned and came about as a diversion from another project due to recent events in Mr Brennan’s personal life … it’s about loss. Thom elaborates: our lives are spent accruing friends, relationships and material things…
Release data: DreamerProject – Beyond Dreams CD-R/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, AD Music, 2019 What I got here is a compilation release, the story so far, of DreamerProject, aka Norwegian musician Kjetil Ingenbrigtsen. The 72-minute “Beyond Dreams” contains 13 tracks in remastered or remixed form as well as three exclusive new tracks I’d classify as warm, feel-good, easy-going and highly accessible electronic chill-out.…
Release data: Paul Ward – For a Knave CD, Surreal to Real, 1991 Paul Ward’s debut album “For a Knave” saw the light of day on John Dyson’s Surreal to Real label in the begin of the ‘90’s. Before Ward went solo he was one half of the project Quiet Point that broke up shortly after having performed at the…
Release data: Nothing But Noise – Berlin to Brussel CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, DB2fluctuation, 2019 On the 3-track/43-minute “Berlin To Brussel” Dirk Bergen and Daniel Bressanutti offer their listeners Berlin School-inspired electronics spiced with a few quirky hooks and slight experimental twists. The darker-infused soundscape passages on the 20-minute “Berlin” and 17-minute “Brussel” both feature a psychedelic, astral feel next to deep…
Release data: Phobos – A Visual Presence CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2020 The 77-minute “A Visual Presence” -which comes with some great imaginative cover-art- documents David’s fourth concert performed at 2019’s UK’s Awakenings concert series, for the composer turning out to be the most enjoyable to that date. Usually when Mr Thompson performs live he plays completely new music, however…
Release data: Max Corbacho – Dreaming Spaces CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Silent Sun, 2019/2020 Due to popular demand, this album got a limited edition physical release after it had been offered as a free download and thank-you from Max Corbacho to all his loyal fans worldwide. “Dreaming Spaces” is a deep and compelling ambient journey into lucid, multi-dimensional space environs made up…
Release data: Hyperkube – Remnants CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Littl’ Antenna Records, 2020 Hyperkube is a project initiated by Belgium synthesist Tom Coppens (who some may know as a member of Kubusschnitt). With this release he continues his love for classic Berlin School inspired electronics mixed with melodic sequencers and assorted ambient elements, which he does aptly. In his vibrant music Tom…
Release data: Hollan Holmes – Milestones CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2020 “Milestones” -marking Hollan’s debut on the established Spotted Peccary label- had a long way coming, not only as life got in the way. It actually deals with the marking points in the composer’s life where he grew (emotionally and intellectually) the most. Following his prior release “Prayer To…
Release data: Paul Ellis – Interstellar Nataraja CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2019 It seemed Paul Ellis put an end to his EM-career in January 2016 when his trusted studio dissolved, having lost decade’s worth of accumulated studio equipment. This heavy blow caused him to take a firm break from electronic music as he didn’t want to rebuild his working space as…
Release data: David Helpling – Rune CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2019 I’ve been following the musical endeavours of US-composer David Helping for many years, the last few focussing on sophisticatedly treated, pure ambient guitar and electronics. “Rune’s” cinematic outcome is directly influenced by the waters of the ocean and the Norse rune called Laguz, which speaks of deep wisdom and…
Release data: E-Musikgruppe Lux Ohr – Non Plus Ultra LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Svart Records, 2020 No other than German Krautrock/Kosmische Musik legend Eroc has been in charge of mastering “Non plus ultra”, the third full-length studio album from the Finnish collective E-Musicgruppe Lux Ohr. Sonically, the 82-minute/eight-track outcome -realised between 2016 and 2019- ranges from Berlin School type of old school sequenced…
Release data: Phobos – Celestial Harmonics CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Frozen Light Records, 2019 With “Celestial Harmonics” (his first factory-pressed album by the way) UK- ambient composer David Thompson continues his journeys into the depths and expanse of space. Long form textures and slow evolving drone-tapestries make up a dense, sombre sonic environment where darkness and sadness roam. The biggest part of the…
Release data: S-A-W – Iconic CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Viktoriapark Records, 2020 Kurt Ader is a talented German sound designer for hardware synthesizer, sampler and iOS apps who performed with Johannes Schmoelling on French Synthfest 2018 while having designed a large range of great sounds for Johannes through the years. In addition, he released his solo album “Priority” through Johannes’s label in 2017.…
Release data: Skoulaman – Fluxes in Philadelphia CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2019 This album documents the (slightly adjusted) concert Dutch synthesist Hans van Kroonenburg (whose motto is the power of a synthesizer is not to imitate but to create) performed at The Gatherings concert series in May 2019 in Philadephia, USA. Totally relying on hardware synths he used no backing tape,…
Release data: Max Würden – Format LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, A Strangely Isolated Place, 2019 Fall and wintertime are most suitable to listen to quieting environment ambient, and this one fits in that category. “Format” by Cologne-based soundsculptor Max Würden is a contemporary ambient release recorded over a period of two years using various kinds of techniques ranging from studio recordings, looping live…
Release data: Kurtz Mindfields & Hypnago – Soundtrack with Atmosphere EP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Wigwam Records, 2019 “Soundtrack with Atmosphere” is a recording featuring two different French artists presenting their own electronic universe on each side. First is Jean-Luc Briançon’s project Kurtz Mindfields who fires off his analogue gear on the 18-minute “Above the wandering moon”. It’s a nicely accomplished cosmic travelogue rooted…
Release data: Jutaro Takahashi – Pleochroism CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Neotantra, 2019 “Pleochroism” is Jutaro Takahashi’s debut-release on Lee Anthony Norris Neotantra-label (motto: Tantric solutions for ears). The outcome -that sees the Japanese composer in search of microcosmic beauty- continues Jutaro’s tranquil textural work as featured on his previous albums. A smooth, lush expanse of pastel colours sets off on the two-part title…
Release data: Daniel B. Prothese – Höllektrokraut / HellEctrokraut CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2018 Ok, time to dust off your speakers as here’s a treat for all fans of dynamic electronic krautrock with a leading role for analogue gear. Daniel B. Prothese, aka Daniel Bressanutti (one half of Nothing But Noise and the famous Belgium electro-act Front 242), fires all vintage…
Release data: Michael Brückner – The Undercurrent CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, SynGate Wave, 2019 “The Undercurrent” is assembled from shelved, unreleased music German synthesist Michael Brückner made between 2013 and 2019. This modus operandi may lead to an incoherent outcome, but the opposite is the result on the 77-minute release as all tracks share a similar vibe, intensity and character. For the composer…
Release data: Jeff Pearce – Skies and Stars CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2019 Well, ambient textural guitarist Jeff Pearce has outdone himself on “Skies and Stars”, a 56-minute epic of blissful space music meant for gazing at a clear night sky and close listening. Pearce’s signature sound is found at the heart of two longform pieces and a short outro making…
Release data: Solaris – Aeon V CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Synphaera Records, 2017 The US Synphaera-label is known for their high-quality ambient releases, some fitting into (or inspired by) cosmic space music. Solaris is a collaborative effort between sound forgers Strahinja Maletic (one half of Fourth Dimension) and Don Tyler (member of Ascendant) leading its listeners into an alternate world of contemplation,…
Release data: Peter Mergener – Astronaut CD, Cue-Records, 2019 Sure, the output of Em-veteran Peter Mergener has been low the last decade, but when something new comes up its worth checking out. This 50-minute concept album celebrates the 50th moon landing anniversary. Various historical speech and lunar communication fragments fly by in the melodic, smooth-sequenced music ranging from nice moodspheres…
Release data: Awenson – Within CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2019 On the previous album “Hope”, Joël Bernard already showed his style is unusual and sometimes a bit peculiar. At first glance, “Within” features some progressive elements along the introduction of distorted e-guitar (similar to Edgar Froese or Frank Dorittke) and bass guitar on two tracks – most notably on the energetic…
Release data: Leandro Fresco & Rafael Anton Irisarri – Una Presencia En La Brise LP/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, A Strangely Isolated Place, 2020 “Una Presencia En La Brisa” (A Presence In The Breeze) by soundsculptors Leandro Fresco and Rafael Anton Irisarri is something for all who have a weak spot for 36’s emotive textural ambient music. The album’s concept deals with human connection…
Release data: The Roswell Incident – Trapped Part One CD, Wool-E Discs, 2019 Same as on their previous albums Koen and Jan Buytaert chose to compose lengthy electronic pieces for their new project “Trapped”. This time around, the release is a well-deserved factory-pressed cd on Wool-E Discs imprint Belgian NeuMusic. Still present is the highly cinematic, mystic-angled current in their…
Release data: Walter Christian Rothe – Secrets CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2019 “Secrets” (a concept album with melodic drama from his time as a composer) offers music from the back catalogue of talented Belgium synthesist Walter Christian Rothe, sonically connecting with some of the emotive and harmonious outcome heard on “Let the night last for ever” and “Alice”. It spans over…
Release data: Rene de Bakker – Our Gift CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2019 Those familiar with the previous work of Dutch synthesist Rene de Bakker won’t be surprised the music of “Our Gift” (Rene’s first factory-pressed solo cd) doesn’t stray far from classic Berlin School. Rene’s (re-)interpretation of that style features a nice mix of vintage Peter Baumann/TD and classic…
Release data: RNGMNN – Arctic Interference CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Winter-Light, 2019 Ambient music dedicated to and/or inspired by the northern regions often has special vibe. The frozen and environmental dronescapes making up the nearly 60-minute “Arctic Interference” by Berlin-based Ronny Engmann (aka RNGMNN) airs desolation and ominous darkness through all its veins as we journey slowly but surely across vast icefields. From…
Release data: Erik Wøllo – Sources (Early Works 1986-1992) Lp/CD, Smalltown Supersound, 2019 On this recording we travel back in time to early Norwegian ambient music when composer Erik Wøllo did various sessons and formative pieces between his albums “Dreams Pyramid”, “Traces” (1985) and “Silver Beach” (1987). The collection was mostly created with a Roland MSQ 700 sequencer, in real time…
Release data: Cosmic Ground – Cosmic Ground 5 CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2019 Here’s a fine 75-minute dish of darker flavoured vintage electronics staying close to the realm of TD’s “Phaedra” and “Rubycon”. Synthesist Dirk Jan Müller once again applied his fine range of beloved analogue synths to create the moody, quite hallucinogenic outcome, weaving intense soundscape parts with sequenced sections…
Release data: David Parsons – Chakra CD/Digital Download, Gterma, 2019 After “Puja” and “Stupa”, “Chakra” is the third album by New Zealand-based composer David Parsons on the Swedish G-terma label. This time around, the tracks on “Chakra” were very much gear-inspired. David purchased a couple of Synthstrom Deluges, a locally made portable synthesizer, sequencer and sampler from Wellington designed for the creation,…
Release data: Sphäre Sechs – Transient Lunar Phenomenon CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Cryo Chamber, 2019 The quality space-ambient of the German duo Sphäre Sechs stands out for its profound as well as cinematic quality. The result on their 50-minute “Transient Lunar Phenomenon” -recorded live during a studio session in winter 2018- continues the path taken on “Particle Void”. This time around the music…
Release data: Nik Owen-Jones – I/O CD-r/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Ultrakeys Music, 2019 Here’s another example of an artist releasing his music in the end through perseverance, something he wished to do for a very long time. UK-synthesist Nik Owen Jones has had a love of electronic music since the mid 70’s when he heard “Oxygene” for the first time on a tired…
Release data: Jonn Serrie – Azurae CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Valley Entertainment, 2019 With “Azurae”, Jonn wanted to follow up on musical ideas he developed on “Lumia Nights” and present a new perspective on those ideas. “Lumia Nights” envisioned an elegant “old school” romantic ideal with new age flavored contemporary instrumentals and an arrangement of “Autumn Leaves” help set the stage. With “Azurae”,…
Release data: C-Jay – ADEM CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2019 What I got here is the debut album on Groove Unlimited of Dutchman Christian Jansen who works as an experienced producer, composer and dj under his C-Jay moniker. As such he has put out numerous releases on some of the world’s most respected music labels, most notably John Digweed’s Bedrock Records where…
Release data: Simon Lomax – How the Shadow Falls CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Council of Nine, 2019 The inner world explored on “How the Shadow Falls” is one of intense and profound textural ambiences extending further the emotive realm of its predecessors. Applying synthesisers, samples, effects and highly processed guitar, composer Simon Lomax delivered 7 studio improvisations wandering through desolate, dark-shaded aural landscapes…
Release data: Bart Hawkins – 21 Pulse Eclipse CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2019 Bart Hawkins is an analogue gear-head from the US hereby releasing his inspired debut album. The abstract, industrial side of vintage Em (think Nothing but Noise, Node) is explored on the demanding 17-minute title track following in the footsteps of the harmonious, calming “Dream Meditation” kicking off…
Release data: Rudy Adrian – Woodlands CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2019 For me, the biggest part of “Woodlands” is a trip down memory lane and most familiar to my ears. About half of it consists of aural sketches Rudy originally created and intended for the 2002-album “Across the Silver River” (that ended up as a collaborative project with Ron Boots)…
Release data: Max Corbcho – Echo of Longing CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Silentsun, 2019 Majestic, in-depth and beckoning soundworlds keep coming from Barcelona-based ambient-master Max Corbacho. The 73-minute “Echo of Longing” is another example of his great talent featuring three long tracks that immerse and embrace the listener into a myriad of introspective soundwaves of pastel-coloured splendour in just a few minutes.…
Release data: Sysselmann – Ritual of the Aurora Noir CD-EP, Winter-Light, 2019 Fall and wintertime are appropriate periods to listen, enjoy and immerse into dark ambient music. Well, Winter-Light brings us the dark realms of 32-minute Ep “Ritual Of The Aurora Noir”, Sysselmann’s third release to date (though his debut on the Dutch label). The haunting and gothic enter the stage…
Release data: Kelly David – Meditation in Green CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Spotted Peccary Music, 2019 “Meditation in Green” encapsulates the listener into a hypnotizing world of in-depth dream and drone spheres accompanied by a fine assortment of field recordings and percussion. Inspired by David’s personal exploration of various Khmer temples in Vietnam, the slow evolving immersive journey reveals a kaleidoscope of minimalist…
Release data: Mário Raposo – Humanization DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2019 Mário Raposo is an independent electronic music composer hailing from the Azores. His work ranges from electronic/new age to neoclassical and film music but in recent times he’s been composing mostly melodic electronic-space music and ambient-new age. The concept album “Humanization”, roaming in the eletronic-progressive style, focuses on a futuristic…
Release data: Tonal Assembly – Lost and Found in Imaginary Landscapes CD/DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Groove Unlimited, 2019 The musician behind Tonal Assembly is Dutchman Taede A. Smedes who I know as a frequent and enthusiast visitor of electronic music festivals. I didn’t know he also made music for various years that sees its official appearance as the album “Lost and Found in…
Release data: Matt Borghi & Loneward – The Still Guardian DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, Private Release, 2019 Mike Carss is known as an ambient artist who chooses to work on his own, which applies to almost all his recordings he made under the Altus-moniker. Now here’s the first collaborative effort he took on with musician Matt Borghi for the Loneward project painting an…