|
|
 |
|
------V/A
- The Celtic Lounge II |
| STYLE |
|
Songs and
instrumentals bound together with Celtic roots. Most of the
tracks here have an acoustic structure - folk guitars and
pianos either featured in their own right or supporting mesmerising
female vocals. There are a range of other sounds to broaden
the appeal - delicate harp, mandolin, soft strings, a keening
whistle and even some deft electronic programming. A series
of graceful singers deliver emotive performances in that distinctive
style that draws on timeless folk influences, ethereal sweetness
and cinematic colour; sometimes free of percussion, sometimes
driven along by traditional rhythm instruments, a full drum
kit or a digital groove. Solo instrumentals are provided by
compilers of this CD Steve and David Gordon - rich, sharp
steel string guitar from Steve, tranquil piano from David. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
Lush
montages flood this attractive package in vibrant shades of
green. Celtic knots twine across engraved jewellery, distant
hills and fields dimly visible as a backdrop. Some glowing,
textured lettering holds centre stage on the front cover set
out in an appropriately antiquated font reminiscent of illuminated
manuscripts. A tracklist and an explanation of the project
fill the rear cover. Within, the tracks are laid out in more
detail with full credits and relevant websites for the artists.
There is also a page devoted to highlights from Sequoia's
back catalogue pointing out the original albums from which
many of the songs here have been taken. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Sequoia
Records have put together here a strong compilation of talent
both new and well established - Jens Gad's Achillea provides
the digital elements, artists Singh Kaur, Tina Malia, Alquimia,
Stephannie, Sharon Knight and Wendy Rule the various voices,
whilst an array of timeless instrumentation maintains the
atmosphere of lonely places and beautiful countryside. Founder
of Sequoia Records David and Steve Gordon are well known in
the genre, not only for their visionary releases, but also
for their considerate approach to music distribution - this
CD donates to The Rainforest Action Network, is printed on
recycled paper and uses soy ink. The Celtic Lounge is also
an enhanced CD containing a video of Sharon Knight performing
her contribution to the album Song of the Sea. |
| |
|
 |
|
------V/A
- Music From The New Edge - Vol: 01 |
| STYLE |
|
A showcase of the
current Cyberset Records roster. The music is mostly in
the form of enhanced instrumentals with some notable vocal
contributions from Foxgluv, Irina Mikhailova and Artemis.
There elements of world music with ethnic chant and global
instrumentation woven into electronic structures. Atmospheric
flute lines drift across synthetic drones and electrobeats,
Middle Eastern percussion underpins vocal snippets and twanging
strings, violins contrast African utterances and programmed
beats. Some pieces are more purely electronic - Electric
Skychurch's rhythmic synthesiser work, Single Cell Orchestra's
blips, bleeps and ambient pads, Welder's digital-organic
montage with spoken voice musings. There are some experimental
passages - whispering words against fragmented beats and
distinctive effects and there are other tracks that are
more of a lounge nature - sleek contemporary arrangements
and female singers. The collection touches on dub courtesy
of Lunagroove's off beat stabs and electric guitar lead
and finally almost drifts into floating new age ambience
with Ayman's shakuhachi and swelling keyboard work. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
The
mood here ranges from exotic worldbeat colour inhabited by
ethnic chant and indigenous instrumentation through to smooth,
urban, cafe/bar sounds with an elegant nocturnal laziness.
There are passages of mechanical clarity or lucid digital
cleanliness - bright arpeggiators or sequencers and programmed
beats rippling along in harmonious regularity. Overall the
tone is uplifting and warm - the variety of approach introducing
a sense of mystery and exploration. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
A
smart digipack fronted by a graphic design lurking among brown
leaves and heavy shadow. Cyberset's usual disc and triangle
logo is here brought to life with glowing circular nodes and
metallic frame. The reverse maintains the brown-black tone
of the top side, here presenting a timed tracklist and distribution
details. Inside the CD sits on a dual leaf photograph with
a heavily textured background. Opposite is an expanded tracklist
- this time each track is accompanied by full credits and
information explaining the origin of each track. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Cyberset
presents here the label's first compilation in a coherent
gathering of diverse styles that nicely outlines the united
vision of the company. There are names that you will probably
be familiar with if you know your electronic downtempo music
and there are some that will likely be new to you. As the
promotional material explains these artists "blend musical
elements of world, ambient, dance, vocal, and urban genres
into fresh sounds that share the positive intentions and global
reach of modern New Edge culture". That said the quality
is consistently high and the track order flows comfortably
and logically making for an enjoyable excursion through the
various genres. The catalogue covered here includes music
from Divasonic, Electric Skychurch, B.Smiley, David Satori,
Welder, hands upon black earth, Single Cell Orchestra, Artemis,
Irina Mikhailova, Foxgluv, Aphrodesia, LunaGroove, The Wolfman,
and Ayman. |
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
If you
are aware of Cyberset's vision - this album aptly summarises
the current state of affairs there. If you're new to the
label - this sampler will introduce you to an exciting group
of artists working the chilled end of the electronic spectrum
... there's something here for worldbeat fans, lovers of
ambient chill or trip hop and anyone into electronic soundscaping
enhanced with organic additions. |
| |
|
 |
|
------V/A
- Anchor |
| STYLE |
|
Experimental
ambient and rhythmic electronic collection. Anchor opens with
deep, spacey drones and dark washes of tone, a beatless cloudmass
introduction. As the album progresses there are tracks with
broken beats and sputtering percussive incidentals, repeating
phrases rhythmic and layered, often expansive and thick with
reverb. Pan-scrape clatters, murmuring voices, techno squelches
and a variety of indistinct synthetic effects litter the soundscape
with plenty of detail. At times the peripherals appear almost
to be snatches of found sound or field recordings. Further
on there are some increasingly melodic pieces - glitchy squirty
beats still fractured and loose but with gentler themes. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
The
album comes in a creamy white card sleeve, the CD itself thoughtfully
placed on a soft mat to protect the surface. Simple line imagery
of dwellings on hillsides appears on all panels - the strokes
pixellated, no colour. The tracklist is on the rear of the
package indicating the list of contributing artists. There
is no additional information, the text is minimal - only SAAG
Records web address and a credit for the artwork. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Anchor
is the debut release from Japanese label SAAG Records which
has been releasing "quality recordings since 2002".
This collection of electronic ambient music from Far East
comes as a limited edition of only 400 copies. Among the
artists is label manager Sabi - secreted well among a gathering
of current Japanese talent and here delivering a misty sound
montage with scintillating motes and a constant passage
of amorphous floating forms. "Pills for your ears"
is the label's description of its output - a good image
that well fits this introduction to a world of sonic texture,
beguiling, organic structure and inventive rhythm. |
| |
|
 |
|
------KXL
- Accelerator |
| STYLE |
|
Electro
soundscapes with globe spanning chutney-reggae aesthetic
and male vocals. The songs here are sung by KXL in a low
key, half spoken rap style brimming with street speak and
rasta influences. Often the vocals are strongly effected
to heighten the rough edge or to create a contrast between
verse and chorus. Guest singer Noush Skaugen brings a feminine
touch to Moment of Silence - again laid out in juxtaposition
to the male lead. The beats are programmed affairs mostly
at a mid tempo with dub and dancehall elements, running
as high as a bit of drum and bass at one point - there are
Indian percussives woven into the rhythms hinting further
at the cultural mixture from which Accelerator has arisen.
The electronic sound palette is quite a stark one - sci-fi
/ techno buzzes and zaps along with squelchy bass - softened
at points by a little guitar or sitar. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
I
have only a promotional sleeve with the front cover as seen
above. Here we see the artist in a posterised monochrome pose
set against a passing train - the dripping KXL logo sharply
picked out above. On the reverse is the fourteen track tracklist
on a graphic backdrop flanked by palm trees and ink spatter. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
KXL
is another incarnation of Rohan Sukhdeo who released the
considerably gentler album Roots a short while back. Both
albums indicate the Jamaican / Guyanese / Indian background
of Rohan - but this time instead of the smooth sounds of
Roots we have a bass and beat driven party CD that especially
emphasises Rohan's lyrical interests. This clash of genres
draws on two strongly rhythmic sources - the tablas and
dhols of the East and the ragga dancehall electro grooves
of the West. Give this one a go if you want something to
dance to and some youthful philosophies to chant.
|
| |
|
 |
|
------V/A
- Midnight Soul Dive |
| STYLE |
|
Deeply
chilled downtempo/ambient collection from Aleph Zero Records.
These smooth sound paintings breeze along on lazy crepuscular
beats that drift in and out of consciousness - digital loops
blink and pulse, a blend of traditional drum sounds, programmed
percussives and weightless cybergrooves - then the beats
are gone, off into the gloom, or lost in sleep. The electronica
is clean and expansive - restful nocturnes with cool reverberating
phrases cycling around in constant evolution. The emphasis
is on the hues and shades of the night - serene pads welling
up behind synthetic chimes, muted bell tones and flute-like
voices. Tracks breathe in and out of rhythm, buoyant and
vaporous developing naturally one into another. Liquid rainsticks,
scintillating static crackle and airy effects add detail
- Omnimotion including a ghostly female voice, Ishq and
Shulman blending bird calls and silken string sounds, Rena
Jones playing delicate clarinet and cello somewhere off
in the depths. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
The
low light serenity of this album puts me in mind of that state
of semi consciousness in between wakefulness and sleep where
thoughts pass into dreams and vice versa. The dispersal of
low key rhythm into beatlessness and back again, the comfortable
oceanic swelling of soft drones, the indistinct voices and
part identifiable sounds all work toward this common mood.
That said, this is not a soporific CD of easy listening music
- there is also an enjoyment of darkness, the artists here
exploring the musical edge between melodic manipulation and
ambient shapelessness - a serious experimentation with sonic
states to touch the soul. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
The
front cover is a pool of midnight black - tangled plumes of
rising smoke swirling across one another in a knot of light
are frozen in sculptural smoothness. On second glance a shadowed
eye stares out from the centre of this intertwining of insubstantialities
- ice blues, ashen tones, indigo depths. On the reverse is
a track list - fine white against black, more spiralling fumes
dimly visible in the deepest ultramarine. An expanded tracklist
appears inside providing writing details and website information
for some of the artists. An attractive package that is ideally
suited to the accompanying sound content. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
This latest compilation from Aleph Zero
Records presents the more ambient side of the label - twelve
tracks of subtle synthetic beauty that twist and hang in
the air like sonic incense. Big names in the world of downtempo
chill appear alongside less well known artists - all so
closely united here in vision that this could be a single
artist release - yet the diverse personalities each offer
a unique viewpoint on this midnight excursion. Bluetech,
Rena Jones, Elve and Omnimotion build the album to a dreamy,
hypnotic climax along with a blissfully ethereal collaborative
piece by Ishq and Shulman. Other musicians include Unoccupied,
Cord, Krill.minima, Hibernation, Cosmic Fools, Anahata and
Vataff Project. The promotional material explains the project
as "a nocturnal journey starting in any other evening
of everyday life and going through mysterious musical back
roads and unknown sonic paths, spiralling down and diving
deep inside your soul - a Midnight Soul Dive". |
| |
|
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
Aleph
Zero here deliver an album that dives further into ambience
than their previous releases - if you enjoy the more floatational
side of chill, this is one for you. Working the same rich
vein of sleepy downtempo as Native State's 'Beneath The Surface
and Ultimae's 'Albedo' - if you liked those albums you might
want to check out the E-Flier for the album HERE. |
| |
|
 |
|
------Robert
Rich - Music From Atlas Dei |
| STYLE |
|
Beautiful,
melodic and minimal ambient music with a strong cinematic
thread. Spacey expanses of dark amorphous tone sit alongside
floating flute lines that waft across silken drones and
burbling sequencer structures. There are roiling pools of
cloud spotted with unidentifiable disturbances and peculiar
percussives that sound like distant resonant bells or chimes.
There are smooth vaporous passages with clinking shell-like
peripherals, hints of deeply processed garbled voices, gentle
waves of noise and gatherings of sonic turbulence. There
are unnerving moments of atonal surging, shiftings of air
as if looking right into the face of the open universe and
then softness breathes in like a velvet tide, the most languid
of tribal beats accompanying echoing, oriental sounding
flutes. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
This
attractive package makes good use of broad black borders
- the front cover letterboxed between such presents an enigmatic
montage of dense orbs adorned with star motifs and planetary
designs. The central sphere is backlit like an eclipse of
the sun, shafts of light radiating out like spokes on a
wheel. On the reverse is what appears to be an oriental
brush stroke image of a mountain, again rich with texture
and overlaid detail. The track list appears below on another
black border along with a brief explanation of the project.
Within the radiating lines of the front cover are echoed
both behind the CD and inside the two page sleeve - criss-crossed
circles and spokes, lush textures. The inner tracklist explains
the sources for each piece. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
This
latest CD from ambient master Robert Rich delivers music
from the film Atlas Dei, a feature length graphic film by
Daniel Colvin that takes the viewer on an audio visual journey
through space and time. A number of the tracks were created
specially for the project, whereas others have been reworked
in varying degrees from previous projects. The reworkings
include edits, remastering, remixes, additions, altered
transitions and montages. Known for his use of individually
created instruments and his interweaving of electronic and
organic source material Rich here employs his techniques
to release a powerful collection that is fully emotive enough
to evoke its own journey. |
| |
|
