MORPHEUS MUSIC REVIEWS

Drifting, floatational ambience with a consistently exotic air. The seven tracks here were initially recorded as one long piece, the continuous flow later being marked off into distinct sections. As a result the overall impression is one of almost imperceptible shifts morphing a single thread into varying forms. Soft beds of tone and delicate drone hazes form inviting atmospheres wherein the rich, sonorous chimes of beautiful brass and crystal singing bowls echo and ring. Many of the metallics appear to have been struck with soft beaters, their padded knells muted and mellow. Deep vocalisations join the mix in places, the layered reverberations of overtone throat singing by Tenzing Tsewang smoothly rising and falling into an almost steady sonic state. Subtle effects ebb and flow on the edges of perception, bringing further variety to the music. Apparently Eternal now was composed and recorded in just 3 weeks - which says Don "is a record time for me !!"

Eternal Now is the latest solo project from Don Peyote and is released via his own Don Peyote Recordings. The album comes as the follow-up to the 2007 CD Peyote Dreaming, yet the ambient approach of Eternal Now picks up a thread left from earlier works Between Worlds and Dreamcatcher. Whereas the previous recordings dealt with the elements of earth and water respectively, this latest offering focuses on the nature of air. Don tells us that "the bells and gongs were recorded 10 years ago, playing around randomly with a friend's collection of brass and crystal singing bowls. I wanted a warm and deep sound for this recording so the digital gizmos were avoided in favor of multi-layered analog synths."

MORPHEUS MUSIC REVIEWS

Circular have been around for a few years now, having originally been conceived in the autumn of 1995. The project is that of Norwegian duo Bjarte Andreassen and Jostein Dahl Gjelsvik. Their debut album Nanotopia was released in 1997 and was followed by two further full length releases in 1999 and 2004. Now turning to French Ultimae, Circular couldn't sound more fitting as a part of this iconic ambient, downtempo label's roster. Moving from arctic ambient sounds into wider material, Circular presently deliver a suitably panoramic, multi-faceted sonic experience with conscious nods to Future Sound of London. The thirteen tracks here range in length from around two to nine and a half minutes - very much a unified whole, wonderfully moody and consistently high quality. Catch the Ultimae presentation for the album here.

MORPHEUS MUSIC REVIEWS

Downtempo glitch-hop instrumentals. This is firstly an album of impressive, powerful rhythmic structure - the confident breaks and hiphop beats here are inventively developed by some very dynamic complementary musical effects - a dazzling array of crisp synthetic phrases, zappy effects, bass throbs and acidic squirts of tone. Melody is very much secondary, often terse, muted or carried by buzzing or sharp tones, and frequently placed deep within the mix. Yet the pithy phrases and melodic forms that for the most part dance unobtrusively among the grooves at times gather into stirring beauty as on the orientally flavoured Forever You Forever Me or the somewhat wistful Serpiente Cosmica. Vocal elements are employed frequently almost as instrumental touches; snatches of speech, repeated transmissions, beatbox percussives, murmurings, philosophical musings and even one complete song courtesy of Souleye. Ethnic hints arise in places, guitar lines, global beats, sampled wavs - all chopped, distorted or digitally enhanced to jerk into place.

MORPHEUS MUSIC REVIEWS

Exotic electronic dub and downtempo. Babylondon is a genre crossing album of psychedelic chill that draws on elements of jazz, progressive rock, ambient and global techno threading these diverse strands together around a central cord of dubby basslines and lazy beats. Gamelans ring in muted clangour, their rich metallic tones thick against smooth synthesiser pads; dreamy female vocals bring a touch of soul whilst acoustic guitars strum; international drum sounds contrast tribal rhythms against reggae influenced grooves and chordal stabs. Trumpet phrases, spoken word and yells, funky electric guitar work and scratch effects broaden the sonic pallette as tracks range from the blissfully laidback Petrushka Pt. 2 to the mechanically energetic Rodnet. The drums have 'real' sound with additional programming and crisp effects deftly enhancing this technically very lucid soundscape.

Zen Lemonade are the Bali based duo Gus Till and Super Cozi, a project that has been together since the year 2000. Previously releasing their debut Lemon Soul via Dragonfly, appearing on a number of compilation albums as well as delivering solo material in a range of genres, the pair now presents Babylondon through Greek label Electronic Soundscapes six years after their first CD. Having taken up residence in Bali around 2002, the new album clearly benefits from the colourful cultural influences of the island with a variety of ethnic sounds woven neatly into the mix. Guest appearances from such notables as Steve Hillage and Tim Valkenburg on guitar, Simon Polinsky and Joe Creighton on bass with percussive support from Geoffrey Hales further add to the appeal and variety of the album.

MORPHEUS MUSIC REVIEWS

Smooth downtempo electronica with delicate global flavours. Inside the Voice Inside builds jazzy, downbeat trance and lounge structures into eclectic, dreamy soundscapes that have that ambient ability to blend into the background of your sonic environment or might equally reward a session of relaxed headphone listening. Some dubby rhythms set in in places with complementary off beat stabs - these and some of the other more techno-influenced beats making for a danceable experience should you wish. Indian voices, international drum sounds, wiry drones, spoken word, brass phrases and various effects enliven the primarily synthetic sound canvases of this album. Ardron tends to lay down silky washes and gentle sweeps, building bubbly arpeggios or squelchy bass lines to complement his light, airy beats - the overall effect is warm and peaceful like early sunshine on a tropical beach.

DJ, Producer, Mastering Engineer, Remixer, and Design artist Pete Ardron may well be known to many listeners through his festival performances as part of the group Orchid Star. He has previously released albums through such labels as Liquid Sound, Universal Egg and Ultra Vista Recordings. This current CD Inside the Voice Inside is delivered via Cyberset Records and is aimed at the ambient, downtempo and chillout market. The nine tracks on the current disc are all mid-length arrangements ranging from about four and a half minutes to eight. Cyberset explain that "Inside The Voice Inside takes a listener into vocal atmospheres, deeply dubbed grooves, jazz inspired rhythms and pretty much influences from all sides of electronica". Perhaps the samples on the official Pete Ardron website might take your fancy.

MORPHEUS MUSIC REVIEWS

Synthetic ambient and meditative chill. Living At A Higher Frequency is a delicate collection of instrumental tracks that range from subtle ambient groove, through drifting downtempo into light dance inspired electronica. Most tracks are built around intriguingly airy programmed beats that edge somewhat toward glitch at times with percussive structures that combine sequential tones and inventive electro-hits. The rhythms are generally restful and serene and woven densely into the music. The melodic forms on the album are understated affairs, yet often these are quite, quite beautiful and inspiring. There is a sparse oriental elegance to much of the music, a poetic restraint and sense of wonder with effective use of sonic texturing, and fragile pads and washes. Far Eastern sounds sometimes arise among the electronic cleanliness with a slightly haunting effect (I'm reminded a little of some of the sounds used on Japan's Tin Drum album). Very contemporary and cinematic yet with just enough of that appealing timelessness that helps a recording to endure.

US artist Julio Di Benedetto releases his debut Living At A Higher Frequency as a double album of works recorded over the five year period 2001 to 2006. The twenty two tracks of the album are laid out in chronological order as recorded beginning with the earliest. Disc one and disc two both open with a series of ambient recordings that are followed by more dynamic material on the latter halves of the discs, The music deals with some very personal matters and draws on a range of inspirational sources such as Zen poetry and Tibetan literature. Julio's blog provides a wealth of background and supporting information for anyone wanting to learn more about the music and the official website contains samples and purchasing links.