|
 |
|
----------Heyoka
- Gate Code |
| STYLE |
|
Chilled
dub, glitch-hop and thumping grime instrumentals. Heyoka continues
driving his unique sound further from the beaten path in pursuit
of his evolving craft. This album of dynamic, squelching,
creaking downtempo has a very powerful character and a compulsive
beat. The rhythmic material lumbers and plods with such determination
that it defies anyone not to be drawn into rocking, nodding,
foot-tapping or dancing. A dizzying array of extra-percussive
blips, taps, scratches, tonal motes and arpeggiated phrases
add density to the already dominant grooves - always shifting,
always something new, almost more than the listener can keep
up with. The musical content is primarily acidic - bass squirts,
chord stabs, groaning tonal sweeps and manic zaps - however
among this gutsy fabric are some delicate piano melodies,
hints of more hummable tunes and snatches of almost familiar
themes. There are some inventive vocal effects - plastic yays
and yiys that buzz with a throaty reverberation that matches
the programmed sounds in intensity and some distant, plaintive
sax playing courtesy of Tormenta Galactica. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
The
mood of Gate Code is one of brooding, almost tribal intensity
with a strikingly contemporary aesthetic - the muscular beats
and basslines prowling along with confident poise, the frenetic
musical motifs and constant sonic flickering mesmerising the
ear as the artwork does the eye. There is something of a psychedelic,
techno feel going on in much of the music - proudly synthetic,
revelling in a lush artificiality. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
Gate
Code comes as a jewel case presentation riddled with snake-like
pipe designs curling and twisting across every surface. These
twining forms dominate the design both outside and within.
Only the rear cover relents and provides some space for text
- here is a tracklist, website and Myspace addresses and relevant
logos. The impression is as intense as the music - busy, mystifying
to the eye. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Heyoka
returns with his latest downtempo release following the
slightly heavier Whomp Gland Pineal Dub album and Whomp
Gland EP. Once again releasing via the increasingly well-known
Muti Music label, Gate Code builds on the foundation of
previous material most effectively. Heyoka is not afraid
to blaze his own trail and here takes the wise step of doing
what he does best more fully - the result is a strikingly
personal sound within a well-worked and popular genre. Mutimusic
explains that the CD was "Mostly composed while on
a trip to Uruguay in Jan 2009 ... dubbed out sets of tracks
that show homage to oldschool dub while playing with modern
glitch effects and instrumental hip hop."
|
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
This
is not an album you can easily ignore - fans of Mutimusic
will be delighted. Dub lovers will appreciate that this is
something new - zappy, energetic downtempo that demands the
attention. If you are a sucker for powerful low bpm beats
this is one for you. |
| |
|
|
| SOUNDS |
|
Beatport player coming soon. |
|
 |
|
----------Maps
and Diagrams - *foel EP |
| STYLE |
|
Ambient haze and soft focus soundscaping.
These four tracks are all beatless zones of rich ambient depth.
Very immersive music - these compositions have a great deal
of detail. Faint fuzz and light crackle spot the air acting
something like aural grunge, a sonic fog - the kind where
you are conscious of the individual drops within the cloud
mass. Synthetic drones ebb and flow, at times almost forming
a melodic heave; tonal motes flicker almost at the edge of
perception and distant, muted, subtle phrases slowly drift
as if weighed down by time and dust. Percussive disturbances
and shiftings periodically arise among other noises; broken
static, sonorous clicks, flecks and ringing sounds. estersunnd
sees some acoustic guitar sounds sprinkle into the mix - delicate
and clear in comparison to the relative blur of the backdrop.
The texturing is quite beautiful in places, enhancing the
ponderous harmonic forms and building a strongly three dimensional
impression. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
This
is a four track 3 inch EP originally released on Handstitched
Records as a limited edition of just 50 copies! These arrived
in a hand stitched (naturally) cork sleeve - some even came
with a free notepad. The current digital download provides
an image of the cover for those less fortunate of us to imagine
in its full glory. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
*foel sees Maps
and Diagrams very limited edition (initially delivered via
Norman Records) released in FLAC and mp3 formats due to
popular demand. The Handstitched website is currently offering
this item for download along with the opportunity to listen
to samples of two tracks: aalanda and utgores. Soon to follow
with similar delivery is *koom. Promotional material describes
*foel as "four tracks of noise, drone and field dregs
with a more farinaceous texture and to a smaller extent
less structure or outline than previous works" - that
says it well for me (although I had to look up farinaceous:
- coarse-grained or mealy in nature as in flour). |
|
 |
|
----------Various
- Unwind The Ultimate Chill Collection |
| STYLE |
|
Easy listening chillout music
from a broad selection of like minded musicians and singers.
Unwind - The Ultimate Chill Collection is very much a collection
of smooth lounge music compositions - the seductive international
vocals often soft and whispered, the beats having a hint of
global influence softened by plenty of congas, the choice
of instrumentation blending organic acoustic guitar fingering,
bright saxophone riffs and languid piano phrases with synthetic
pads and strings. There are jazzy pieces, light dance tracks,
arrangements that sound just made for a dimly lit bar room,
new age and Celtic Enya-esque vocal tracks and tracks with
a leaning toward worldbeat. The melodies are very accessible
yet not too dominant, meaning that you could very well use
this album as background or mood music. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
Unwind
declares its musical intent with a cover image of a girl lounging
peacefully in some undefined yet obviously luxuriously comfortable
environment. The image is light and simple pointing to the
easy, restful nature of the sonic content. The rear cover
repeats the main image with a tracklist in small font running
down the right hand side, each with writing, vocal and publishing
credits alongside. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
This collection of fifteen tranquil songs and instrumentals
is released through Tantajo Records. Fifteen different artists
come together with a common vision showcasing what Tantajo
is all about - lush, relaxing chillout for the twenty first
century. Some of the names might be familiar, others somewhat
less well known - Ultramarin, Sunseekers, Maria Sanchez,
Terra Del Sol and Freud to name just a few. Aimed at the
same listening field as Cafe Del Mar and Buddha Bar - Unwind
is the perfect soundtrack to a summer evening or for recapturing
those warm nights by the sea. Previously released as Music
for contemporary living #1’ Unwind is now released
in the US and Canada under the title of ‘Unwind The
Essential Chill Collection’.
|
|
 |
|
----------La
Tienda - Mediterranean Ambiance |
| STYLE |
|
Relaxing chillout instrumentals.
These twelve tracks all have a mellow, mildly tropical, evening
sunshine atmosphere. The sound is one of electronic smoothness
with warm semi-organic sounds and occasional vocal effects
overlaid. Undulating pads and dreamy washes waft, swell and
breathe, inviting chordal forms rolling over the surface.
The melodic elements are subtle, easy listening affairs; dreamy
synths steeped in echo and reverb, clear chimes, light sax
lines, acoustic guitar phrases and even some steely sitar
drones. Peaceful, downtempo, lounge influenced beats idly
drift, the odd global groove fused here and there with the
more frequent programmed percussion - understated basslines
meander wistfully, sleepily. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
My
promo copy has a simple card insert with full colour front
and back imagery. The cover graphic features a burst of green
leafage from the lower left corner reaching into a light blue
sky. The imagery is repeated on the rear - this time with
track details and writing credits. Tantajo website details
and contact information are also here. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Alberto Hauss
is known through a number of different musical ventures;
the techno project U96, new age vocal outfit Freud and Terra
Del Sol compilation series among them. Here releasing under
his own name and through his own jointly owned Tantajo Records
La Tienda is a pleasantly tranquil album of twelve electronic
instrumentals with an overtly Mediterranean tone. The broad
writing and producing experience of Hauss clearly shows
through on this disc since although the album is obviously
intended to be inviting and placid, it is by no means bland
or dull. The Tantajo
website offers samples of all tracks if you'd like to
hear exactly what's on offer. |
|
 |
|
----------Kliment
- The Perpetual Ritual |
| STYLE |
|
A deeply chilled psychedelic
journey with various ethnic elements. The Perpetual Ritual
is a lush musical experience of heady shifting colour and
hypnotic rhythm. The downtempo beats are invitingly unhurried
programmed arrangements with frequent fusions of global percussion;
buoyed up by gentle looming basses and complimentary arpeggios
and sequences. The melodic content is quite strong - sweeping
pads and airy drones building warm patterns upon which echoing
synths dance in fleeting motifs or morphing cycles. On some
tracks effected international vocal lines take the lead for
a while - both male and female - Indian chants, live singing,
spoken snippets. Thick flute sounds and sharp brass enhance
a number of pieces courtesy of bansuri player Aura Rascon
and trombone artist Fransisco Alvazzar. The overall impression
is one of restful international tranquillity with an adventurous
progressive range that constantly shifts the view. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
The
Perpetual Ritual arrives in a pleasantly tactile matte finish
digipack. The front cover holds a shadowy stepped moebius
strip suspended in the air above a digitally enhanced landscape.
The pastoral background scene sees a central plain of brown
earth gradually fragment as it reaches closer to the eye -
the smooth soil cracks into a pattern of connected square
surfaces that have the appearance of a subterranean city.
On the impossibly floating moebius strip itself a series of
figures are traversing the endless steps. The rear cover features
a second broken landscape with dramatic sky and lighting -
here is the tracklist for the album. Inside the imagery is
in the form of antique documents - to the left a stained,
aged parchment full of notes and diagrams including sketches
of various moebius forms. To the right is a similarly earthy
hued drawing of twisting steps apparently on more interlocked
moebius structures - an Escher-esque figure plods through
the tangle. Another tracklist is on the left panel with credits
noting collaborative performances. A list of thanks foots
the page. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Bulgarian musician
Kliment Dichev has been around as an electronic artist for
some ten years now having worked as Samodelia, Once Upon
a Time and Disham along with other collaborative projects.
He has produced music in a range of genres from ambient
to drum n bass as well as most things in between. This solo
ambient debut is released via UK label Electrikdream Records
and features eight immersive mid length pieces. A series
of collaborators are listed on the album credits for contributions
of vocals, kaval or Balkan flute, trombone, violin and bansuri.
|
|
 |
|
----------Chronos
& C J Catalizer - Quid Est Veritas |
| STYLE |
|
Melodic
downtempo trance and chillout instrumentals with global
enhancements. Quid Est Veritas is a deliciously smooth album
of ethno-electronica - the rich sonic palette maintaining
a liquid-silky polish from start to finish. The synth work
here is especially fine; delicate melodic phrases rise out
of bubbling sequencer cycles and airy pads often with striking
beauty and with an almost constant sense of bliss. The largely
programmed beats fuse naturally in places with international
grooves and hand drumming; arpeggiated basses, chime patterns
and burbling synths rippling in rhythmic accord. The most
evident world sounds across the album are vocal: meditative
Indian utterances and lively drum talk; female wails and
soaring operatics; brooding monk chants, spoken voices and
transmission fragments. The other primary organic sound
being the flute - a variety of lush breathy phrases and
brief touches from different continents and cultures bringing
a heady mystique or wistful colour. Field recordings are
also utilised in places to powerful effect - passing footfalls,
environmental sounds and locational cues. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
The
unhurried ambient build ups on many tracks give Quid Est Veritas
a lush textural feel, where the colours are deep and saturated,
the atmospheres dense and sweeping. There is frequently a
gorgeous airiness about the album - a feeling of gliding high
in the stratosphere, a weightless sense of effortless movement
- this uplifting effect creates an ongoing sense of well being
and introspection. The lightness of some of the beats cooperates
with the delicacy of the music at times to form some very
relaxing passages. There is a strong dramatic content here
too though - darker drones and mysterious effects building
at times into hypnotic gloom. This sense of esoteric wonder
recurrs often, the opening track establishing a brooding,
nocturnal, tribal mood before a drifting voice-over rolls
in presenting thoughts on the Chronos identity. The final
title composition is an excellent conclusion - a plaintive
piano rises from an urban soundscape - deft fingering painting
a melancholy full stop. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
Quid
Est Veritas arrives as a rather luxurious jewelcase package.
The generous artwork is visually stunning and tastefully laid
out. The front cover image is first and foremost a sky portrait
- beautiful metallic blues with scudding clouds gradually
heat up into molten reds and oranges as the scene meets the
horizon - foreground detail blackened into silhouette. Broad
horizontal borders letterbox the image and hold the titles.
The rear cover provides a tracklist against a misty starscape
- each piece is listed with conception and musical credits.
Inside is a twelve page booklet arranged so that each page
represents a different track - stirring photographic visuals
and a line or two of inspirational text on every page. Behind
the disc itself is a section for thanks and website/contact
information. |
| |
| |
|
This
is the second full Chronos album among a plethora of compilation
appearances; follow-up to the 2007 release Step To Great Knowledge.
It is also the second from C J Catalizer coming after the
SHUM records release Across The Universe from 2006. Nick Klimenko
in collaboration with Dimitry Neschadim here shows why these
guys are among their country's most respected donwtempo trance
artists. Klimenko, otherwise known as DJ Shankar, Hologram
& Secret Trick is the prime owner of the Chronos project
with C J Catalizer joining just for the current album before
going their separate ways once more. The album is released
via the increasingly well-respected Ajana label and contains
eleven pieces with no sign of 'filler' material anywhere.
|
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
This
is an album for lovers of quality downtempo that appreciate
well thought out global elements woven into the mix. If you
enjoy Asura, Aes Dana or European trance at a low bpm then
this is definitely an album to explore this year. The Ajana
Records website provides samples of all tracks as well
as a free download if you'd like to explore further. |
| |
|
|
| SOUNDS |
|
|
|
