Implodes ::: Black Earth

Implodes ::: Black Earth
Genre : Drone, Ambient, Experimental

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1. Open the Door
2. Marker
3. White Window
4. Screech Owl
5. Oxblood
6. Meadowlands
7. Wendy
8. Experiential Report
9. Song for Fucking Damon II (Trap Door)
10. Down Time
11. Hands on the Rail

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Implodes are an experimental rock quartet based in Chicago who defy all attempts at pigeonholing… Centred around core members Matt Jencik and Ken Camden in 2009 and began practicing and writing in isolation until becoming the tight unit they are today. Having performed a number of live shows, they then went on to release a self-titled cassette that received positive reviews and it is with great anticipation that fans have awaited a full length album. Black Earth rises to the occasion and is a work which will entice listeners to delve into the band’s world of deep, dark and dare I say it, cinematic music. Though it is a word overused almost to the point of cliche, Implodes are indeed eclectic within the realm of guitar driven Rock and at times the band can sound like the logical successor to early Sonic Youth at their dissonant best. They also contain shades of influential Noise-Rock band Swans and perhaps something of the melancholic ambience of The Jesus And Mary Chain, but they are not reduced to the sum of their influences. No, they appear to learn the lessons of each precursor and move onwards, forging a new sound entirely their own. ‘Open The Door’ serves as introduction with a short atmospheric track of repeated chord progressions hidden beneath a surface of delay, and it is not until succeeding number ‘Marker’ that the band throw themselves into their performance. The guitars are naturally the focal point here and they sound powerful but just out of reach behind echo and reverb, while the bass and drum rhythm section have the difficult task of keeping time with such intangible audio. Despite the discord and frequently unintelligible vocals, usually delivered spoken or snarling, there is most often a catchy melody to encourage spontaneous involuntary head movement. With this mixture of challenging material wrapped in melodic verse, one imagines the band must be a real tour-de-force live. Alongside these heavier tracks and the occasional short piece, there are moments when Implodes veer into a more experimental direction. The band shun percussion and slow down for the ambient soundscape of ‘White Window’, while a Krautrock influence within ‘Wendy’ offers another element to the band’s repertoire. Penultimate track ‘Down Time’ is an ambient piece as beautiful as it is brief and Black Earth then closes with ‘Hands On The Rail’, a noisy dirge steeped in feedback and harmonic lead guitar. That which makes Implodes an exceptional listen also makes for difficult explanation. The band simply refuses to be easily categorised, so before they are arbitrarily tacked on to Shoegaze, Ambient or Rock, a new genre may be needed and Post-Post-Rock just will not do. Released April 20th on Kranky, Black Earth is available in CD and LP editions. - Review by Adam Williams for Fluid Radio

Maps & Diagrams ::: A Pulsating History

Maps & Diagrams ::: A Pulsating History
Genre : Electronic, Ambient, IDM


01 The Modern Century
02 Anti-Clockwise
03 First Quarter
04 Drake's Departure
05 On Esquiline Hill (feat Ylid)
06 Particles of Earth.
07 Coming in from the Cold
08 The Lonely Planet

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Yui Onodera & Celer ::: Generic City

Yui Onodera & Celer ::: Generic City
Genre :

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01.An Imaginary Tale Of Lost Vernacular 16:55
02.Waiting Until Something Else Happens 11:52
03.The Street Of A Rainy, Gray Day 09:15
04.A Renewed Awareness Of Home 09:49

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Celer's archival output over recent times has been prolific to say the least, and now Will Long (one-half of the duo) sets up his own label, Two Acorns. For this new imprint's inaugural release Celer collaborated with Japanese artist Yui Onodera, with mastering duties performed by 12k boss Taylor Deupree. While much of the established Celer sound centres upon thoughtful, droning austerity this album is given a very different shape by extensive field recording work from both Los Angeles and Japaninvolved. Woven into this tapestry of environmental sounds and floating tonality you'll hear migratory birds, ice breaking on a frozen lake, temple bells and sounds made by people in restaurants or on public transport systems. It's becoming difficult to keep up with Celer's release schedule, but it's still well worth trying to maintain pace - Generic City benefits from Onodera's additional pair of ears, and the final mix strikes up a deftly poised balance between beautiful ambience and more revelatory acousmatic material; in its finest moments Generic City offers an absorbing, occasionally hallucinatory portal into the audio topography of urban spaces.

Part Timer ::: Real to Reel

Part Timer ::: Real to Reel
Genre : Electroacoustic, Ambient, Experimental

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1. The Distance Between One (feat. Danielle McCaffrey)
2. Campsite Sundown
3. Unfound (feat. Heidi Elva and Aaron Martin)
4. A Long Inhalation
5. Suspended Belief
6. The Runner (feat. Heidi Elva and Aaron Martin)
7. Where We Used To Go (feat. Nicola Hodgkinson and Aaron Martin)
8. Interalia (feat. Aaron Martin)
9. In Your Hand
10. Untold, Unfold (feat. Danielle McCaffrey)
11. It’s A Storm
12. Never Meant To Be (feat. Heidi Elva and Aaron Martin)
13. Taken Along Quietly

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Brand new album of folk-tinged electronic love songs featuring contributions from Nicola Hodgkinson, aka Empress, Aaron Martin and Heidi Elva on vocals and harp* Starting out as a member of sorely missed Northern duo Clickits, John McCaffrey has redefined himself over the last few years as a prime purveyor of beautiful, folk-tinged electronic love songs. Yes, songs, I said it – these three-to-four minute slices of bliss are far from the directionless vignettes you might expect from an ‘electronic musician’, they have a beginning, middle, end and even choruses. Who’d have thought? The impeccable production McCaffrey has exhibited throughout his career is utilized here maybe better than ever before. Nicola Hodgkinson (aka Empress) and John’s wife Danielle each contribute vocals which wisp graciously over McCaffrey’s stuttering percussion and staccato string plucks like billows of smoke from a French cigarette. It is Empress who I might say is the best reference point here, it’s been a while since we've heard her bleak tones on record and they're matched beautifully by McCaffrey's productions -coming across as both painfully sad and delicately optimistic. Let Part Timer wrap you up in dusty ¼” tape and sink into a deep blissful state...

Tuluum Shimmering - Heart Of Sky Heart Of Earth

Tuluum Shimmering - Heart Of Sky Heart Of Earth
Genre : Ambient, Drone, Experimental,

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01 – Heart Of Sky Heart Of Earth A
02 – Heart Of Sky Heart Of Earth B

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VA - n5MD: The Reconstruction of Fives

VA - n5MD: The Reconstruction of Fives
Genre : Electronic, Experimental, Drone

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CD 1 - Cover Versions

01. Pale Sketcher - Secret Knots 5:18
02. Nadja - I Used To Be Sad 7:00
03. Architect - Blood Tracer 5:45
04. Worriedaboutsatan - 63 (She Was Trying To Sleep, I Was Trying To Breathe) 7:47
05. Bersarin Quartett - The Deep And Lovely Quiet 4:10
06. Ben Lukas Boysen - And By Sweet I Mean 6:06
07. Jasper TX – Colder 8:01
08. Rafael Anton Irisarri - A Storm Tore This House 5:19
09. Dalot – XX 7:28
10. Winterlight - National Geographic 5:45
11. Boy Is Fiction - Oh! Toronto 6:17
12. Miwon - Amidst 4:45

CD 2 - Original Versions

01. Proem - Secret Knots 3:06
02. Port-Royal - I Used To Be Sad 4:41
03. Tobias Lilja - Blood Tracer 8:55
04. Plastik Joy - 63 (she was trying to sleep, i was trying to breathe) 7:31
05. SubtractiveLAD - The Deep And Lovely Quiet 5:25
06. Proem - And By Sweet I Mean 13:44
07. Bitcrush - Colder 4:13
08. Last Days - A Storm Tore This House 5:45
09. Hologram - XX 6:04
10. Run_Return - National Geographic 2:41
11. Lights Out Asia - Oh! Toronto 3:53
12. Another Electronic Musician - Amidst 5:13

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To mark the imprint's 10th anniversary n5MD has assembled a very special budget priced compilation with a slightly different viewpoint. “The Reconstruction of Fives” features songs from the n5MD catalog covered by a hand picked group of like minded and personally admired artists. Pale Sketcher (Justin Broadrick/Jesu/Final), Nadja, Architect (Daniel Myer/Haujobb), worriedaboutsatan, Bersarin Quartett, Ben Lukas Boysen (Hecq), Jasper TX, Rafael Anton Irisarri (The Sight Below), Boy Is Fiction, and Miwon all re-envision their favorite n5MD tracks in their own signature styles. Two of n5MD latest signings Dalot and Winterlight also weigh in on covers from two of the label's alumni. A different perspective on n5MD's output which is a must have for fans of the label or any of the participating artist's bodies of work.

Kangding Ray / Alva Noto / Ben Frost - Pruitt Igoe

Kangding Ray / Alva Noto / Ben Frost - Pruitt Igoe
Genre : Electronic, Experimental

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01-kangding_kay-pruitt_igoe_(rise)
02-kangding_kay-pruitt_igoe_(alva_noto_remodel)
03-kangding_kay-pruitt_igoe_(fall)
04-kangding_kay-pruitt_igoe_(ben_frost_demolition)

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Enhanced and incredibly produced bass music from the Raster Noton camp courtesy of Kangding Ray, reinforced with stunning remixes from Alva Noto and Ben Frost. With 'Pruitt Igoe' Kangding Ray augments his sound to Raster's current avant-techno agenda, logging onto the 'floor with the burly swing of 'Rise' and 'Fall', both echoing Dubstep's move into slower tempos and elevated groove technology like some uncompromising Teutonic cousin to Pinch's 'Croydon House' sound or a steel-plated Shackleton rhythm trip. Of course this is all in line with Raster's overriding agenda of intense, considered minimalism, striving to eke the optimised impact from every sound and eschewing the need for any unnecessarily conventional melody or harmony. On the remixes, Alva Noto continues a streak of rhythmically charged form, following remixes for Greie Gut Fraktion and Vladislav Delay with a colossal remodel of 'Rise', filtering the original's distorted field recordings of street singers from Uttar Pradesh into something like an inverted version of Ancient Methods' stentorian techno funk. Finally, Ben Frost returns Kangding Ray's programming favour on his 'By The Throat' album with a gripping refix of 'Fall', placing kicks like boulders strewn on arctic tundra while dynamically contorting the ghoulish synths into nightmarish figures looming from the inky blackness. As you can probably tell, this is pushing our buttons, hard. So good.

36 :: Type series: Red

36 :: Type series: Red
Genre : Ambient, Electronic

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1. Transmission 01:46
2. Theme For Red 03:38
3. Decode 03:28
4. Lights Over Wibsey 06:09
5. Peripheral Shadow 02:43
6. Null 06:39
7. Tongue Depressor 01:34
8. Lost 06:01
9. False 01:07
10. Consumed 06:46

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Parallel Lines - 38:22

Parallel Lines - 38:22
Genre : Ambient, Experimental, Electronic

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1. Part I 9:00
2. Part II 4:31
3. Part III 7:46
4. Part IV 8:33
5. Part V 8:23

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Eric Quach (destroyalldreamers, thisquietarmy) from Montreal QC, Ryan Ferguson (Electroluminescent, Sianspheric) from Hamilton ON, Pascal Asselin (Millimetrik, Le Chat Blanc Orchestra, Below The Sea) from Quebec City QC have often crossed paths during their musical careers with their various projects --- the first time in 2005. Since then, they've become close friends and have played together all over Quebec, Ontario & even in Europe.

It was only a matter of time before a collaboration was to happen. And so it did, on July 26th, 2009 - live at Sam Murdock's house in Quebec City where he runs the P572 label and occasionally host house shows. This project, dubbed Parallel Lines, in reference to their numerous musical endeavours, is the result of this musical collaboration between 3 great friends.

Split over 5 parts; or "movements", this live collaboration between 3 artists at the forefront of underground experimental music in Canada is quite an epic. Sprawling layers of guitars and synths create a huge wall of psyched out shoegaze over the top of rhythmic and hypnotic drumming. What you'll hear is something you would not hear from any of the artists individually; it's something new and exciting. The term "krautgaze" has been used and it's a pretty accurate description.

Limited to 200 hand stamped and hand numbered copies in standard windowed sleeve tied with string.

Bitcrush - From Arcs To Embers

Bitcrush - From Arcs To Embers
Genre : Ambient, Experimental, Electronic
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1. Bitcrush - Post (Nichts ist wie vorher, Bersarin Quartett RMX)
2. Bitcrush - Untilted (Worm Is Green Remix)
3. Bitcrush - Every Sunday (Winterlight Remix)
4. Bitcrush - Bitcrush In Dub (By Stripmall Architecture)
5. Bitcrush - Colder (Funckarma Rmx)
6. Bitcrush - Waiting For Something (Jatun Remix)
7. Bitcrush - An Island A Penninsula (Mix By Vanessa Van Basten)
8. Bitcrush - The Days We Spent Within (Near The Parenthesis Remix)
9. Bitcrush - Of Embers (Port-Royal Remix)
10. Bitcrush - Of Days (Widescreen mix by SubtractiveLAD)

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This latest release from Mike Cadoo's Bitcrush project is a specially curated remix album comprised of re-workings of songs taken from all 5 of his albums as Bitcrush. Bersarin Quartett, Funckarma, Jatun, Near The Parenthesis, port-royal, Stripmall Architecture (Halou), SubtractiveLAD, Vanessa Van Basten, Winterlight, and Worm Is Green all re-imagine songs from the Bitcrush catalog. From Arcs to Embers is a remarkably fresh re-envisioning of the Bitcrush sound making it great for fans of his or any of the remixers' work.

Offthesky :: du soleil

Offthesky :: du soleil
Genre : Electronic, Ambient, Experimental

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1. burning of pella soleil
2. sea ghosts
3. desert poly
4. photosynesthesia
5. du soleil (remixed by darren mcclure)
6. du soleil (remixed by billy gomberg)
7. du soleil (remixed by offthesky)

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Time is a strange thing. Two and a half years ago (65 releases ago, in netlabel-speak) Resting Bell released offthesky’s “rare decay“. A timeless and beautiful 4 song EP. I didn’t hesitate a second when Jason Corder asked me if I’d be interested in a re-release of his musically related “du-soleil” EP which was originally released via atmoworks back in 2007.

“du soleil” is not only fully remastered, but it is also extended with three fine remixes from Darren Mcclure, Billy Gomberg and offthesky himself. So all in all around 54 minutes of pure bliss – not really an EP anymore I suppose. As I listened to “du soleil” it was hard for me to believe that this work is even dated. It sounds fresh, gentle and bright with the same timeless quality, you can find in all of Jason’s releases. “du soleil” is a very calm ambient-work with many subtle melodies and musical ideas hiding inside.

Last but no least, the three additional remixes are quite stunning: Darren McClure’s rework presents a multifaceted structure of evolving and lush tonal climates. Billy Gomberg brings a moody and diffused interpretation with subtle tone resting upon a bed of ash like analog texture. Jason’s own perspective is a soft re-synthesis of compositional elements and samples used throughout all 4 pieces in “du soleil”. This group of additional treats, makes the perfect landing for a work that certainly stems from somewhere above.

The Boats :: Sleepy Insect Music

The Boats :: Sleepy Insect Music
Genre : Ambient, Electronica, Experimental

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1. palais glide (2006)
2. understand (2008)
3. victor silvester plays for a party (2006)
4. veleta two step (2009)
5. there are tunnels where we live (recorded 2007 / released 2008)
6. birthdays (2003)
7. i did not sleep so soundly (2003)
8. raindrops (2010)
9. on the level (2008)
10. italics mine (2008)
11. george herbert leigh mallory (2009)
12. louise (boats remix) (2008)
13. if all else fails (2008)
14. why you wanna do this (2005)
15. the arrow home (2008)
16. big ben banjo band sing song (2006)

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The Boats are of course the well known duo of Craig Tattersall and Andrew Hargreaves, now joined by Danny Norbury on cello, as well as Chris Stewart and Elaine Reynolds on vocals. Craig has previously recorded under Hood, the Archivist and The Remote Viewer, runs the Cotton Goods label and co-runs the excellent Moteer and Mobeer labels with Andrew Johnson. Andrew Hargreaves records as Beppu and co-runs the Lacies’ label with his partner, Alice. As The Boats they have released various works on Moteer, Our Small Ideas, Flau (’Faulty Toned Radio’) and of course, Home Normal with ‘Words Are Something Else’. The newest member to The Boats as of 2009 is the very talented Danny Norbury. He regularly works with Library Tapes, as well as being one-half of the duo Le Lendemain (with David Wenngren aka Library Tapes), and he has also recorded solo projects for Ono, Static Caravan and last year’s wonderful Light In August release on Lacies’.

A little while after the release of ‘Words Are Something Else’, Andrew, Craig, Danny and myself came together to talk about playing some shows both in the UK, as well as a tour in Japan. It just felt like a nice natural progression really as they are rarely known to play many live shows, and to get them to come to Japan meant a lot to both them and I. What culminated was the great Home Normal night in December (2009) at Café Oto in London, with Danny Norbury and The Boats headlining a very special event indeed. As we met up for the first time in person then, we confirmed how much we wanted to organise the Japan tour and so pushed on with the aid of our mutual friends Yasuhiko Fukuzono (aka Aus) and Masami Shimomura (p*dis).

During the various meetings, phone calls and emails back and forth, we decided that it would be a perfect time to release something of an ‘unknown’ overview of where The Boats are at and what they have done over the years. Yasuhiko Fukuzono (who also runs Flau) and I decided that it would be entirely appropriate to do a one-off collaborative release between Home Normal and Flau, as we are such closely tied labels, mutual friends with The Boats, and as a way of coming together for an album release to tie in with our combined Boats and Danny Norbury Japan tour in May of this year. The result of all this is Sleepy Insect Music, a compilation of unreleased or very limited edition works on compilations and Our Small Ideas, an unreleased remix and reworking of previously released work (’raindrops’). As such it is an essential collection of work for Boats fans and new listeners alike, a wonderful summary of who The Boats are, or the perfect introduction, however you want to view it.

The Boats are: Craig Tattersall and Andrew Hargreaves
With Danny Norbury (Cello on 2, 4, 8, 11, 15) Chris Stewart (Vocals 2, 8, 15)
Elaine Reynolds (Vocals 7)
Remixing: Nive Nielsen (12)

Recorded and Mixed by The Boats at various times and places between 2003-2010
Mastered by Miles Whittaker
Compiled from The Boats Archive Drawer by Theodore and Hamblin

1, 15 Originally appeared o the Our Small Ideas EP ‘Stenography’
5 Originally appeared on the Flau Compilation ‘Little Things’
9, 10, 13 Originally appeared on the Our Small Idea EP ‘Saturation, Hum and Hiss’
11 Originally appeared on the [parvoart] recordings compilation ‘[parvo] art’
12 An unreleased remix of Nive (http://www.myspace.com/nivenielsen)

1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16 Written by Hargreaves/Tattersall
2, 8, 15 Written by Hargreaves/Tattersall/Norbury
12 Written by Nive Nielsen

Boas - Boas

Boas - Boas
Genre : Electronic, Experimental

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01. Remains (Creaching)

02. Five Trees

03. Imagine Fire

04. Reaching

05. Dipole

06. Sleaching

07. Cherphies

08. Forming A Curse

09. Equinox (Mametou)

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Alva Noto - For 2

Alva Noto - For 2
Genre : Electronic, Experimental, Minimal

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01-alva_noto-garment
02-alva_noto-villa_aurora
03-alva_noto-pax
04-alva_noto-argonaut
05-alva_noto-stalker
06-alva_noto-sonolumi
07-alva_noto-interim
08-alva_noto-t3
09-alva_noto-early_winter
10-alva_noto-anthem_berlin
11-alva_noto-ans
12-alva_noto-argonaut-version

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Offthesky - Hiding Nature

Offthesky - Hiding Nature
Genre : Ambient, Experimental, Electronic

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01. birds eye view
02. kind of brittle
03. frozen fountain
04. rest but not least
05. hand held lightly
06. light like
07. clockwort
08. fear of flora
09. little subtle secret

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Offthesky is the alias of American sound sculptor and visual artist, Jason Corder. You may have previously encountered Corder's work on labels like Archipel, Zymogen, 12k's digital wing, term., and even The Remote Viewer's Mobeer, with his work as part of the duo Color Cassette. Hiding Nature is surely Boder's highest profile release to date, and it's a significant entry onto Home Normal's impressive catalogue. Label boss Ian Hawgood describes Corder as "pretty much my favourite artist", and on the strength of this album there's certainly a lot to recommend his work. Corder taps into the sort of idiom already established by the likes of Taylor Deupree and the likes, processing fragments of everyday sound, chiming vibraphones and tiny guitar tones. The blend of timbres is always delicate, yet you seldom hear anything that's stretched out into misted over drone - there's always plenty of texture readily audible over the course of this record, and not being overly precious or academic about his craft, Corder isn't shy when it comes to shaping melodies, or even applying vocals to his music when he deems it appropriate. 'Frozen Fountain' embraces wordless falsetto singing (a little like the sort of thing Arve Henriksen comes out with) while various noises all combine in a harmonious tangle. At every new moment there seems to be something beautiful to turn your ear towards: you'll hear 'Clockwort's superb concrète merging of percussive processing and glitchy rhythms; the more conventional electronic tonal warmth of 'Hand Held Lightly' and 'Fear Of Flora's fractured, hiss-soaked jumble. Another very fine release from the Home Normal stable.

Anduin Abandoned In Sleep

Anduin - Abandoned In Sleep
Genre : Ambient, Electronica,

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01.The Equal Of God 04:54
02.Contents Of A Black Box 04:36
03.Our Future Is A Debt 05:24
04.Hands Behind A Curtain 02:20
05.Autumn Looming 03:38
06.Octagonal Forms 03:08
07.Lovers In Transit 04:52
08.A Light In The Darkness 05:15
09.Labyrinthian Void 04:26
10.Into Abandon 02:32
11.Untitled 05:04
12.Filed Away 03:04
13.Black River (Live) 08:31

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For his second album Jonathan Lee draws on two years of recording and performance - and it's not just his own material that's used for the record either. 'Abandoned In Sleep' features studio recordings, sample edits and collaborative work with artists including Xela, Jasper TX, Svarte Greiner, Stephen Vitiello and Gareth Davis among others. This album is all about dark, nocturnal ambience and combines a variety of half-dreamed soundscapes together for every track: Xela's falsetto murmurings clash with deep synth swells and scratchy, rhythmically organised field recordings on 'The Equal Of God', before distant footsteps and what sounds like a Doppler effected harmonica drape 'Contents Of A Black Box' in a kind of doomy, sub-bass buffeted blues feel. Chugging drones and low frequency bowed strings arise on 'Our Future Is A Debt', lacing the soundscape with rattling sonic detritus. Rumbling and layered bass exercises tend to be at the heart of this record, and there's none more haunting than 'Autumn Looming', an album highlight that plays to Anduin's greatest strengths - jostling rhythmic loops made from interrupted electronics and clattering incidental sounds merging into a sludgy dark ambience that punds irregularly with thunderous bass drum hits, making for one of the most sonically rich entries on the album. More haunting still is the Dag Rosenqvist-aided 'Labyrinthian Void', an all-encompassing turbine hum of low-end presence mixed in with shoots of distortion and squeaky door hinges. The CD edition comes with a further two bonus cuts: 'Filed Away' (an installation for Manchester's Startrunning) and 'Black River', a live performance with Svarte Greiner that closes the album with an immense nightmarish exchange of tones - like ships' horns sounding off through fog. A quietly epic, dense and harrowing sonic experience - do not miss.

Simon Scott - Nivalis

Simon Scott - Nivalis
Genre : Ambient, Experimental, Electronic

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01. Nivalis

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Fast forward a few months and Scott is releasing Nivalis (Latin for "covered in snow"), a short, sixteen-minute release created while he was (what else?) snowed in for a couple of days. The piece was created extemporaneously; as the snow fell, Scott continued adding to the pieces, mixing the results as the hours passed and chucking in some field recordings of the event as well. In many ways that mirror Wixel's year long project from last year: it gives us the opportunity to peak into the life of an artist during a delineated amount of time.

On some level it's difficult to be critical of the work because it's so obviously created as an experiment and was not a planned musical moment. But, then again, it is being released for public consumption, so all's fair game, right? What is good about the track is that it's mostly unassuming. Scott does a good job with the production and everything has a impromptu air to it. It's kind of strange hearing an ambient track that's been improvised, but, hey, it's not so bad. What it lacks is almost everything that made me interested in Navigare: subtlety, brevity, purpose, and heart. Since the track was created as the snow raged outside, it's not difficult to find the moments when Scott becomes bored with the project, apparently stunned that the snow is still falling, and returns to his instruments to mash out a few more minutes. It's a nontrivial glimpse into the world of a musician, trapped in this studio for two days, but not something that needs to be tracked down for those who aren't completists.

It's safe to say that Simon Scott has finally kicked the bug that's been following him around since his Slowdive days and can finally step out into the world as a new musician. Navigare is a strong debut, and Nivalis is a welcome experimental release. Scott's on his way to an exciting second career as a solo musician, and something tells me that his best work is ahead of him yet.

LOSCIL - Endless Falls

LOSCIL - Endless Falls
Genre : Ambient, Electronica, Experimental,

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1. Endless Falls
2. Estuarine
3. Shallow Water Blackout
4. Dub For Cascadia
5. Fern And Robin
6. Lake Orchard
7. Showers Of Ink
8. Graupel (vinyl Only)
9. Kinematics (vinyl Only)
10. The Making Of Grief Point

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One of Kranky's longest standing artists, Scott Morgan returns for a fifth album for the label, and it's quite superb, even by Loscil's already high standards. Regular Kranky followers will no doubt find themselves suitably bewitched, but this music's equally likely to appeal to followers of BJ Nilsen, Stephan Mathieu, Kyle Bobby Dunn and Celer. Endless Falls is bookended by recordings of rainfall, something which mirrors the droplet-obscured sleeve. This sort of imagery is a handy visual metaphor for ambient music of this variety: in the photograph a form of interference displaces the content of the picture as its true subject, and so it goes in Loscil's music. While Morgan's string sections and looping melodic gestures make up the fabric of these recordings it's the muffling and masking of them that draws the true beauty out of this music. 'Estuarine's minimal and plaintive piano phrases wouldn't be nearly so alluring were they not partially hidden away from you, and the stretched-out violins of the title track only function as beautifully as they do because they're cradled by a low, warm hum of filtered out, ambient sound matter. Rather than merely revelling in protracted linear drone exercises, Morgan latches his music to subtle rhythmic elements throughout the album, most prominently highlighted by 'Dub For Cascadia' - whose melancholy chord surges, crackling waves of static and contoured bass throbs sound like Stars Of The Lid playing along to something from the first three Pole albums. It's difficult to contemplate such a thing, but Endless Falls might be that rarest of things: an album whose best track is a spoken-word piece. In this case Destroyer's Daniel Bejar takes to the mic for the nine-minute closing piece. 'The Making Of Grief Point' is nine minutes of dramatically-charged, glitching, Biosphere-like drone, spun from downplayed neo-classical instrumentation and filtered loops, all accompanying Bejar's typically elliptical, digression-prone and fractured lyrics. Wonderful stuff throughout - highly recommended.

Aidan Baker – Blue Figures

Aidan Baker – Blue Figures
Genre : Ambient, Electronica, Experimental,

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1 Figures Part 1 19:52
2 Figures Part 2 17:52
3 Untitled Drone 15:12
4 Gathering Blue 12:28

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“[CA] after weeks of delay, the new massive live album from Aidan Baker is finally available ! it consists of two live sets (70 min +), one with “figures” and the other with an unreleased drone and “gathering blue”. both sets recorded last spring during his extensive european tour, solo or with Nadja.
i have to confess that i’ve never been a sucker for live albums, it’s pretty rare when i find them really interesting or better than the original studio versions. but of course, there are a few exceptions and Aidan Baker is one of them. his live performances are always surprising, not to say amazing. and his previous live albums are perfect exemples of what he is capable of when he’s on stage. you already know the songs but it’s always a bit different, there are variations, extensions, improvisations. Aidan dig in his own material to find a new vision. and you won’t be disappointed here ! last but not least, the sound quality is stunning.”

Ruxpin - where do we float from here?

Ruxpin - where do we float from here?
Genre : Ambient, Electronica, Experimental,

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01 I Saw Her Standing There
02 Her Body Smells of Cinnamon
03 We All Carry Our Ghost
04 Chasing Dandelions
05 Those Angel Wings Look Comfortable
06 My Tricycle Can Float from Planet to Planet
07 She Danced the Waltz
08 Where the Wild Things Are
09 She Played This Song for Me When I Was Five
10 I Noticed You Hovering Above Me
11 The View Looks Good From Up Here
12 Underwater Playground (Starfishes are invited)
13 The Boy Who Gazed at the Eclipse
14 Who Did You See in the Mist®
15 A Sunrise (and They Turned into Stones)
16 Now I Turn To You

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Due to an overwhelming demand, Ruxpin's "Where Do We Float From Here?" (originally released in 2009 on n5MD's digital imprint Enpeg Digital) is being rereleased on CD. Ruxpin is Icleandic electronic music composer Jonas Thor Gudmundsson and Where do We Float From Here? is his 6th long play. Gudmundsson has released on labels such as Uni:form Recordings, Elektrolux and Mikrolux, had many compilation appearances and has done many remixes for artists such as Mum and Worm is Green. Ruxpin's sound is firmly planted in the classic braindance subgenre of IDM. Although, there is an undeniably Icelandic twist to the music and enough emotion to fit within the n5MD emotional ethos. Where Do We Float From Here? is 16 tracks of finely tuned, well crafted electronica from a highly underrated artist.