[ Hypnos Forum ]

Ylang is a bit a short on such moments. I too am yearning for more of that side of Robert Rich.

But, having accepted what Ylang is and what it is not, I think it is a great release. Hopefully his next one will explore those darker, more abstract territories.

This might well be the most beautiful collection of new pieces of music I've heard in a long time. I'm so glad that Robert Rich takes time over each release - it pays off when the results are this distilled and detailed. I've been a bit disappointed in a few new ambient/electronic releases by other artists in the last couple of months, so it's so relieving and exciting to discover that Robert Rich's latest is something of a masterpiece. You can hear there is blood and sweat put into his music, as well as inspiration.    

Paul Vnuk and Ben Swire - I absolutely agree that knowing how to apply compression, different kinds of EQ, multi-band compression and other studio techniques is important in forming beautiful sonics, and that having an understanding of music theory and at least one 'traditional' instrument can only be a help. I certainly wasn't speaking as an anti traditionalist, and I'm just as bored by people who are opposed to any formal musical training on principle as I am by traditional musicians who dismiss our music as not being 'real music' or old skool rock 'n' roll producers who scoff at any unusual or novel applications of studio techniques. A few folk in more noise-based 'avant garde'  circles (for want of a better word) come across as far more close minded than the traditionalists they oppose, and though they think they are free, I believe real freedom comes when you have worked hard at a form, consistently, over many years.

I wasn't speaking about collaboration, or studying music theory or production in an academic way, or even sitting down with a more knowledgeable producer or mastering engineer to listen through your work and critique it. I'm so thankful I've had those experiences, especially when they've been brutally honest - painful though they can be! No; I was specifically uncomfortable with the idea of ambient music being taught by some 'master', as if the rules of the genre have been established like the rules of harmonizing a Bach chorale. I just don't think it fits the nature of this movement (unless, like I said, we're talking about ambient-ish music for commercial purposes, like a film score or adverts or whatever), and I don't think the idea even honours the genre's traditions. Plus, we've already got too many sound-alikes as it is.    

I know this is very late, but I'd like to thank you for that review!

Here it is, in case anyone else on this wondrous corner of the internet is interested:

http://www.igloomag.com/reviews::1813::Robert_Logan_Accurate_Spit_Boy_EP_Inscape_Slowfoot_

I know I said I wouldn't bump this thread, but I listened to Inscape again for the first time in months - and unlike the feelings and disgust and horror that often permeate my brain while listening to much of my new music - I actually thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I believe the album may please other people's ears also.   

The art work/digipak is very nice, either way.

Thank you for that. An insightful interview...

Is Michael Stearns going to put out another solo album any time soon?

Thanks Undershadow. I hope you enjoy the C.D.

I thoroughly enjoyed Secret Observatory and Autumn Continent - in fact I've been playing Autumn Continent constantly while doing my dissertation over here in Hungary. It fits in beautifully in these surroundings (not that it doesn't sound amazing everywhere else) and has made the experience much more bearable - even at times, enjoyable - than it would have otherwise been.

Hello women and men,

Inspired by Parallel World's threads, I thought it'd be good to let the forum humans know about my own non-Hypnos projects. I didn't do it when Cognessence or Grinder came out, but now that the second Slowfoot album, Inscape, is out, and because its supporting E.P, Accurate Spit Boy spurted out into the world a few days ago, I figured it'd be good time to do a thread on them.

They are all the result of months of obsessive playing, recording, programming, mangling, etc. etc. drawn from anywhere in the environment, from any piece of software or hardware... Musical inspiration includes lots of 20th/21st century classical music, the sort of ambient music we discuss here, Hungarian folk (though that element is often buried) and the more experimental ends of electronic music, as well as dub, grime, dubstep, detroit techno, dancehall, "idm", etc.

I reckon the two albums (rather than the E.Ps) would be of more interest to Hypnos folk - the E.Ps are on vinyl and attempt to aim for the dancefloor (I'm not quite sure how successful they actually are at that, but some creatures will dance to anything. ) 

My myspace is here: www.myspace.com/robertlogan

My ambient myspace is here: www.myspace.com/senseproject 

Here is the page Slowfoot did for Cognessence:
http://www.slowfoot.co.uk/Cognessence

Here is the page they've done for Inscape:
http://www.slowfoot.co.uk/Inscape

And here's some reviews:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/9b54/

http://www.barcodezine.com/revrobertlogancognessence260307.htm

http://www.buzzinelectronicmusic.co.uk/robert-logan-accurate-spit-boy-ep/407

http://www.flyglobalmusic.com/fly/archives/europe_reviews/robert_logan_accurate_spit_boy.html

(and I got some scans of magazine reviews and put them on my myspace blog, here: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendId=39605485)


Thanks to any of you who have already heard any of my music and shared feedback. I tend to get very self-critical about it, especially once it's out, so that's a real encouragement.




                     

Thanks for that. The video was excellent... Beautiful visuals and music.