[ Hypnos Forum ]

Geez and I always kind of assumed ambient guys were all really chill dudes....

People need to stop taking themselves so seriously and relax.

*Disclaimer: I have no idea what situation you guys are talking about.

Quote from: thirdsystem on Today at 04:14:32 AM

Robert Rich - Somnium. There is a short version on spotify which is really excellent.

Excellent disc

On researching, this is available as an edited download ( which is what I am listening to on spotify), a DVD 7 hour job  and also amazingly as an iphone app.

Almost 10 years after its initial release, this project return in the (revolutionary?) form of an App Album . Designed to run endlessly on your iPhone/iPod, it can play uninterrupted for much longer than the original seven hours. It will simply run until you stop it, or until your iPhone/iPod batteries run out.

As an App, the Somnium App  is extremely 'bare-bone'. It was designed to liisten,  not to watch.
In fact, there's only one page with the cover art, a slider (from 'slow' to 'slower') and a start button. After hitting Start and setting the volume, you're supposed to turn the device screen off and just listen...no need for any further visual distraction.

For the Somnium App version, Robert Rich has selected and isolated different passages which are sequenced randomly. This approach means that the music remains interesting enough to actively listen to when in 'slow' mode. When set to 'slower', there are less changes so the pace suits sleeping.

This also means a bit of a conceptual distraction from the original DVD, which followed the sleep cycle (relatively active, to deep sleep, to relatively active again before waking up).
The app version randomly cycles  through various parts of the composition, so it does not exactly follow that 'cycle'. In the 'slow' (most active') setting, the music is indeed constantly changing, and stays interesting enough for active listening for a long time.

Really not so sure about the DVD as I prefer to listen to my music on the ipods and hifi's away from the main dvd surround system. Will think about it though. Definitely fancying the download and especially trying out said app on iphone/ipod touch.

Having been mentioned elsewhere just checked out.......



Robert Rich - Somnium. There is a short version on spotify which is really excellent.

Also discovered.......



Music From Atlas Die..........superb.

I should have chimed in sooner, but I've been traveling and it is awfully hard to type with thumbs.

I fear that I might have played a non-trivial role in the reason Forrest left. I corresponded with him at that time and apologized if for having offended him via my comments in the youtube discussion. But I'd like to offer this post as a public apology too.

I've learned a lot from Forrest over the years and he was always thoughtful and helpful in his contributions.  It saddens me to know that I offended him and I hope one day that he'll return and continue to contribute share is experiences, insights, and opinions. Regardless of whether he chooses to return, I hope he understands that his contributions are valued and respected, even among those of us who are not always capable of expressing that clearly.

The samples are much longer on Spotted Peccary --> http://spottedpeccary.com/shop/the-delicate-forever/

Thanks...

This release is sounding great. I have take the plunge.

I enjoyed reading people's impressions too...