Currently listening, part 1

[chris23]

Margins - Fragile Existence
This is a late 2013 collaborative project between Dan Crossley (Facture/Fluid Audio) and Craig Tattersall (The Boats). Once again, this is an amazing product from Facture in which the packaging/art is as central to the release as the music. The music itself is decent, but not remarkable. It largely combines field recordings and tape loops to create a fractured but ambient atmosphere. The Crossley nature prints that accompany the release are absolutely beautiful, however, and are worth checking out on the Fluid Audio site regardless of how you feel about Tattersall.

Sound samples: http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2013/12/no-re-press-07-2/
Images samples: http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2013/12/fragile-existence/

[Castleview]

Vidna Obmana- The Surreal Sanctuary

The exotic instrumentation really adds to the atmosphere. Great stuff.

[APK]

Margins - Fragile Existence
This is a late 2013 collaborative project between Dan Crossley (Facture/Fluid Audio) and Craig Tattersall (The Boats). Once again, this is an amazing product from Facture in which the packaging/art is as central to the release as the music. The music itself is decent, but not remarkable. It largely combines field recordings and tape loops to create a fractured but ambient atmosphere. The Crossley nature prints that accompany the release are absolutely beautiful, however, and are worth checking out on the Fluid Audio site regardless of how you feel about Tattersall.

Sound samples: http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2013/12/no-re-press-07-2/
Images samples: http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2013/12/fragile-existence/

Two thumbs up on this.
Many thanks for pointing it out.

[Dave Michuda]

Benoît Pioulard - Hymnal Remixes - excellent collection of artists & styles with remixes by Loscil, Remote Viewer, Field Rotation, Brambles, Segue, The Green Kingdom & more.
Recondite - Hinterland - late night, lonely electronic music with beats, maybe too upbeat for something described as lonely but overall it's a melancholy trip.
stormloop - arctic conditions - pretty much what it sounds like, drone-like arctic ambience.


And one non-ambient release:

Damien Jurado - Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son - the first great record of 2014.

[thirdsystem]

The Circular Ruins and Mystified - Fantastic Journey..........this, along with Moss Garden - In The Silence Of The Subconscious, has been on constant play since I discovered same last week. Both really are stunning ambient works.

NP
 

Harold Budd - Avalon Sutra. For some reason I have not played this very often at all. Looking forward to hearing it again. Love the album cover.

I will thereafter be checking out the music in all the posts above 

[thirdsystem]

Ahhhh, Elektronik II.  Think this was Peter's last really good release on fax.  Inspired music.

The Cartesian I-III tracks really are superb elektronik FAX music  The fourth track "Planular" is a bit of a challenge I find. Quite dark and disturbing. Interesting though.

Last FAX release I bought direct from Pete was Labyrinth V from the superb series with Lorenzo Montana. I was then waiting on delivery of the then new Autumn Of Communion. Wondering why it was taking so long which was highly unusual. Emailed Pete to see if all was okay only to learn later that day he had passed on a few days previousy. Devastated, even now over a year on I still get upset listening to his music  .

[Castleview]

Aidan Baker- Aneira

It's amazing that his only sound source was a 12 string guitar.

Also, I redesigned my Bandcamp page. I wasn't sure if it was worth its topic but I think everyone should find it more aesthetically pleasing. Feel free to tell me what you guys think of it.

[APK]

The Circular Ruins and Mystified - Fantastic Journey..........this, along with Moss Garden - In The Silence Of The Subconscious, has been on constant play since I discovered same last week. Both really are stunning ambient works.

Very pleased to hear Fantastic Journey is getting some serious listening !
Thanks.

[chris23]

Some listening from today:

E and I - Putting Off Stars
2013 EP from Cotton Goods featuring Emmanuel Witzhum and Craig Tattersall. This is an 18-minute piece based mostly on viola, dusted tape loops, and other assorted samples. The music is quite sorrowful and wistful. The process by which the music was created is noteworthy; here is a brief description from Boomkat: "The score was generated by transcribing the poem into musical notes using a Hermes Baby typewriter, the letters on the keyboard being replaced with musical notes and the poem being retyped into music. Emmanuel played the score on his viola and the pair processed the strings back-and-forth with tape loops and digital manipulations." Sometimes I'm a bit skeptical about things that seem excessively artsy, as if the process, rather than the result, is the purpose. But there is always something playful yet sincere about Tattersall's work that continues to appeal to me on multiple levels. Samples: http://tape-dust.tumblr.com/mf01

Marsen Jules - Les Fleurs
A 2006 release from City Centre Offices. Great stuff: looped and processed acoustic samples that evolve into layered, complex structures. Constructed with patience. One of my favorites from him.
Samples/Digital: http://marsenjules.bandcamp.com/album/les-fleurs

[judd stephens]

Aglaia - Hymns
This is a pretty cool release, but out of sync with the typical Aglaia vibe. Throughout each track there is a highly processed voice submerged in the mix. I can't understand what it is saying (if it is saying anything in particular), but it has a spooky, robotic quality to it. That voice, combined with the more typical Aglaia synth work, gives this album a really unique sound--something that is both alien and yet strangely familiar. I imagine this is what hymns may sound like if they were performed by humanoid insects on another planet.

Samples/Buy: http://www.aliodie.com/index.php?_l=1&_w=1&__fidSez=89&cnt=203&__pg=

Strange that you should mention that; I've been breeding humanoid insects from other planets as a hobby, and strangely, they DO have an affinity for singing hymns. The damn things are keeping us awake at night! I have to throw cold water on them to quiet 'em down  ...but seriously, I love that description, will have to look that up.

This prompted me to check out Aglaia's Hymns, actually it was a debate which to buy now, that or Alio Die's Amidst the Circling Spires, the samples of which also sound great.  Something about humanoid insects though just spoke to me....

Through a first listen I'd say the voices also remind me of what would happen if the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica were somehow reprogrammed to be peaceful and they all joined a hippy love cult- and I mean that in the best way possible. 

[Castleview]

Item caligo- Self Deception As Rescue

http://gv-sound.bandcamp.com/album/self-deception-as-rescue

GV Sound is an excellent netlabel IMO.

[Castleview]

Har & Altus- Shadow District

https://archive.org/details/earman198

A true standout in the dark ambient genre.

[ffcal]

Margins - Fragile Existence
This is a late 2013 collaborative project between Dan Crossley (Facture/Fluid Audio) and Craig Tattersall (The Boats). Once again, this is an amazing product from Facture in which the packaging/art is as central to the release as the music. The music itself is decent, but not remarkable. It largely combines field recordings and tape loops to create a fractured but ambient atmosphere. The Crossley nature prints that accompany the release are absolutely beautiful, however, and are worth checking out on the Fluid Audio site regardless of how you feel about Tattersall.

Sound samples: http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2013/12/no-re-press-07-2/
Images samples: http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2013/12/fragile-existence/

This does give me a little pause.  Maybe Tattersall should be a little more discriminating in what he chooses to release?  These luxury packages are nice, but when the music falls a little short, you can feel a little burned.  I liked Light Folds, though I'll admit that there are a few parts I haven't heard yet out of the 10 hours or so on that release.

I liked the Orla Wren/Aaron Martin/Isnaj Dui "The Blizzard That Birthed Her" release, though the packaging seemed kind of elaborate for what was essentially an extended remix CD.

Forrest

[chris23]

Through a first listen I'd say the voices also remind me of what would happen if the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica were somehow reprogrammed to be peaceful and they all joined a hippy love cult- and I mean that in the best way possible.

I think we have a winner. 

Forrest: Good points. But, given that fans can be discriminating with respect to what they choose to buy, I assume everything balances out in the end.

[ffcal]

Forrest: Good points. But, given that fans can be discriminating with respect to what they choose to buy, I assume everything balances out in the end.

Hi Chris,

Well, yes and no.  Listeners can learn to be more discriminating once they've been burned, but I think both artist and label have an obligation not to flood the market with subpar material just because they can.  It can have a slowly corrosive effect on the genre as a whole, and people could come to view the music as largely disposible.

Forrest

[Joe R]

Tord Gustavsen Quartet- The Well; great, minimal, slow jazz.
Grey Frequency- Cold Geometry; grainy, foggy drone work. Excellent! Bleak and "cold", but not as cold as the damn weather.

[chris23]

Alio Die & Sylvi Alli - Amidst the Circling Spires
Stefano's cathedral-style drones mixed with ethereal vocals from Sylvia Alli. I've been eagerly awaiting this release since it was first announced this past summer. It is perfect. I'm a sucker, however, for dreamy music that contains haunting female vocals; it is an old 4AD hangup.

Samples: http://projektrecords.bandcamp.com/album/amidst-the-circling-spires

[Castleview]

Been having a Celer day:

Within Retrospect, The Morning
Four Pieces Two
Panoramic Dreams Bathed In Seldomness

[xouoxno]

Harold Budd – Wind in Lonely Fences

[APK]

Tord Gustavsen Quartet- The Well; great, minimal, slow jazz.

Very nice, Joe.
Thought I'd put up a video for people.
Tord Gustavsen Quartet - The Well