Currently listening, part 1

[drone on]

Yeah, my Autumn 4 CD which was paid for in OCTOBER is taking forever to show up.  Ughhh.

[thirdsystem]

Chris , I defo prefer disc 2 of Waterbound. It is wonderful. Disc1 is a bit more dubby than my usual ambient fair but I am getting right into it. Great release.

Had to get the AOC4 download as I could wait no longer to hear it. There has been an issue with the album art, hence the delay. CDs listed as being available at Kudos UK on 19/1/15. I am hopeful it will be before that though.

The music is worth the wait. Just wonderful. What a superb series Autumn Of Communion  8)

[jdh]

Waterbound is quite the set.I have enjoyed every track except one.It is dubby at points but I just make playlists with the ambient parts and beat parts separate.I was not sure about the whole Ishqamatics either at first but it has grown on me.Space is my favorite.
AOC 4 is also excellent,again every track except one for me.The whole AOC series has been stunning.AOC 1 is up there in my top ten all time.

Harold Budd/Robin Guthrie:White Bird ST-Saw this came out some time ago.Previewed,more of the same from both.Did not buy.Still great though if you enjoy their trademark sounds.

[thirdsystem]

The whole AOC series has been stunning.AOC 1 is up there in my top ten all time.

Totally agree J. Also what an album to end the FAX label......



AOC1 has to be in my top ten , all genres. What a masterpiece it is.

[drone on]

Yep, AOC 1 is awesome.  Now that's a CD I would never part with.  Hopefully people who don't have this CD can download it somewhere.  Stunning release.

[APK]

It's on Bandcamp:
http://autumnofcommunion.bandcamp.com

[chris23]

I didn't discover AoC1 until last year. It is one of my favorite albums. Ever.

[chris23]

APK: I followed your advice and obtained a copy of Alio Die's Honeysuckle. You're right: This is absolutely amazing! I steered away from this for a while because, based on the samples, the first track just seemed a bit blah and I never really paid attention after that. I still feel that way about the first track. But the remaining tracks are fantastic--especially the Honey Mushroom series, which is some of the best drifting, ethereal music in his catalog. 

[APK]

Glad to hear it Chris. Yes, the first track is the weakest for me too, but then the album really begins and is a mighty fine trip that could go on forever.

[Dave Michuda]

Illuha - Akari  -   Pretty good typical 12k stuff.
GoGo Penguin - v2.0  -  Contemporary piano jazz.  I think they are up for the Mercury Prize in England.
John Luther Adams - Become Ocean  -  Basically a classical version of drone music.  Nice.
Danish String Quartet - Wood Works  -  Very nice traditional tunes that don't get jiggy(?) or annoying, perfect balance.

[Seren]

Various Kodo (Including a DVD) - recently got a new drum and looking to develop my drumming 8)

[Analoguekid]

Various Kodo (Including a DVD) - recently got a new drum and looking to develop my drumming 8)

8) 8) 8) You managed to get it then Andy :-)

[ffcal]

Various Kodo (Including a DVD) - recently got a new drum and looking to develop my drumming 8)

Hi Andy,

Have you thought about joining a local taiko group (if there is one)?  Community taiko groups are pretty big in North America:

http://www.taikoconference.org/about-natc

Some friends of mine are founders of the Mount Shasta Taiko group, which holds a big summer festival every year:

http://www.shastayama.org/Public/HomePage

Forrest

[Seren]

Hi Martyn, yes I got the drum, technically a 16 inch by 24 inch dundun from Africa.

Fforest - funnily enough there was a community Taiko group meeting locally today, but I was out of town - I've emailed them to ask when they next meet.

Drumming is part of my music that generally does not get onto albums, being done for personal pleasure or in ceremonial or meditational settings....

[Analoguekid]

Hi Martyn, yes I got the drum, technically a 16 inch by 24 inch dundun from Africa.

Fforest - funnily enough there was a community Taiko group meeting locally today, but I was out of town - I've emailed them to ask when they next meet.

Drumming is part of my music that generally does not get onto albums, being done for personal pleasure or in ceremonial or meditational settings....

Nice one :-)

[Mark Mushet]

Phew! It's been a long time!

1. Marsen Jules "At GRM"

Two very deep, darkish swelling/receding drone pieces. The best of a kind! Doing a video for this one in the months ahead.

2. Chihei Hatekeyama "Winter Storm"

Long form pieces similar to David Sylvian's excursions into installation soundtracks. One track not unlike Robin Guthrie.

3. Loscil "Sea Island"

More loscil. Always welcome though I've yet to feel quite as attached to this as I have with past releases.

4. Vicky Chow plays Tristan Perich's "Surface Image"

One long piano and electronics piece that recalls Riley and Reich but with a harder edge.

5. Christopher Bissonnette "Essays in Idleness"

My favourite of the year. "Missing Chapters" seems to quote "Music for Films" but otherwise quite a distinct set of unsettling, beautiful atmospheric sketches.

[drone on]

Autumn of Communion 4.  This is a stunning album, would have made a worthy follow-up to their debut Fax release.  Hovering way at the top of my 2014 list.

[DeepR]

Anton Bruckner - Symphony No. 8
I've been pretty much obsessed with this symphony in the last months. The more I listen, the better it gets.
Here's a fantastic performance of the finale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pzTLk-thrQ

[Castleview]

Mathias Grassow - Morpheus

https://mathiasgrassow.bandcamp.com/album/morpheus

So Grassow is now on Bandcamp and he's re-released some of his old multi-disc sets that used to be on Klauswiese.com. The prices seem high but when you break it down per disc, it's not so bad.

Got Morpheus and I'm listening to the first Morpheus piece right now. Seems like something that would be perfect for sleeping or meditation.

[drone on]

Steven Berkowitz--Ecstasis.  This early 90s album is a little gem of Eno-esque ambient.  2 long tracks.

Jim Cole--Godspace.  Another gem from 2002.  Overtone singing with no synths, just processing and looping.  Incredible disc.  Whatever happened to Jim, anyway???

Jon Hassell/Brian Eno--Fourth World Vol.1 Possible Musics.  Remastered reissue of 1980 release.  Probably a huge influence on artists like Peter Gabriel, David Sylvian, O Yuki Congugate, Steve Roach, etc.  Treated trumpet, drones, subtle African percussion...achieves a very otherworldly and psychoactive ambience.  Excellent essay by Eno about the time period and the album, and a really great, fascinating interview with Hassell. 

Genesis--Foxtrot and Selling England by the Pound.  Rhino US reissues of the 2008 remastered stereo mixes.