Currently listening, part 1

[TheBigLow]

It's funny how much I've enjoyed the resurgence of cassette culture. I completely recognize the limitations of the medium - heck, I can't even play tapes in my car anymore - but there's something oddly fun about getting a box of tapes in the mail after all these years of CDs and records (not to mention digital files). I've definitely picked up more tapes in the last year than any other medium. There are some great cassette-centered labels out there; two of my favorites are Tranquility Tapes (http://tranquilitytapes.bandcamp.com/) and Constellation Tatsu (http://ctatsu.bandcamp.com/), both dealing in borderline-New Agey and bedroom-synth drone and ambient exploration. I'm particularly fond of Cask's self-titled album on Tranquility.

Thanks for the recommendation of Jaja's "Stars." That's satisfying a craving I didn't know I had.

Peter

[Joe R]

Interesting to hear from those who still appreciate cassettes. I always took good care of my cassettes, but STILL they got "eaten" more times than I care to remember. I also cleaned the cassette head, but never did clean the capstans, (I believe they were called). Perhaps that's the source of my problems.

Also I had several cassettes where the felt pad fell off of the copper band that supported the tape. Grrr...

From a business standpoint alone, it seems unwise to sell a product in a format that, right off the bat, eliminates maybe 80% of your potential clientele. On the other hand, these little cassette music labels keep chugging right along, so there must be a big enough market to support them.

Last night I listened to: Specta Ciera & The Circular Ruins- Middle Distance. Pure magic!

[thirdsystem]

Last night I listened to: Specta Ciera & The Circular Ruins- Middle Distance. Pure magic!

Brilliant album, play it frequently.

Currently checking out...... Castleview- Oceanscape . Dark, deep and interesting.

Then it will be two of my favourite ambient albums of all time to chill and fall asleep to.

   

Thom Brennan - Vibrant Water and Mist Two stunning albums of ambient beauty.

[Joe R]

Last night I listened to: Specta Ciera & The Circular Ruins- Middle Distance. Pure magic!

Brilliant album, play it frequently.

Have you ever heard Anthony's disc, calledDescription Without Place- Filaments? Check it out on Dataobscura, it's amazing.

[Joe R]

Okay, I screwed up the quote and reply thing, but I recommend you to check out Description Without Place on Dataobscura.

[chris23]

I second that Description Without Place recommendation!

Yair Elazar Glotman - Northern Gulfs
Super interesting album from Glacial Movements. It combines three things I love: isolationist ambiance, field recordings, and Geiger counter-like clicks and static. This is a true stand-out album; the last track in particular, Home Port, is a jewel.

Steam/Buy: https://glacialmovements.bandcamp.com/album/northern-gulfs

[Castleview]

Currently checking out...... Castleview- Oceanscape . Dark, deep and interesting.

Thanks!

NP: Windy & Carl - I Have Been Waiting To Hear Your Voice

[jkn]

playing Periskop again... from his 40 album release...  massively amazing stuff.  I still haven't heard all 40 - many I've heard over and over because I love them and just don't move on.  Discovering some of the others in more depth.

http://periskop.cc

Yep - they're all free.  It's Danny Kreutzfeldt who's released on APK's label a couple times under earlier names.

So far - I've found only 2 out of the 40 that didn't connect with me.  I've probably heard 30 of them so far.

[thirdsystem]

Okay, I screwed up the quote and reply thing, but I recommend you to check out Description Without Place on Dataobscura.

Checked out the "Description Without Place" samples Joe. Nice, on the list (extensive  )

Currently listening to The Circular Ruins: Retrospective 2009 Some really great stuff on this free download.

[Castleview]

Alio Die- Suspended Feathers

A true standout in Alio Die's huge discography.

Yair Elazar Glotman - Northern Gulfs
Super interesting album from Glacial Movements. It combines three things I love: isolationist ambiance, field recordings, and Geiger counter-like clicks and static. This is a true stand-out album; the last track in particular, Home Port, is a jewel.

Steam/Buy: https://glacialmovements.bandcamp.com/album/northern-gulfs

I listened to the opener earlier and it was really cool. I need to find the time to listen to the rest of it.

[Joe R]

Okay, I screwed up the quote and reply thing, but I recommend you to check out Description Without Place on Dataobscura.

Checked out the "Description Without Place" samples Joe. Nice, on the list (extensive  )

Currently listening to The Circular Ruins: Retrospective 2009 Some really great stuff on this free download.

Glad you checked, I think you'll like it! There's nothing else quite like it.

[Castleview]

Micronesia Guitar Trio- A# 1/1

This is now my favorite album of the year. Lots of guitar noise with an industrial aesthetic but with more than enough ambience and structure to keep it far from getting into Merzbow territory.

http://crumbwaves.bandcamp.com/album/a-1-1

[thirdsystem]

Gert Emmens and Ruud Heij- Signs  Ambient album from these talented lads. This is superb, reminiscent of Floyd in some parts and an album of ambient magnificence. Check out the title track......

Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij - SIGNS

http://home.zonnet.nl/gert.emmens/

[Dave Michuda]

I know most of the posts in this thread are for ambient music but I thought I'd post a few of my favorite "normal" releases from the first few months of this year.

Damien Jurado - Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son
War on Drugs - Lost In The Dream
Bill Callahan - Have Fun With God
Gem Club - In Roses
Wye Oak - Shriek
The Horrors - Luminous
EMA - the future's void
St Vincent - St Vincent
Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots

When friends or co-workers bitch that there is no good music anymore I usually just punch them in the face.  Seriously, there is a ton of great music being released constantly.  You just have to look & listen.

[chris23]

Daniel W. J. Mackenzie - Teeth Sleep Under Winking Black Eyelid
A pretty neat release by Dan Mackenzie/Ekca Liena. I think this was self-released a few years ago, then Facture/Fluid Audio released a limited edition (70 or so copies?) version in March, and, when that sold out, Mackenzie made a digital version available online for a 'pay what you wish' rate. Mostly piano and various forms of experimentation. Not a memorable release, but a solid piece of modern experimental composition.
Buy/Listen: https://ekcaliena.bandcamp.com/album/teeth-sleep-under-winking-black-eyelid

Castleview - Oceanscape
This is my favorite of the various Castleview albums I've heard. It feels a bit dark to me, although I don't know if that was the intention. One of the things I appreciate about it is that it is easy to sense the ocean-like depth of the work when primed to expect it via the title, but that specific theme isn't made explicit in the work (i.e., there are not obvious samples of waves crashing).
Buy/Listen: https://castleview.bandcamp.com/album/oceanscape 

[Seren]

Fear Falls Burning - The Infinite Sea of Sustain

[drone on]

Cosmic Ground s/t.  Hmmmmm, the 70's TD vibe here is well done but music wise it doesn't leave a lasting impression.  I will have to give it a couple more spins...

[Castleview]

Ulwhednar - Withatten 1892

Revisiting this album and it's great dark ambient music.

[hjalmer]

np

heavy dream traffic
oophoi | dreams 1 2 3

missing gigi soulglue


h

[thirdsystem]

Gert Emmens and Ruud Heij - Signs
Robert Schroeder - Slow Motion some nice Berlin School stuff, but also a mixture of styles within.

Addicted to these two at the moment.