Currently listening, part 1

[drone on]

I've been immersed in these Echospace Detroit recent releases by Cv313 and Echospace.  Two are double CD's.  Ambient dub techno heaven!

[jdh]

Ha,yes I noticed that beforehand.Zenith is not a solo project but who was Carlos anyway.He never did anything else on Fax.

[Dave Michuda]

Spheruleus - Selected Works - Spheruleus Bandcamp
Purl - Behind Clouds  -  Purl Bandcamp
Prins Thomas - Prins Thomas III
Taylor Deupree - lost & compiled

And then there's this puzzle...

Brian Eno and Karl Hyde - Someday World  -  Being an Eno fan & an Underworld fan I was excited for this release but I can't figure out how I feel about this album.  I like some parts of it, other tunes, like Daddy's Car, could have been so much better with different instrumentation or production.  I guess that's my biggest problem with the record - the production - it feels cheap & thin.  The absolutely horrible synth horns of the first single, Satellites, is one example.  I'm assuming they are synth horns cuz they sounds so 80s-Casio like.  Were they going for some sort of retro, kitschy sound?  I know mimicking 80s synth sounds is in vogue but it falls brutally flat here.  That song is indicative of the production & feel of much of the album.  As I said before it feels cheap and thin.  That being said, I like parts of it & I think the album will grow on me.

Anybody else have any opinions on this one?

[petekelly]

I haven't heard 'Someday World' as such, but I saw them playing on Jools Holland on the BBC and I can't say I was terribly impresssed. I have a huge amount of respect for Eno for what he's done, but those performances were just so so. Everyone was having a good time and all that, but (to me) it was rather flat.

[Antdude]

How to Disappear Completely - Oblivion/Rites
Digital only release, available on bandcamp. Drifting, weightless ambient with sounds that cast shadows.

https://htdc.bandcamp.com/album/oblivion-rites

Thanks for the heads-up on this, I was completely unaware of it. Beautiful stuff.

[thirdsystem]

And then there's this puzzle...

Brian Eno and Karl Hyde - Someday World

Almost bought this on vinyl when I was down in Glasgow. Fopp have a new large vinyl section and had this. Decided on The Stones - Beggars Banquet and Rush Vapour Trails LPs instead.

Will have to try and check "Someday World" out before getting the record then. Unfortunately it's not on Spotify.

[thirdsystem]

How to Disappear Completely - Oblivion/Rites
Digital only release, available on bandcamp. Drifting, weightless ambient with sounds that cast shadows.

https://htdc.bandcamp.com/album/oblivion-rites

Thanks for the heads-up on this, I was completely unaware of it. Beautiful stuff.

Just checked this out. Absolutely beautiful album.....melancholy but uplifting also, will have to get this one and check out their other stuff.

[chris23]

Glad you enjoyed HTDC. Really neat stuff. I especially like the 3rd and 4th tracks on Oblivion/Rites.

Lorenzo Montanà - Haemus
This was just released at Carpe Sonum. I spent the day listening to the digital download on repeat; hopefully the CD will arrive next week. This album is incredible. It seems like a bit of a departure from some of his other releases. Most of the tracks are mellow, slow moving synth pieces with occasional acoustic-organic sounds and textures. But there is a lot of variation, making this a great album for deep, attentive listening.

Buy/Listen: https://carpesonum.bandcamp.com/album/haemus
All the tracks are excellent, but I'm especially smitten with the first one, Secret Hill.

[thirdsystem]

Hah, just listening to this right now, second listen.

Lorenzo Montanà - Haemus

Beautiful album from Lorenzo, interesting to hear his more ambient approach on this, away from his more upbeat melodic content.

Also downloaded Lee Anthony Norris & Porya Hatami- The Longing Daylight https://carpesonum.bandcamp.com/album/the-longing-daylight. Equally magnificent.

[xouoxno]

Checking out the extra two CDs on the reissue of Jon Hassell - City: Works of Fiction, a live show (I was there!!!) and a disc of remixes.

[Dave Michuda]

Playing some older stuff...

Laurie Anderson - United States I - IV
Marconi Union - Distance
rf (ryan francesconi) - views of distant towns
Saul Stokes - Burning Igloo

[Seren]

Roach and Serries - low volume music

[thirdsystem]

Steve Roach - Structures From Silence all 3 discs one after the other.

Utterly magnificent. This is and will be one of my most played ambient albums. So glad I saw you lads posting about it on here. Cheers.

I will now be in Die Welt ist Klang mode for the foreseeable future. 8CDs of music in tribute to my favourite electronic man - Mr Namlook.

[Julio Di Benedetto]

Just want to say to regular "Currently Playing" contributors you are truly the breath of longevity for this genre....the music I have discovered with your guidance!  Thank you!

[drone on]

I agree.  This is my favorite thread as I find out what I may be missing.

[jdh]

Agree as well.Many discoveries here.I think we should thank Mike for the forum!

[chris23]

I agree as well. Lots of good leads in this thread!

thirdsystem: Keep us posted on Die Welt ist Klang. I'm tempted to order it, but it seems like a lot of money to spend at once. I suspect if I don't buy it, I'll regret it down the road.

ASC - Truth Be Told
Truth Be Told is the new ASC release on Silent Season and it picks up seamlessly where Time Heals All left off. The mood is a bit sorrowful and lonely, but with hints of hope. The tracks are beatless, floating ambient, with loops that build and evolve in fascinating ways.

Buy/Listen: http://shop.silentseason.com/album/truth-be-told

Note: The physical is sold out, but the digital is available for sale. In addition, SS has made digital copies available for the previous two ASC releases on SS. If you missed Time Heals All last year, this is a great opportunity to grab it; it was my favorite of 2013.

[Castleview]

Rec008 - No Wake Up - No Sad

If you like some shoegaze in your ambient music like I do, I highly recommend this.

http://gv-sound.bandcamp.com/album/no-wake-up-no-sad

And I agree that this thread rules for finding new ambient music.

[thirdsystem]

thirdsystem: Keep us posted on Die Welt ist Klang. I'm tempted to order it, but it seems like a lot of money to spend at once. I suspect if I don't buy it, I'll regret it down the road.

For Chris and anyone on here who is interested there are only 19 box sets left on the Carpe Sonum site.

http://namlooktribute.bandcamp.com/album/die-welt-ist-klang-a-tribute-to-pete-namlook

For me this box set is the best packaging and musical content of anything I have purchased in my entire life. It is simply stunning. I had a long wait for this, over a year since I paid but it has exceeded my expectations. In fact I feel it is worth considerably more, and I would pay more for it to be honest.

The eight CDs are approx 75% ambient with some of that melodic. Two discs or so are more beat orientated and whilst that has never really been my thing I really enjoy whats there and the balance is perfect actually. Some absolutely wonderful music and I will be checking out many of the artists further.

As A FAXhead who was involved in the original voting etc for the content I think what has been achieved here by Dave at Carpe Sonum is really something special. I am so glad I bought this and my patience has been rewarded.

The other saving grace here is that if the box set is too costly it can also be bought in download form or even just streamed over bandcamp.

Worth thinking about acquiring the lovely wooden box set though 

[chris23]

Also downloaded Lee Anthony Norris & Porya Hatami- The Longing Daylight https://carpesonum.bandcamp.com/album/the-longing-daylight. Equally magnificent.

Lee Anthony Norris & Porya Hatami - The Longing Daylight
I've been listening to this a lot too. It is a lovely collaboration, with a more delicate side than what I've heard from either of these artists solo. The first track in particular, Druid Liquid, is really neat: great melodies, nice use of water samples, and an atmosphere of mystery. Carpe Sonum is definitely a label to watch.