Currently listening, part 1

[chris23]

Deaf Center - Recount
Recount is a new EP of two Deaf Center sessions from a few years ago. The two tracks are amazing. The mood is dark and mysterious, not unlike that evoked by some of the tracks from Pale Ravine. Most of the sound comes from piano, bowed guitar, creaking piano stools, and the subdued swells of organ and strings. The packaging is unique and interesting also--the outer case contains an intricate laser cut pattern that reveals, in a mysterious manner, the imagery on the inner sleeve.

Buy/Listen: http://sonicpieces.bigcartel.com/product/deaf-center-recount

[chris23]

Castleview: I gave that Dronny Darko and SandSpace release a listen and enjoyed it. Good recommendation!

Andrew Lahiff - Intangible Imbrications
This guy seems to know the secret to producing beautiful, floating, ambient.  Digital only (and "name your price").
https://andrewlahiff.bandcamp.com/album/intangible-imbrications

[drone on]

Otavan Veret-s/t.  Recent release on Cyclic Law.  Another slice of gloomy thick and atmospheric dark ambient from Cyclic Law.  I'd describe this as cosmic ritual space ambient.  Very nice album.

[chris23]

Max Corbacho - Ars Lucis
Recently bought this 2009 release digitally on Bandcamp. So beautiful and serene.
Buy/sample: https://maxcorbacho.bandcamp.com/album/ars-lucis

[Castleview]

Duff Egan - Elephant Head

https://duffegan.bandcamp.com/album/elephant-head

Duff Egan used to be Earth Orbit Audio System but now he's under a new alias and this is a brilliant return. I think it's the best thing he's ever done. It feels more organic than his previous work and his production skills have improved overall.

I haven't quite finished listening yet but it's awesome so far.

[chris23]

Wil Bolton - Bokeh
New release on Home Normal. Field recordings, guitar, and electronics, layered over sketchy drones. Pretty nice.
Buy/Listen: https://homenormal.bandcamp.com/album/bokeh

The Ashes of Piemonte - Datura Notes
One of my favorite releases from 2013, featuring Wil Bolton and Lee Anthony Norris. Guess I was on a Wil Bolton kick today!
Buy/Listen: https://twicerememberedtwiceremoved.bandcamp.com/album/datura-notes

[drone on]

ELP--Brain Salad Surgery deluxe.  Great album.  Greg Lake, what a voice!

King Crimson--In the Wake of Poseidon. 

Urenga--Mu, the Lost Continent.  Ambient dub techno on the excellent gterma label.  Great stuff, even better than After Rain, his first one. 

Robert Plant--Pictures at Eleven.  Sublime first solo album.  Guitarist Robbie Blunt gives Jimmy Page a run for his money.  Phil Collins on drums.  An absolutely perfect band and great songwriting.  After the equally great Principle of Moments, he went downhill.

[Castleview]

Maeror Tri - The A.V.E. - Tapes/Live In Nevers

https://zhelezobeton.bandcamp.com/album/the-a-v-e-tapes-live-in-nevers

I didn't know this existed until recently. Cool stuff. I like ambient industrial music.

[jdh]

Carbon Based Lifeforms-23.I knew about the label,Ultimae, and thought is was downtempo trance.But this CBL is all ambient,no beats and well recorded.Gentle melodies in there mixed with field recordings.BC
Pink Floyd-Dark Side 2 Disc version-Do we need another remaster of Dark Side,no.But the second disc is why I bought this.It is great.Most songs are longer,some double the length.Well recorded for a rough live mix.CD
Opening-Collection 1-5 tracks from Databloem/APK.The original VA compilation of this series and still the best.CD

[drone on]

Seeing the Seren Ffordd thread tipped me off to explore the massive Umbra catalog again, so recently, all by Seren:

The Quiet Labyrinth
Realms beyond the stars and light
The Portals Dreaming
Aurora
A Melancholy Light

Special music, special label...

[APK]

Opening-Collection 1  -5 tracks from Databloem/APK. The original VA compilation of this series and still the best.CD

Great to be reminded of this one. The very first Databloem release 12 years ago, when Dennis Knopper and I started the label, later adding Dataobscura, and years later going our own ways ... Dennis (in Holland) turning Databloem into the excellent general electro-ambient store that we know today.
This album is unfortunately no longer available:
http://databloem.com/home/55-various-collection-1-opening.html

[Castleview]

Opening-Collection 1  -5 tracks from Databloem/APK. The original VA compilation of this series and still the best.CD

Great to be reminded of this one. The very first Databloem release 12 years ago, when Dennis Knopper and I started the label, later adding Dataobscura, and years later going our own ways ... Dennis (in Holland) turning Databloem into the excellent general electro-ambient store that we know today.
This album is unfortunately no longer available:
http://databloem.com/home/55-various-collection-1-opening.html

Wow, I didn't know that you helped found Databloem.

[Seren]

Seeing the Seren Ffordd thread tipped me off to explore the massive Umbra catalog again, so recently, all by Seren:

The Quiet Labyrinth
Realms beyond the stars and light
The Portals Dreaming
Aurora
A Melancholy Light

Special music, special label...

 

[thirdsystem]

Carbon Based Lifeforms-23.I knew about the label,Ultimae, and thought is was downtempo trance.But this CBL is all ambient,no beats and well recorded.Gentle melodies in there mixed with field recordings.

I have a fair few Ultimae releases. Got the "Carbon Pack" a while back which is the first 3 CBL releases. Very high quality melodic orientated ambient. Haven't listened for a good while so will dig them out this week . Also have Aes Dana, Hybrid Leisure Land, James Murray, Solar Fields, Sync 24. All high quality stuff. Best of the lot though is Cell - Hanging Gardens, stunning.

Bizarrely, the one I listen to most is the I Awake - Birth EP, beat orientated melodic ambient. This is my shower music, perfect length for a good long soak and loud enough to hear over the shower as ambient is a bit tricky in that regard.  Too much info there but hey ho, great music 

[thirdsystem]

Got hold of ........Steve Roach - Mystic Chords and Sacred Spaces 1 and 2 .  All I will say is thanks very much to those of you who recommended it in that Steve Roach topic.

Also new this week is ..............



Thom Brennan - Shimmer - Beautiful, drifting, shimmering ambient on a par with Vibrant Water and Mist. 3 fantastic ambient albums.

[drone on]

I think you meant Hanging MASSES.  Not to be confused with the Cure's Hanging GARDEN...

[thirdsystem]

I think you meant Hanging MASSES.  Not to be confused with the Cure's Hanging GARDEN...

Actually it's a special, limited edition Ultimae release............. which is a hybrid Cell album combined with  Carbon Based Lifeforms - Hydroponic Garden.






PS That is bollox and you are quite correct Drone On 

[APK]

Ah ... Cell ...
Hanging Masses is very good.
Live at Kumharas is phenomenal.

I've been playing the 5 album Namlook Silence collection all day. Some wonderful pieces.

[thirdsystem]

Silence V in particular is something very special. An ambient masterpiece.......for me.

This Robert Rich performance has been posted elsewhere, don't know if any of you have seen it or if the link is on here somewhere. Absolutely fantastic to see and hear this.......


http://youtu.be/U_Ff7h0CZw0


Robert Rich on KFJC, May 28 2014 (complete authorized video)

[drone on]

Silence is one of those series on Fax that I just never got into.  It's good but not great.  I also think it got weaker over the progression of the releases.  IMO of course.