Currently listening, part 1

[Castleview]

Thanks. Honestly, by the time I got into his music, a lot of the stuff he's been putting on his Bandcamp was long out of print already.

I've heard a track from True North before and I enjoyed it. I thought about buying a used copy for $20 off of Amazon a while back but I passed on it.

[Seren]

I think Dissolution is my favourite - very dense drones and sounds, each time I upgrade my hi-fi I hear knew sounds in it.... 8) 8) 8)

[jdh]

Autumn of Communion-AOC 5.The final installment I am told.Judging by the artistic cover of tombstones,I guess it is the end.Great series.

Ishq-Winter Light.1 long track,very serene with all the usual sounds.Lovely.

Chameleons-Peel Sessions.Always amazing.Big North American tour of the Vox version in 2015.

Cabaret Voltaire-Red Mecca.My favorite Cab period is 78-83.

[chris23]

jdh: I streamed AOC5 and it is fantastic--like crazy, sell-your-soul good. I plan to order this as soon as it is listed on Databloem.

Recent listens:

Spheruleus - Chronota
A new digital-only release. This is Spheruleus/Harry doing what he does best: low-fi acoustic drones. But there is something special about this one--the atmosphere and sounds all lock together perfectly. The tracks transport me to that moment in time when day is breaking, the birds are singing, and I have the house all to myself because everyone else is asleep. Damn, now I want to brew some coffee...

https://spheruleus.bandcamp.com/album/chronota


Purl - Cosimo di Rondò
Digitial release on bandcamp; billed as his first release, but I'm only hearing it now. It is quite lovely. This guy has some chops.

http://eternell.net/album/purl-cosimo-di-rond


Steve Roach - The Magnificent Void
This album was a life-changing purchase for me in the 90s and I often return to it for inspiration (Infinite Shore and Altus are some of my favorite tracks in the genre). But I rarely find the time to listen to it from start to finish, in one listening. I did so this past weekend and it was a religious experience. I know some people consider this album to be over-hyped; I'm not one of those people.

https://heartsofspacerecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-magnificent-void

[Dave Michuda]

Chris,  thanks for the heads up on that Spheruleus album.  I got Harry's email about it but never got around to listening.  Just bought & downloaded.

Other spins...
Janek Schaefer - Unfolding Luxury beyond the City of Dreams  https://dekorder.bandcamp.com/album/unfolding-luxury-beyond-the-city-of-dreams
Porya Hatami - Shallow   http://noise.poryahatami.com/album/shallow

non-ambient:
The Decemberists - What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World  -  Another excellent release from these guys.  Can't wait to see them in March.

[thirdsystem]

jdh: I streamed AOC5 and it is fantastic--like crazy, sell-your-soul good. I plan to order this as soon as it is listed on Databloem.

Here Chris, will it actually be listed for sale on Databloem ? Shown as limited edition of 150 on ...txt. I pre-ordered months ago but it still seems to be available for ordering. Doubt that will be the case for long.

http://www.txtrecordings.co.uk/

Thanks J for mentioning it is on bandcamp, off to check it out right now.

[thirdsystem]

Abandoned Communities

This Databloem CD has been on constant play for the past week. Excellent, dark, melancholic ambient.

[Seren]

Steve Roach - The Magnificent Void
This album was a life-changing purchase for me in the 90s and I often return to it for inspiration (Infinite Shore and Altus are some of my favorite tracks in the genre). But I rarely find the time to listen to it from start to finish, in one listening. I did so this past weekend and it was a religious experience. I know some people consider this album to be over-hyped; I'm not one of those people.

https://heartsofspacerecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-magnificent-void

I agree - been a while since I listened to this but it is a magnificent album.

[APK]

- Alio Die / Montana :: holographic codex
Love the first track, less keen on the others though.
- Loscil :: sea island
Improves with each listen. Excellent.
- Porya Hatamai :: the garden
Liking this delicate glichy sound quite a lot.
- Been picking up a few 12K Bandcamp releases and enjoying them too.
Isn't Bandcamp great !

[drone on]

Amen to The Chameleons!!  Been listening to remastered Peel Sessions and using the nifty free key chain that came with it.  The vox tour is not until the fall.  I hope their album is finally released because I think the band will just end up being a nostalgic trip ad infinitum.  Mark must have some more good songs to unleash.

[Dave Michuda]

Deep into Justin Vernon's universe right now...

DeYarmond Edison - Silent Signs (2005)  - Vernon's first band, very good folk, Americana sound.  From the ashes of this band would rise Bon Iver, Megafaun & Field Report.

Amateur Love - It's All Aquatic (2003 - re-released in 2012) - This album is from his friend & fellow Wisconsin resident, Josh Scott.  The main reason Justin Vernon formed his own record label was so he could re-release this album.  Excellent straight forward indie rock.  Josh Scott is said to be working with Vernon on a new record as Aero Flynn.

Megafaun - Bury the Square (2008)  -  Three members from DeYarmond Edison went on to form Megafaun based in North Carolina, actually 2 of them were also in Amateur Love as well.  Good folk/psych music, definitely more psych than Vernon's music.

S. Carey - All We Grow  -  Sean Carey is the plays piano & drums for Bon Iver and is a fellow Wisconsonite.  I've been playing this in preparation for an intimate show he is playing tonight a couple miles from my home.

[DeepR]

Steve Roach - The Magnificent Void
This album was a life-changing purchase for me in the 90s and I often return to it for inspiration (Infinite Shore and Altus are some of my favorite tracks in the genre). But I rarely find the time to listen to it from start to finish, in one listening. I did so this past weekend and it was a religious experience. I know some people consider this album to be over-hyped; I'm not one of those people.

Ha! Pop music is overhyped.
TMV is a piece of art music that deverves all the recognition it gets, and more. I think in fact many "modern classical composers" would be in awe once they heard what Steve Roach has achieved on this album and some of his other masterpieces.

[thirdsystem]

Tangerine Dream - The Phaedra Farewell Concerts 2014

Farewell Edgar

:( :'(

[jdh]

The Caretaker-An Empty Bliss Beyond This World. On BC.This is a strange one.The name and music is inspired by The Shining.I heard of this person in the media from reviews but never his music and his various side projects.Something about this one that is disturbing and ghostly and at the same time innocent and comforting.Interesting.

Labraford-Prazision.I think this was the first ever Kranky release.This was the band that started for me what I call the new lo-fi movement.Sounds like it was recorded on a 4 track cassette and was I think the template for the Kranky sound.Sort of post rock and similar to the first few SOTL releases.

RIP Edgar.I was never that into TD more Kraftwerk but no denying that TD were highly influential in the 70s.

[drone on]

Lots of Bernd Kistenmacher, especially his My Little Universe box and his very good new album Paradise.

Alio Die/L. Montana--Holographic Codex.  I had the opposite reaction, thought the first track didn't really fit as their styles are so different.  Montana's beats sound too much like his collabs with Namlook.  The rest of the album is more Alio and is pretty good, typical Alio drones. 

Alio Die/Parallel Worlds--Elusive Metaphor, Aglaia--Intangible Opacity.  Gotta love these esoteric album titles!!  Well since Projekt took over a month of pre order status, I got a refund and download ed from iTunes.  Elusive is quite good, nice analog synths to add some interesting texture.  The Aglaia is typical highly atmospheric organic droneage.  I always look forward more to his albums than anything else on Hic Sunt Leones.

I really want to like this new Roach/Metcalf album but I just can't get past Metcalf's intrusive drumming.  Never really cared for their collabs or Metcalf solo albums. 

[Poaalpina]

Aphrodite's Child - The Four Horsemen (video)

R.I.P.  :'( 

[chris23]

Well since Projekt took over a month of pre order status, I got a refund and download ed from iTunes.

Doh. I think the shipment from Italy just arrived this weekend; I got a 'package sent' email from Projekt today for the two recent Alio Die releases.

Jacob Newman and Devin Underwood - The Vivid Unmapped
A 2011 release from DataObscura. I recall Joe R. and others singing the praises of this album a while back. I picked up the digital version on Bandcamp last week and have been enjoying it immensely. It has a little bit of everything: a classic ambient feel with warm, drifting synth notes and a bit of an experimental angle, with found founds, interesting sonic manipulations, etc. The atmosphere is great--not too dark, not too fluffy, and somewhat mysterious.

Samply/Buy: https://dataobscura.bandcamp.com/album/the-vivid-unmapped

[SunDummy]

Also, any other Grassow albums on there that you would recommend? The selection is already staggering.

I've been streaming his stuff for days now; lots of good stuff.  "Through Past In Future " was today's highlight, tribal ambient with some strange guitar/drum bits on the last track.  Worth a listen.

[Joe R]

Jacob Newman and Devin Underwood - The Vivid Unmapped
A 2011 release from DataObscura. I recall Joe R. and others singing the praises of this album a while back. I picked up the digital version on Bandcamp last week and have been enjoying it immensely. It has a little bit of everything: a classic ambient feel with warm, drifting synth notes and a bit of an experimental angle, with found founds, interesting sonic manipulations, etc. The atmosphere is great--not too dark, not too fluffy, and somewhat mysterious.

Samply/Buy: https://dataobscura.bandcamp.com/album/the-vivid-unmapped

I knew you'd like it, Chris. And your description is spot on. Beautiful stuff! Some tracks have an amazing sense of distance, as though you're hearing sounds of life and nature from miles away.

[Poaalpina]

I'd highly recommend Space.
If Sphere, Eclipse and Dissolution appear on the site I'd highly recommend them too.

I also really like his collaboration with Amir Baghiri, True North

Dissolution --> https://mathiasgrassow.bandcamp.com/album/1999-dissolution