Julio di Benedetto- Original Light. This excellent album will easily rank high in my Best of 2015 list. I buy so much music it's hard to devote enough time to everything. Some stuff I literally listen to once and shelve it to return to months later because it didn't impress on the first or first couple listens. I've been fighting to really make time for this album. This disc has been mesmerizing every listen, the most recent in the car today on a sunny beautiful day. It was an odd choice for the weather but somehow it fit perfectly. To me the music has a strong early Vidna Obmana feel (e.g. The Trilogy on Projekt), with the hauntingly melancholic stretched out synth chords and a feeling of deep respect for the natural environment. Whereas Vidna's sound was often cold, though, there is a warmth in this recording that envelopes like a warm blanket on a chilly day. The CD moves through different moods, from dark, to shadowy, to glistening light, remaining amazingly cohesive from start to finish. These are more like movements rather than individual tracks. Although the Vidna comparison is what initially comes to mind, it's soon obvious there is an originality to this sound. I'm very impressed by what I've discovered in this artist's music, and very much looking forward to more. I hope the album reaches as many ambient fans as possible.
