Review: Phonogramme Recordings compere five sweet but breathy jam-house bits from producer Taelue, overseeing the highly anticipated new EP that is 'Dark Worlds'. From the opening, downcast kicks and singing wine glasses of 'Wistful' - full of wist - to the nominal sequel 'Wistful (An Abacus Story)', a much trickier, more swung version of the prior track, to which only more considered listens reveal a relation, we find ourselves already in for a moody yet relaxing treat. The B-side ekes a jam-packed marrow from the A-sides otherwise fleshy bone, erring more on lo-fi; 'Deviancy' and 'Scythe' echo Delroy Edwards with their twin skittish, muted movements, whilst the B3 reprise of 'Wistful' homes in on the lone backing for the establishing number.
Review: The late Edgar Froese-fronted German band Tangerine Dream are cult heroes to those of us who enjoy proto-electronic sounds. From kosmisch to prog, new age to kraut, they did it all and then some and were still going by 2011 when they released Mona Da Vinci. The album showcases the band's signature mystical soundscapes and was created by Froese before his passing with a mix of ambient, electronic and cinematic elements and plenty of his pioneering synth work. The album remains a standout in the band's vast catalogue and has been remastered for this release so its ethereal textures and evocative melodies sound superb and stand as a testament to Froese's enduring influence.
Review: Commissioned by Meow Wolf for their Omega Mart immersive art experience in Las Vegas, Amon Tobin delivers the kind of horizon-expanding epic you would hope for from one of the world's most respected living electronic music visionaries. Running at 20 minutes, give or take 40 seconds, this collection of movements worthy of an odyssey may have been designed for a specific context, but they don't have to be trapped there forever. While nothing will compare to diving headfirst into Meow Wolf's critically acclaimed installation piece, a kind of sci-fi takedown of advanced capitalism and blind consumerism in a morally bankrupt world, separating sounds from space still makes a big impact. Noises from the future, soundscapes from the depths of a truly astounding mind, this is nothing if not captivating.
Review: Spclnch kicks off a brand new sub-series here with Toki Fuko at the helm. It comes with a conceptual back story that says in 2045, MindTech researchers discovered a phenomenon in neural networks called "Phantom Scripts." These glitches occur when a person sleeps or closes their eyes, causing the brain to generate images and phrases in response to internal impulses from the neuro-interface. Musically this is full-fat ambient with cinematic and evocative sounds packed into the slowly snaking rhythms. It's creepy, unsettling, but deeply absorbing.
Review: In remembrance of Pete Birch, AKA Woosh, AKA The Peaceful Ones and founder of Spirit Wrestlers. Four ambient pieces, three of which were released as part of Pete's 52 Card Trick series on the Spirit Wrestlers Bandcamp site, plus another piece which was a favourite of Pete's but was never finished in time.
Collected together on vinyl for the first time, all profits from the sale of this record will be donated to the Spirit Wrestlers Foundation. Set up after Pete's passing, the Foundation promotes the belief that ""Music is the Healing Force of the Universe"", that ""Love Is the Most Important Thing"" and helps causes that were close to his heart. Nx
Review: The rather enigmatic Tonearm is back with a new transmission that is clearly inspired by the ambient innovations of AFX. Innocent synth modulations, naive keys and thinking patterns all bring futuristic AI visions of peaceful utopia to life on 'Minerva', which is a beatless delight. 'Luminance' has a deeply buried rhythm and sustained chords that hum up top, then 'Isko' has cascading melodic rain and hurried rhythm suggestions way off in the distance. 'Ilthat' allows a moment of hope and joy with its brighter synth colours deftly looped and ever shape shifting. A quiet, impressive future sound full of nostalgia.
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