Juno Recommends Ambient / Drone August 2018

Review: Since Deepchord helped launch Astral Industries with the sublime "Lanterns" double-album in 2014, the London label has gone on to become a reliable source of dreamy ambient techno and blissful, otherworldly ambience (for proof, check out the releases from Waveform Transmission, the Chi Factory and Heavenly Music Corporation). Predictably, Deepchord's return to the imprint is every bit as wonderful as you'd expect. While naturally underpinned by restless dub techno rhythms and wrapped in Rod Modell's usual densely layered aural textures, the two tracks that make up Immersions are far wavier and more ambient-focused than much of the Detroit producer's work. And, yes, both tracks are exceedingly immersive. You shouldn't need a second invitation to dive right in.

Review: The latest transmission from Emotional Response's ever-essential Schleissen series takes a trip to the Fourth World with Jon Keliehor on the A side. There's no denying the influence of Jon Hassell on tracks like opener "Serpent In The Sky," but Keliehor channels those exotic notions into some truly captivating music that is all his own. From chiming tones to purposeful percussion, his sound is a rich and evocative one, beautifully recorded and artfully composed. On the other side, Lord Of The Isles indulges his ambient side to great effect with no less than seven vignettes of varying moods and energies, all played out through delicately handled synthesisers.

Review: 2003's Radio Amor has been one of our personal Tim Hecker favourites. For an artist who has released and collaborated on so much timeless ambient music, it is a bold statement. But, it is also a calculated one. The fact that it hasn't been reissued on vinyl since its original drop does have an effect, of course, but it's also one of Hecker's most pensive works, with its tunes lingering mid-air with a confidence that is rarely heard in ambient and drone these days. For instance, the sinister tension of "Spectral" reigns supreme over most other tracks of its ilk, but the majority of its quality rests in propensity to blend different emotions thanks to disparate sounds and an inhuman build up of energy. Highly recommended.

Review: Since bursting onto the scene via a series of bustling, bass-heavy and dancefloor-focused 12" singles at the turn of the decade, Pariah (AKA late developer Arthur Cayzar) has been surprisingly quiet. It turns out he was ridden with angst about the music he was making and unsure of which direction to take. As this long-awaited - and, we should add, rather brilliant - debut album proves, he's final found inner peace. "Here From Where We Are" is, first and foremost, a home listening album. It contains gentle, evocative and slowly shifting electronic soundscapes that largely look towards ambient, neo-classical, drone and dub techno for inspiration. There's no speaker-busting sub-bass explosions or riotous peak-time rhythms, just becalmed and stunningly beautiful compositions that are in turns spellbinding, melancholic and hugely poignant.

Review: Having released on labels like 1080p or Common Edit, the talented Khotin feels like a natural addition to Canada's Pacific Rhythm imprint. But, we want to make it crystal clear that it is his music that has won him the spot on the label, and given him the chance to release his fourth studio album, another majestic collection of ambient experiments that spread out much further than the innocuous drones we're used to hearing nowadays. In fact, "New Tab" is our favourite electronic release of July 2018, much of that decision resting on the fact that this is enchanting and seductive from the first moments, never letting our minds stray too far. We like to call it 'rhythmic drone', where the looseness and abstract nature of synthesizers is propelled into motion by subtle percussive elements and enchanting vocal samples. Sick!

Review: Klaus Schulze and Peter Namlook's The Dark Side Of The Moog Vol 4, receives a timely update on vinyl, having only been reissued a handful of times since its first release, all the way back in a tech-heavy, sci-fi-centric 1996. Much like the second volume, which should be bought in conjuction with this opener, you'll be stuck to find any better sources of ambient or drone on these charts particularly for its explorative nature. Yes, the modern kids might verge further into the heart of the rave, but this music has a way of lifting the soul that's rarely matched and unfailingly inimitable. Led by images of time and space, the legendary duo's music is truly capable of tele-transporting you into a higher state of consciousness; the best thing about it is how rich and fresh it sounds upon each new listen. Highly recommended.

Review: Going back even further into their chest of treasures, all the way back to 1995, Klaus Schulze and Pete Namlook's The Dark Side Of The Moog project is here with a reissue of its third instalment, from 1995, and it's crazy for us to think that we have two certified legends on our charts, across several reissues of the mother series, which should most certainly be purchased in unison. This is the source in terms of ambient and drone, perhaps even surpassing some of the work done by Brian Eno across his own illustrious career. This collection of words is shorthand for "purchase now!".

Review: The West Mineral imprint is shaping up to be one of the hottest prospects in experimental music this year, with the label dropping three killer records to crown their debut. The latest comes from Pontiac Streator and Ulla Straus, two young artists who have begun to collaborate magnificently, delving into the deeper, more intricate side of percussion, bass, and improvisation. Chat is truly killer throughout, weaving away amid sporadic drums and a washed out bass, often sounding much like the constructions of a dub tune, and there are four parts to it. Part 1 rolls its drums out hither and dither, alongside a flurry of dread bass, whereas Part 2 is much more freeform in aesthetic, its drums bouncing with the help of delay and echo. "Chat Three" teases the crowds with a subtle infusion of something reminiscent of techno, and "Chat 4" ties things off with a cinematic drum roll that confirms just how serious this duo is. Recommended.

Review: Cabaret Du Ciel are a sight for sore eyes around these parts! We're talking rare-as-hen's-teeth material here, and the sort of percussive ambient music that has opened the genre up to a new generation. Their debut album, from 1992, is entitled Skies In The Mirror and has undoubtedly stood the test of time - often sounding more fresh and innovative than plenty of music made these days. Italy's Hybride Sentimento has relaunched this magnificent LP, which takes you on a voyage of dusty percussion loops, ominous cold waves, and all sorts of otherworldly sonics. As a matter of fact, it also verges onto the dance spectrum, with tunes like "Hanging Wave" sounding more cutting-edge than the deepest, most twisted techno being made. If you're into doom, ambient, darkwave, or anything of that ilk then this is tailor-made for you. And, of course, it comes warmly recommended, too!

Review: Michael Tanner's Plinth project has been a consistent source of quality electronics since the early 00s, with the artist releasing an album every three or four years. 2010's Music For Smalls Lighthouse was an instant hit when it landed here the first time around, so this tidy reissue from Clay Pipe is a valuable addition to our charts. If you haven't heard it, you can probably already hear its magnetic waves of organic instruments sweeping through the air, brought into shape by luscious drones and ambient soundscapes of all shapes and sizes. What we love about it the most is its natural ability to reign on elements of the wind and the sea with such ease, taking the listener onto a mystical voyage across oceanic planes of sound. A beautiful collection of tracks.

Review: Leila Abdul Rauf releases her third studio album to date and this time it's through the legendary Black Horizons imprint, the perfect home to something as abstract and elusive as this! The label has been operating suavely since the early 00s, exclusively releasing material that goes beyond the normal confines of music, from a myriad of artists who like to travel below-radar. Diminution is a dark and complex piece of work, weaving its tenebrous drones through an endless forest of sounds. Vast soundscapes build into walls of sound only to be broken down into smaller fractions again, allowing Rauf to build a narrative and stick with it until the end.

Review: ** REPRESS ALERT ** Midori Takada is a composer, multi-percussionist and theater performer from Japan. She performs solo on marimba and other percussive instruments and has released two solo albums, in particular Through The Looking Glass - which originally released in 1983 and gets a much needed remaster here by WeRelease/MusiquePourLaDanse/MentalGroove. Takada's renewed success is a true product of our times: her music was 'discovered' via YouTube's algorithm a few years back which amassed millions of views and created a new generation of fans enamoured by her amazing work. In the wake of the YouTube video's popularity, she has toured Europe multiple times and other albums by her have also since been reissued in the last year.