Tag Archives: Ambient

Four Tet – Anna Painting

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

solid electro techno

Moods

Four Tet at his most accessible and danceable on this tight EP

Thoughts

Four Tet has such an admirable discography as he's able to cover a range of styles well. Here he's more accessible than his sometimes  experimental self delivering tracks that you can't help but move too. Slight long individual track durations keep you locked in with their hooky movement. Rhythmic, loose feel due to his organic production methods. I always find a lot to enjoy on his releases.

Ends with a nice ambient number.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Four-Tet-Anna-Painting/release/14099064

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBxmnfI4ryk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8v2Wra-YoU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCuPRW0P74s

Spotify


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Four Tet – Anna Painting

Description: Album Review of Four Tet – Anna Painting


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

The Pattern Forms – Peel Away The Ivy

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

rich electro synth pop

Moods

A perfect Autumn record: breathy personal lyrics about sentimental subjects with lush instrumentation. An accessible entry into the wonderful @GhostBoxRecords

Thoughts

a straightforward and enjoyable record that accomplishes multiple things: scratches that synth pop itch, crafted and serious songs that aren't too weighty. It's a record about memory which I believe is the MO of ghost box, a subject of personal fascination and my favorite subject for art to explore.

While I like it, something holds it back from greatness. Too soft maybe? It's captures the comforting 'glow' of reflection but I prefer the jagged truth in my art.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Pattern-Forms-Peel-Away-The-Ivy/release/9224044

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=marweWtJ3Pk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpfc45aWR_k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsejwPQpF7I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vafOQ7-x3gM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_8rUEGd0-Q

Spotify


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The Pattern Forms – Peel Away The Ivy

Description: Album Review of The Pattern Forms – Peel Away The Ivy


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

robotic g-funk techno

Moods

daft punk lost in deep space

Thoughts

Looking past the cheesy voice and narrative stuff is a set of great electro productions. Maintains a g-funk flavor and techno thing at times.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Space-Dimension-Controller-Welcome-To-Mikrosector-50/release/4343221

Listen!

Spotify


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Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50

Description: Album Review of Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Tom Rogerson,Brian Eno – Finding Shore

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Keyboard and general electronic noodling

Moods

A soundtrack for those euphoric and reflective moments

Thoughts

There are some interesting bits but nothing cohesive as individual songs or as an overall album. Not quite ambient, not quite solo keyboard, feels undecided and suffers as a result.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Tom-Rogerson-With-Brian-Eno-Finding-Shore/release/11258667

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SroYdHuv9z8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZri_BOuRy0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBgvXNRxEsU

Spotify


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Tom Rogerson,Brian Eno – Finding Shore

Description: Album Review of Tom Rogerson,Brian Eno – Finding Shore


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Michael Mayer – Immer

by ·

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

Minimal house

Moods

One of the finest minimal house mixes ever is now on YouTube!

Thoughts

Michael Mayer's immer and fabric mixes were eye-opening to me in terms of what mix is capable of. Taken alone the tracks on Immer aren't anything special – bit of bounce here, bit of ambiance there – stitched together they become this incredible cohesive entity. The subtle shifts are perfectly timed and show a mastery of songwriting even when it's all borrowed sounds. I love the sparse emptiness of minimal, there's something so alienating yet comforting about it. Immer has a sound I can only describe as grey, like the weather in Berlin or the film tone in those Nordic crime dramas.

Mayer's skill here is largely reliant on his tasteful selection and vision for this mix which is executed perfectly. Kompakt is an impressive label but Immer is in a league of its own, forever indeed.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Michael-Mayer-Immer/release/34646

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PeTIa1yGao

Spotify


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Michael Mayer – Immer

Description: Album Review of Michael Mayer – Immer


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Anthony Naples – Take Me With You

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

spacey shimmery electro with a pleasant beat

Moods

Cerebral

Thoughts

Upbeat with a downtempo dubby reverb. Has a nice flow. Tracks are short with new ideas ebbing into one another, like this approach compared with other producers who sometimes let an idea play on for too long.

Solid record.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Anthony-Naples-Take-Me-With-You/release/13076529

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Fp2r4eCXY

Spotify


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Anthony Naples – Take Me With You

Description: Album Review of Anthony Naples – Take Me With You


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Locust Toybox – Drownscapes

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

ethereal ambient with bits of melody

Moods

Drifting through sentimental English countryside

Thoughts

At the end of the brainfeeder x compilation was a curious 'classical' soundtrack by a guy named locust toybox. Clicking through to his spotify profile he has an artist playlist called melodic aphex twin tracks; before even hearing a note it seemed like we shared similar tastes.

I was right, this album has some great ambient with tracks that maintain the wide open freeform of ambient while still incorporating melody and structure. These melodic moments give this an overall pleasantness. 'Saptiro' towards the middle changes things directly into left field electro territory, adding some hand drum rhythm. 'Unborn' is an album highlight, with a rousing choral sample and deep bass thump. Probably the most intense moment.

Overall the album is far too long, dragging toward the end. Still worth hearing as there are some gems.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Locust-Toybox-Drownscapes/release/11181166

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if6B3brW67M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTDIcOAkrqg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_8zdxYsEy0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWQFk6DpUv4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdWXRX6Me_4

Spotify


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Locust Toybox – Drownscapes

Description: Album Review of Locust Toybox – Drownscapes


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Michel Isorinne – Stumhetens toner

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

ambient keyboard music

Moods

Soundtrack for a regretful protagonist in a 2D RPG talking to NPCs in a new town, trying to find his way home

Thoughts

While an ambient record the keys playing gives it this subtle rhythm with little floating sentimental melodies. Could be an RPG video game soundtrack, feeling like a stranger in a new town just trying to find his way home through a life of regret.

Things take a more menacing tone in the second half where tracks have a brooding machine like intensity, as if these are electro b-sides born from Floyd's 'welcome to the machine'

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Isorinne-Stumhetens-toner/release/12922932

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6eHdaKX-_Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxswoTpwTrI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOnEHQIX16k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD5V9Tfu0rA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAqJbt6J7U0

Spotify


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Michel Isorinne – Stumhetens toner

Description: Album Review of Michel Isorinne – Stumhetens toner


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Mano Le Tough – Trails

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Hip electro

Moods

Electro for cool haircut bros

Thoughtsp

Discogs calls this deep house, if it is it's a very pop friendly version of that if it is; call it radio friendly deep house. His production is top notch with a professional polish and rich sound. Tracks are often built around generic house beat but then he'll add production flourishes with borrowed acid synths and bass lines with a slight leftfield stutter. Songs run a little long and he takes his time opening them up, truthfully it feels at odds with the accessible vibe he's putting on. 'Trails' for instance has a strong celebratory feeling but it lingers too long at 6 minutes and it wants by the end.

Lyrically its weak. Feels forced like he's reaching for profound but it's lacking; I'd prefer a more personal approach.

Overall more bad than good with an impressive amount of consistency. I'm not sure this will be the sort of thing I continue to come back but we'll see.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mano-Le-Tough-Trails/release/7696009

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFFMB89K5yI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIS4Q4TwZG0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRgUoyqrlkw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX9EmXkjRqA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOAAjV0GfCQ

Spotify


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Mano Le Tough – Trails

Description: Album Review of Mano Le Tough – Trails


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Flying Saucer Attack – Flying Saucer Attack

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

distorted and noisy as shit rock

Moods

WALL of sound

Thoughts

Almost feels like a precise mbv. Tracks playing in waves with swells of super noisy guitar during things like the chorus. He sings quiet and calm, an interesting juxtaposition to everything swirling around him.

It's effective and there's something magical at play on tracks like 'wish'.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Flying-Saucer-Attack-Flying-Saucer-Attack/release/8020953

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hB2C-cw_bc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAWRyEbQfXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa2E-rRT4JE

Spotify


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Flying Saucer Attack – Flying Saucer Attack

Description: Album Review of Flying Saucer Attack – Flying Saucer Attack


Rating: 3 out of 5