Tag Archives: Ambient

Szun Waves – At Sacred Walls

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

post rock jazz

Moods

Stoned

Thoughts

Jazz I guess but reminds me a lot of post rock in it's slow building songs. Rhythms, electronics and sax textures gradually break down as the album wears on. Like Abbott is a member which explains the solid electronics. Really like the meditative hum on the title track.

Appeals with it's stoner vibe. Drumlines are off time and it noodles a bit. If you approach this as a post rock ambient record it's solid, jazz not so much.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Szun-Waves-At-Sacred-Walls/release/8891765

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze2RBJWVS4E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJw3pXxzgsk

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTvYn5EgoaU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9enveKtvOL8

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Szun Waves – At Sacred Walls

Description: Album Review of Szun Waves – At Sacred Walls


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

vaporwave (new age synth and computer Muzak with a cynical twist)

Moods

A vaporwave classic, I'd like to logout now please

Thoughts

I'm not a vaporware historian but I appreciate the genre and it's cultural critique: taking the soothing elements of Muzak and warping them into this anxious soundtrack. This is a definitive vaporwave album and representative example of the genres aim. With just the right amount of maddening cheese, it doesn't feel like it's deliberate satire (well maybe on wifi sushi which is almost laugh out loud funny). He really captures the excitement that once existed about globalization's limitless possibility unlocked by the consumer. In hindsight we can see growth in corporate culture has just led to disappointment and further inequality, revealing an entirely new interpretation of this music.

As art I applaud it, its effective and immediate. To sit and listen to this as you would regular pop? I'm not sure it has that appeal.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/James-Ferraro-Far-Side-Virtual/release/7853044

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9ndKlm-G3s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRFn97NyURM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNhP6aoP6XY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w82omu5nrkk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIvR9rqae7Q

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James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual

Description: Album Review of James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Portico Quartet – Portico Quartet

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

modern classic quartet with rock and jazz songwriting structures

Moods

Modern beauty

Thoughts

A true hybrid of genres incorporating everything from rock and electronic to jazz and classical. I'd say you're most familiar approaching this as a jazz album with classical influences. It's difficult for musicians to get that type of combination right but they pull it off in a patient way with effective touches of electronics and overall 'pretty' and 'contemplative' moments. It's richness would lend well to a live setting an I'd be really interested in seeing these guys live. 'Laker Boo' shifts out of the patient structure into something more aggressive and forward.

I like the ideas here but I'm not sure how much I'll revisit this album. I'm curious to see how they evolve, they have the potential for something truly great.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Portico-Quartet-Portico-Quartet/release/3455552

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpNXM-114WU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQH0GPL33uc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVLveOhrvG8

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

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

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Portico Quartet – Portico Quartet

Description: Album Review of Portico Quartet – Portico Quartet


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Takashi Wada – Meguro

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Ambient influenced electro with an ethereal vibe and pleasant instrumentation (percussive, acoustic guitar, keys)

Moods

A pleasant feeling provoked by a place I've only imagined

Thoughts

Floats around with an OK pleasantness on the first couple of tracks. Breaks into a rhythmic part on 28° C that really appeals. Other tracks hit all the right notes but I'd compare this to drinking Japanese whiskey: I want something more than perfect. Didn't really do it for me.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Takashi-Wada-Meguro/release/292056

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjCVDE8eb5c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4oUw8lpMtg

Spotify


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Takashi Wada – Meguro

Description: Album Review of Takashi Wada – Meguro


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Paavoharju – Laulu Laakson Kukista

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Equal parts experimental pop as it is swirling found sound

Moods

Uncle boonmee who can recall his past lives

Thoughts

haunting and strange indie alt pop sung in a language I don't understand, southeast Asia maybe? Good Western pop sensibilities with a spooky distant lofi vibe going on. Works and the foreign tongue makes this feel like a trip.. Vaguely experimental at times though these are clearly pop lovers..

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Paavoharju-Laulu-Laakson-Kukista/release/1337741

Listen!

Youtube

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zG2dV_RjPc

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Paavoharju – Laulu Laakson Kukista

Description: Album Review of Paavoharju – Laulu Laakson Kukista


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

How To Dress Well – The Anteroom

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

His emotional croon with dark production borrowing from industrial techno at times, ethereal at others.

Moods

A pained story explored through heavy electronic textures.

Thoughts

If you're not familiar with his style he takes his time, drawing things out in a dramatic fashion. It's effective here but on other releases I haven't had the patience to make it through a whole album. Apparently on the Anteroom he's returned to his earlier roots so maybe I need to go back further in his catalog.

The production is fantastic and totally my style with a range of influences that can be hard and dissonant. His songwriting builds towards enjoyable climaxes that fold into other builds. The whole thing flows together, telling some bizarre confessional love story. It feels like he's low in the overall mix providing an obscured feeling where his voice isn't the focal point as in most r&b.

Tracks are highly accessible with some great singles in body fat and non killing. I love the dark suicidal stream of consciousness on July 13th, which is laid out over postal service dntel like production. Follows in direct contrast to the standout nonkilling just before it.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/How-To-Dress-Well-The-Anteroom/release/12732184

Listen!

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How To Dress Well – The Anteroom

Description: Album Review of How To Dress Well – The Anteroom


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Eddie Ruscha – Who Are You

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

spacey ambient new age guitar electro

Moods

Floating on a groove

Thoughts

Positive vibe: both ambient and pleasant space rock.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/E-Ruscha-V-Who-Are-You/release/11661002

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4kfGw7agMg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK_iXt-KIIo

Spotify


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Eddie Ruscha – Who Are You

Description: Album Review of Eddie Ruscha – Who Are You


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Nao Tokui – Mind The Gap

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Minimal electro / tech house / ambient / IDM

Moods

Cold winter light

Thoughts

Solid minimal record. *Blips* and *bleeps*. Uses production noise like warm record hiss to create additional character and atmosphere. Not much in the way of songwriting, this is more about mood, but there's enough of a house bump to keep this moving. Things pickup with 'rotation' and ‘pine ave’, blurring the lines between ambient and IDM.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Nao-Tokui-Mind-The-Gap/release/176683

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvh3u6zPmtw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DZrv_A4CPs

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3M7ckJyWj0

Spotify


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Nao Tokui – Mind The Gap

Description: Album Review of Nao Tokui – Mind The Gap


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Emily Sprague – Water Memory

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

wide open ambient made with modular synths and winds

Moods

Observing water shimmering on a wall

Thoughts

Quality ambient with a relaxing atmosphere, reminds me of masters like Eno. A patient listen (or as background, it's ambient after all) is engaging through movement, both in individual songs and on the album as a whole. Ambient while generally pleasant can often feel monotonous and stale, she finds just the right balance.

 

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Emily-A-Sprague-Water-Memory/release/12014380

Listen!

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Emily Sprague – Water Memory

Description: Album Review of Emily Sprague – Water Memory


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Fitz Ambro$e, Submerse – Villa Rosa

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

electro hip hop with an 80s light funk vibe

Moods

Vaporwave sunset

Thoughts

Pretty good for a background listen. Short and sweet with flirtations of vaporwave.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Fitz-Ambroe-Submerse-Villa-Rosa/release/11979710

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PqePdh9r0s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0_4Mqvk9fk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPv4JXG3QWE

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xKrOIVQsdg

Spotify


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Fitz Ambro$e, Submerse – Villa Rosa

Description: Album Review of Fitz Ambro$e, Submerse – Villa Rosa


Rating: 3 out of 5