Philippe Petit – The Acoustic Cornet, an hommage to Leonora Carrington

From our friends at Mahorka Records via their Bandcamp site: “Philippe Petit approaches (Leonora) Carrington’s text as one would approach a signal coming from another frequency. Fragments. Resonances. Distorted transmissions. The acoustic cornet becomes a metaphor for listening itself: an instrument that amplifies what society prefers to keep inaudible.”

Various Artists – Arborescence: Bouquet Sauvage

This compilation, curated by the composer Aborescence, includes several of the leading lights of ambient music, including Robert Rich, Rudy Adrian, Alio Die as well as newer names (at least to me) like Robert Davies and Roy Mattson.  From Arborescence’s Bandcamp site: “Bouquet Sauvage is a curated compilation comprised of Continue Reading

Francesca Marongiu – Still Forms in Air

Mexican record label Umor Rex has released an album by Italian composer Francesca Marongiu, which is heavily influenced by some spectacular Japanese New Age/Ambient releases from the mid-1980s. This was a wonderful time for ambient music in Japan, and Francesca captures the spirit perfectly while adding her own spin.

Alphaxone – ARCHIPENOM.II

From the Alphaxone Bandcamp site: “A continuation of fractured atmospheres, slow-moving tension, and submerged emotional weight. This chapter dives deeper into erosion, distance, and the quiet violence of time.” Iranian artists could use a hand at the moment, as do all good souls suffering in their war-torn homes.

Pefkin – Unfurling

Pefkin have released an ethereal masterpiece.  From their Bandcamp site: “On her fourth full-length for Morc, Gayle Brogan raises the bar once more. The familiar Pefkin elements are present: melodies that unfold patiently and graciously, with textures so vivid they feel almost tangible. Across six tracks, around forty minutes in Continue Reading

Dou Wei; Chao Jian (竇唯;朝簡) – 安神符

Instrumentalists Dou Wei and Chao Jian are names I came across last year thanks to my former student Ben, who did me the honor of pointing me to their new album. The record features two long instrumental pieces that sound like ethno-ambient music and like what you would have found Continue Reading

Toshiyuki Tsuchitori & Ryuichi Sakamoto – Disappointment / Hateruma

The void left by Ryuichi Sakamoto’s passing is far too immense to ever be filled.  One can hope for a reissue here and there, for some lost studio and live recordings to resurface, and for some demos and live tracks to pop up.  However, this month, we’re graced with a little Continue Reading