Robert Scott Thompson, the ambient music alchemist, has released several new albums recently, but I wanted to start with Placid, a rather chilling work that references works by the maestros (Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Klaus Schulze), a touch of Warszawa-period Brian Eno/David Bowie, and his own more musical compositional bent.
Drone
øjeRum – Vågnende Jeg Ser De Døde
Danish composer øjeRum has recorded for and with some of the best ambient and electronic music labels active today, and this latest release is published by the estimable Room40 Records out of Australia. From the release Bandcamp site: “While recording, radio waves and static electricity interfered with the signal – Continue Reading
Jeff Gburek – Vigilance Suite I & II
Fellow giromondo Jeff Gburek offers another incredibly profound album, balancing perfectly his own signature experimental sound touched with folk and blues, with the spirits of Robbie Basho and John Fahey once again coming along for the ride. For the influence behind this album, please consider taking the time to read Continue Reading
Arrowounds – Therianthrope Series
A post-punk/ethereal gem has been bestowed upon us by our friends at Lost Tribe Sounds. Arrowounds tie together influences from bands like, “Can, Bark Psychosis, Young Gods, Slowdive, Durutti Column, Seefeel and much of early 4AD,” according to the band bio, but there is an element that makes this band Continue Reading
若潭 ruò tán – 石 Stone
ruò tán are China’s more organic answer to old post-Industrial/cassette-culture bands like Germany’s Cranioclast. The music is eerie, yet so utterly engaging. Probably the best reference to this music is for those of you who remember not only the aforementioned band but the early works of projects like O Yuki Continue Reading
VIRUS2020 ( فيروس ٢٠٢٠) – Sect (طائفه)
VIRUS2020 are a wonderfully freakish project out of Tunisia which manages to bring together soundtrack music, post-Industrial references and post-rock into a thoroughly weird and engaging stew. This is a fun headphone listen.
bu.re_ – dream sequence ii
Too dense and sumptuous to be labeled ambient music, what Los Angeles’ own bu.re_ offers is a ride on the clouds on your way to something approximating Heaven. The drones emanating from these works are some of the warmest tones I’ve heard this year. Bravo.
Mapped Out In Lights – Longform One
Illinois-based label Somnimage has been on quite a roll producing some of the best post-Industrial and experimental music coming out of the United States. Today’s offering pairs Dan Burke (who won fame as the chief focal point of Illusion of Safety) and label owner Mykel Boyd (who has also performed Continue Reading
Micah Frank & Chet Doxas – The Music of Hildegard von Bingen Part One
The combination of Micah Frank and Chet Doxas put a very different spin on the work of Saint Hildegard von Bingen. Instead of the deeply mystical Catholic music she is famous for, the duo, along with some impressive cohorts produce a rather filmic work which has the feel creating sound Continue Reading
The Mossad – Paradrone
Our friend The Mossad has released Paradorone, a two-track drone opus with such an overwhelming feel of foreboding that you it will envelop your spirit in some way. I recommend hearing this over a decent pair of headphones because you will really feel every tick, pulse and movement from these Continue Reading