008/100: "Glider" by The Sight Below

One of my favourite sub-genres of electronic music is techno. I love deep, expansive, synthy soundscapes married to the trademark 4-4 beat ... I find can easily lose myself in its beautiful expression.

I was therefore delighted when I found out about “The Sight Below”, an ambient techno project from Rafael Anton Irisarri. His 2008 release - “Glider” - on the seminal Ghostly International label ticks all my boxes: exquisite ambience from manipulated guitars rather than synths ... combined with the familiar techno rhythm.

I find the ambient and techno elements of “Glider” work well together to provide a truly immersive experience.



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007/100 - “Amazing Tales of Time and Space (waag_rel067)” by Cousin Silas and Kevin Lyons

I love visual music. I have always been drawn to ambient music that paints pictures in my mind, music that conjures up the places and spaces that I can only read about in sci-fi novels and weird fiction.

“Amazing Tales of Time and Space (waag_rel067)” by the enduring partnership of Cousin Silas and Kevin Lyons transports me to alien landscapes and disreputable townships, the kind imagined by visionaries such as Lovecraft or Aldiss; It makes for captivating listening albeit not entirely restful if one is gifted with a vivid imagination.

This is an exceptional release from two inspired musicians.



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Circumambient 030 is now up on Mixcloud

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After a short break … circumambient … an exploration into all-encompassing and immersive independent music is back with a mix intended to showcase some exceptional music that was released in the first quarter of 2015.

Music from my netlabel, weareallghosts, features prominently … bolstered by soundscapes from Colbets, Valiska & Zenjungle, twincities, Hessien, and Federico Durand; the mix is brought to a close by a wonderful track from Bruno Sanfilippo’s new album “Inside Life”.

Here’s to the rest of 2015. Dive deep!

Tx

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Circumambient 030 by Headphonaught on Mixcloud

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For the iTunes link or the links to each of the albums, follow this link > circumambient 030

006/100 - "Europe" | a compilation from A Strangely Isolated Place

Compilations are another means for me to find new music. Like a good mix they delight and educate through the selector’s intention. “Europe” is one such compilation.

Curated by Ryan Griffin, the driving force behind astrangelyisolatedplace.com, “Europe” is very special: a compilation that embraces multiple genres such as ambient, modern classical, and electronic with great effect; creating a soundtrack based around inspiration found within Europe.

One highlight for me is Dextro’s “Heaval”. Initially based around layers of acoustic guitar and piano with an euphoric backbeat, to my delight it morphs into languid ambience. Two tracks for the price of one.



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005/100 - "Dilate" by Vessels

I’m not sure how I got into Vessels but, from the many times I have enjoyed “Dilate”, I am glad I did.

Vessels play an expansive form of rock-infused techno. Not the cliched view, however: a solitary chap in Detroit pushing buttons in his bedroom ... far from it. Vessels are a quintet from Leeds who shape their particular form of atmospheric dance music together.

Coming as they have from post-rock, it is their exemplary use of both layers and sound that makes the album stand out. “Dilate” has a crafted, intentional feel and is, as such, a delight.



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004/100 - "Read, Write, Execute" by Wired to Follow

Billed as "soundscape rock", I cannot think of a better way to describe the music from Wired to Follow on "Read, Write, Execute".

This release, like the EPs before it, contains driving, bass-heavy, instrumental rock music juxtaposed with thoughtful ambience; it captivates the heart, and ears, with its techno-inspired presentation.

Take “Dealing Lightning With Both Hands”, an exemplary track that begins as a delightfully ambient soundscape before morphing into a full-on, euphoric expression that can only lift the spirit. It is a real scene-setter, one that sits nicely as the first track on my gym playlist.



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100 days | 100 words - an introduction ...

Image: https://thegreatdiscontent.com/100days

I need to learn to be concise. 

Even that sentence is too long, too inflated, too full of unnecessary words. It should read “I need to be concise”. Yes, it is something I need to learn but, more importantly, it is something I need to be.

Not that I am really being concise here. I like to chat when I write ... I like to tell stories and take people on a journey into the “why” of why I think a certain way. It is how I set the scene. The problem is, however, that these tools, these means of communicating, are the antithesis of conciseness. 

Life is busy. Folks are busy. You are busy. You don't have time to read my scene-setting and storytelling, or endure my chat. You just want the facts. In and out. “Just the fax, ma’am” as John Mclain once quipped in a Die Hard movie the number of which I forget. 

So to aid me in my quest for conscious and subconscious conciseness, I have started a thing on here called “100 days | 100 words”. Inspired by #The100DayProject put forward by Elle Luna & The Great Discontent my intention is to write an album / EP review of approximately 100 words each day for 100 days.  

Luna summed up her idea in her TGD feature:

“Basically, if you can dream it, you can do it. The only premise? Participants have to do the same action every day for 100 days, and they have to document every instance of 100. Sounds totally cool, right? That’s what I thought when I first read about this project on Design Observer. Not only were the projects clever, but they also offered an opportunity to grow in one of the ways my friends and I were craving: discipline. The great surrender is the process; showing up day after day is the goal. For the 100-Day Project, it’s not about fetishizing finished products—it’s about the process.”

I have had a creative dip lately ... my creative mojo flatlined if I am truly honest ... and have come to realise that I need to learn the discipline of showing up day after day after day. I need to surrender to the process. I need to switch off the TV and Facebook, and just write. 

100 words isn’t a lot but it is more than enough to get the point across. I take too long getting to the point ... as evidenced here. That is what I need to learn - that's what being concise is - I need to get to the point. 

So here we go. 

Oh and I started two days ago.

Double oh and it took me until today to nail 100 words on the dot. It isn't as easy as you’d think. 

001/100 - “Waves will rise on silent water” by A Sudden Burst of Colour

002/100 - Late Night Tales | Jon Hopkins

003/100 - “The Dusk Recital” by Slow Dancing Society

https://thegreatdiscontent.com/100days + https://thegreatdiscontent.com/interview/elle-luna-100-day-project

003/100 - “The Dusk Recital” by Slow Dancing Society

“The Dusk Recital” by Slow Dancing Society is the latest release from musician Drew Sullivan ... it is a six track EP that is filled to overflowing with the most delightful beat-laden instrumental ambience.

Everything about this EP works together: the tempo, the instrumentation, the order of presentation, the artwork; it is the aural equivalent of your favourite dark chocolate: smooth, sensual and deeply satisfying.

Take “Wake”, for example: a warm-bloodied, sensuous track that uses the combination of saxophone and guitar to great effect, conveying similar emotion to Vangelis' "Love Theme" from his seminal score for Blade Runner.

Recommended.



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002/100 - Late Night Tales | Jon Hopkins

A great mix is a seamless journey that introduces new music and provides the soundtrack to a moment - Late Night Tales recent mix from Jon Hopkins easily does both.

Hopkins effortlessly brings together multiple genres of music and serves them for both delight and education. Folk like Ben Lukas Boysen, Darkstar and Holy Other are all new to me whereas Jonsi & Alex, Helios and even Hopkins himself are all firm favourites. Combined, as they are in this mix, this is my current soundtrack and I love it.

This instalment in the Late Night Tales series is well worth checking out, especially considering the CD version comes bundled with a full mix and the non-mixed tracks to download.

- Tx

http://latenighttales.co.uk/product.php/349/jon-hopkins-preorder
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001/100 - “Waves will rise on silent water” by A Sudden Burst of Colour

“Waves will rise on silent water” by A Sudden Burst of Colour is phenomenal EP from four young lads who live in my home town, Motherwell;

As instrumental rock goes this is up there with the best: engaging soundscapes, tight time signatures that chop and change at a moments notice, imaginative guitarists who complement each other well, and an intimate understanding of atmospheric dynamics … these factors come into play to create ASBOC’s sound. It is a sound I doubt I will tire of.

Instrumental rock is a busy genre and my hope for ASBOC is that they get the recognition they deserve.

- Tx



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