Author: Luke Sanger

EGIL KALMAN – KINGDOM OF BELLS (EGIL KALMAN PLAYS THE SYNTHI 100)

Post author By Luke Sanger
Post date June 6, 2022

iDEAL Recordings – Mar 2022

A bit late to the party with this one, but still worthy of a mention. The debut release from Swedish musician/composer Egil Kalman, who plays modular synth and double bass.

A strong record, which balances rich and interesting beeps and FX, with engaging melodic motifs over thick drones and arpeggiated backing. The sound quality of the Synthi 100 really shines through with some great playing throughout.

‘Kingdom of Bells Egil Kalman plays the Synthi 100’ is his debut album as a solo artist.

Digital available at Bandcamp

Duoduo – Cerf-Volant

Post author By Luke Sanger
Post date June 6, 2022

Release: June ’22

Lovely EP of rhythmic tones and pure drones, performed by Marc Méan (Ciat Lonbarde Cocoquantus & Plumbutter, FX) and Fabien Iannone (Serge synth & FX). A well rounded selection of five tracks that balance the lush, off-kilter plumbutter drums, with the raw tonal power of the Serge.

Tags ciat-lonbarde, serge

Art Avant Garde Electro-Acoustic Experimental Musique Concrète

OHM – THE EARLY GURUS OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC

Post author By Luke Sanger
Post date June 5, 2022

OHM: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music is a compilation of early electronic music and excerpts from the period of 1948 to 1980. Many included works are essentially experiments with sound, using a variety of non-traditional instruments including homemade circuits, tape ribbon and early synthesisers.

Avant Garde Drone Experimental Review

Various Artists – The Dystopian World of J.G.Ballard

Post author By Luke Sanger
Post date June 5, 2022

Zero K – June 8th

“The advanced societies of the future will not be governed by reason. They will be driven by irrationality, by competing systems of psychopathology.”

J.G. Ballard

Dystopian writer J.G Ballard needs no introduction and is one whose influence has stretched beyond literature across all mediums. From successful screen adaptations by Cronenberg (see Crash), to influencing lyrics for bands like Joy Division and Hawkwind (to name just a couple).

With this present compilation, curated by Raffaele Pezzella (Sonologyst), ZeroK label (in collaboration with, Lars Bröndum, Eraldo Bernocchi, Gavin Morrow , Joel Gilardini, Esa J. Ruoho, Heikki Lindgren, Mario Lino Stancati, Erik Jarl, Roberto Quezada, Jarko M. Hedenius, Janne Liimatainen, Mombi Yuleman and Christian Schneider) provides sound descriptions of the dystopian world narrated by the English master J. G. Ballard in his novels and short stories, creating an imaginary soundtrack of those s/f masterpieces.

Avant Garde Experimental Review Synth

Nunton Elektrikz – Did You Know About The Room?

Post author By Luke Sanger
Post date June 5, 2022

Woodford Halse – Release: July 1st

Woodford Halse keep the tapes coming thick and fast, covering all manner of experimental electronics. This next one from Nunton Eletrikz (aka Nick Edwards) is particularly interesting, a collection of very raw synth jams that could easily be mistaken for an early electronic sound experimentation from someone like Joji Yuasa.

The press release reveals some insight into the tools used in the process (Arturia Microfreak, Korg NTS and stylophone ), however the manner in which the tracks are executed goes far beyond any signature synth preset, which is the essence of what experimentalism should be.

Tags woodford halse

Drone Review

Space Surgeries – New Drone Label

Post author By Luke Sanger
Post date May 26, 2022

Fresh out the airlock, Space Surgeries appears on the radar with two drone-based releases from Ali Wade and Quiet Clapping.

You may recognise these names from UK ambient/electronic label Frequency Domain and as such, Space Surgeries can be considered a sister label to the aforementioned.

Strictly drone focused with these offerings, Ali Wade’s ‘The Unbearable Quickness of Doubling’ focuses on shorter, focused themes. Whereas on the second release ‘Adversary’, Quiet Clapping goes long form, with 2x 15 minute journeys.

Ambient Review

Fields We Found – Distance

Post author By Luke Sanger
Post date May 19, 2022

Seil – May ’22

Layers of noise (that good kind) envelope this new LP from Fields We Found. The delicious Cocoquantus artefacts are scattered all over, but the vibe is as much steered by the operator.

There is a looseness to the compositions which has a certain freeform quality, letting sounds play into the loops and letting them bounce around to do their thing. It’s as much about know when to remove an element, as it is to introduce one and this is something executed successfully across the album.

Out now on cassette and digital via Bandcamp.

Ambient Electro-Acoustic Experimental Minimal Review

Andrew CS & Glia – Nimi

Post author By Luke Sanger
Post date May 19, 2022

Cached Media – May ’22

Gorgeous micro looped tones and fuzzy, cascading drones form the sonic landscape of the 12 varied pieces here. From the organ-like tonalities in ‘Wind for Weighted Keys’ sometimes reminiscent of A Rainbow In Curved Air (albeit mangled in a most pleasant way), to the crunchy tape-like twists and turns in ‘Outcrease’, there’s a real positive energy coming from the LP, of which I’ll be returning for repeat listens.

Out now on CD and Digital via Bandcamp

Ambient Feature Premiere

PREMIERE: Jo Johnson – Track 3 – Less Popular Than Cats

Post author By Luke Sanger
Post date April 20, 2022

Flatland Frequencies · [PREMIERE] Jo Johnson – Track 3 – Less Popular Than Cats

We’re pleased to share this exclusive premiere of track 3 from ‘Less Popular Than Cats’ compilation, by Jo Johnson – released next week on Verdant Recordings. A beautifully pulsating long-form piece, which gently ebbs and flows in a particularly organic manner, like leaves floating on an expansive loch.