Categories
Ambient Drone Live Synth

Luke Sanger – Live (on the Make Noise Shared System)

This was originally streamed as a live improv on Bandcamp Live. In hindsight, I think it’s an OK set, with range of moods and timbres. My fave sections are the looser unpredictable bits (mostly phonogene-related weirdness) and in the future will try to focus in more on these techniques. Maybe a bit overkill on the pentatonics, but there we go…

Things used:

  • Make Noise Shared System (with older phonogene module)
  • 2hp pluck
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • House plants
Categories
Ambient Drone Minimal

Luke Sanger reissues Traversing Timelines LP

Previously released on cassette via the excellent Frequency Domain label and long since sold out, Traversing Timelines is now available to stream everywhere digitally.

Check it out on Spotify or ask Siri to play it.

Of course, you can still purchase the high quality digital files at bandcamp:

Categories
Ambient Review

Fields We Found – Distance

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.

Categories
Ambient Electro-Acoustic Experimental Minimal Review

Andrew CS & Glia – Nimi

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

Categories
Ambient Feature Premiere

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

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.

Categories
Ambient Experimental Feature Synth

2021 Flatland Favourites

Ambient / Synth / Experimental:

T. Jervell – (K) En sommerdag i Kroken (Ruter)

Hoavi – Music For Six Rooms (Balmat)

V.A – Anthology of Experimental Music From China (Unexplained Sounds Group)

International Sangman – Death Roads & Spirit Ways (Ish Records)

Never Temple – Throwing Around an Invisible Ball (Golden Ratio Frequencies)

Polypores – Crystal Shop (Waxing Crescent)

The Transcendence Orchestra / Ali Wade – Storming Heaven / Demons (Frequency Domain)

Richard Norris – Hypnotic Response (Inner Mind Records)

Lewis Hunter – Folk Album (Bandcamp)

Hainbach – Schwebungssummer (Misc.)

Categories
Ambient Drone Review Synth

Tomas Nordström – Ingentingskogen

Ingentingskogen or (according to google translate) ‘nothing forest’, is a new collection of drone works from Tomas Nordström, noughties techno survivor and one half of cult heroes Transexual Swedish Rebels (TSR), the greatest live techno act to come out of Sweden and possibly the world. So it’s always a welcome sight to see new material transmitting from his Stockholm base.

Ingentingskogen is solely based around the Sequential Circuits Pro One synth, layered through various effects whilst Tomas was learning to repair the instrument. The general vibe is quite dark, but varied in intensity, from the power drone zones of ‘Natten regnade I cmoll’, to the softer palettes explored in ‘Stampvall’. All of which demonstrates the juicy tonal character of the instrument, without drowning it in effects.

Lets hope this is just the beginning of more pure synth excursions from Mr Nordström!

Categories
Ambient Drone Dub Dub-techno Minimal Review Synth

Hoavi – Music For Six Rooms

Balmat – November 16th

Russian producer and Shells Rattle label owner, Hoavi brings 10 tracks of dubbed-out dreaminess to the Balearic-based Balmat label. Serious production values here, with filtered echos fluttering across lush, evolving synthscapes. Japanese minimalism meets Berlin-school dub techno.

The sharp attention to detail carries from the sound to the visual, with another gallery-worthy cover piece from José Quintanar.

Recommended.

Vinyl and digital at bandcamp.

Categories
Ambient Avant Garde Drone Electro-Acoustic Experimental Review Synth

Anthology of Electronic Music From Scandinavia

Unexplained Sounds Group – 5/11/21

Fast becoming one of our fave labels for cutting edge electronic and experimental music, Unexplained Sounds Group are consistently curating high quality various artist compilations, organised by global region.

This time, the expanding ‘sound mapping’ collection of CDs lands on the Scandinavian electronic underground as its point of focus.

The album is predominately drone-based excursions, ranging from cold, baron soundscapes, to densely layered synth excursions. However, on my first proper listen through, it’s the tracks that venture into more experimental tonal territory which really piqued my curiosity, with the wonderfully wonky ‘Ilmeisesti’ by vÄäristymä and the hypnotic ‘Nightbreeze’ by Havdis being particular favourites.

Order the CD/Digital now via their Bandcamp.

Categories
Ambient Avant Garde Beats Drone Electro-Acoustic Experimental House Industrial Minimal Wave Musique Concrète Radio Synth

Flatland Frequencies – Mutant Radio Show (Oct 2021)

Out latest session on Mutant Radio is now online, with resident selectors Luke Sanger, Jeran Portis, Toby Tobias and Sseagulls. Only the finest Elektronische, Musique Concrete, industrial no wave, om shanti house and library core.