Kevin Press
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It may be a coincidence that Pepo Galán’s extraordinary new album Human Values Disappear landed today, almost exactly one year after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump. Intentionally or not, he has captured perfectly the bewildering emotions of 2017. The album’s promo sheet describes the work with a dark metaphor: “a boat that travels…
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One of the things that excited people about ambient music in its early days was its unique tendency to absorb whatever other sounds the listener’s environment had to offer. This remains a big part of its appeal. Occasionally though, ambient works are produced that have the capacity to monopolize our attention. Rotterdam-based Rutger Zuydervelt (a.k.a.…
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This September release from Hellscape Records comes with instructions: “It’s meant to straddle the line between self-help and guided meditation. It contains both peace and turmoil, as can be expected when attempting to bring forward the subconscious mind. We hope you understand that its purpose is greater than a mere collection of tunes or loops…
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After yesterday’s post about Sven Laux and his CD’s turn away from distorted electronics, it’s fitting that we move next to an album that makes liberal – and effective – use of exactly that technique. Calgary’s Valiska has a new release for us called On Pause. The LP snaps, crackles and pops like a synthesized…
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Distortion and other techniques used to transform electronics have become such a mainstay of new music that we’re surprised by their absence. To hear a synthesizer played cleanly has come to sound fresh and even a bit startling. A beautiful new recording from Germany’s Sven Laux makes clear there are other ways to build texture…
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Sven Laux – I Wish I Could Sleep – 0:30 to 7:30 Channeling – Doves – 6:33 to 17:13 Dog In the Snow – Sea – 15:30 to 18:12 Emerging Industries of Wuppertal – Heat Exchanger – 17:51 to 21:50 Cock & Swan – You Are My Dream – 21:46 to 25:06 Machinefabriek – Becoming…
