Tag: Ambient

Floating Points – Crush

The making of Crush was powered in part by the lasting creative energy Shepherd felt during a string of dates supporting the xx, for which he performed alone with only a modular synthesizer. Contrary to his intent, his sets were typified by a newfound level of dynamism and a lack of regard for merely easing early arrivers into the mood for the headliners. That approach is sensed through much of Crush. Shepherd created the overwhelming majority of it on his own, albeit with more than enough gear — including his Rhodes Chroma, this time controlled with a customized tablet app — to stage a 2019 equivalent to the photo on the back of Herbie Hancock’s Sunlight.

Key Elements – Key Elements

Here’s the Key Elements debut album that was released in 2020 at the Berlin based label Sonar Kollektiv. Key Elements is a trio formed by Marian Tone (DJ/producer), Waldi (drums) and Jim Dunloop (keyboard & Bass). With this album they delivered an exciting experience inspired by hip hop, jazz, ambient, electronic and funk music. This is a super enjoyable album to listen and vibe to. Check it out!

Laurence Pike – Prophecy

Prophecy is an incredible album by Sydney, Australia based musician Laurence Pike. He wrote and recorded this album in the Summer of 2019 during the catastrophic times of the bushfires. The rest of the world had an apocalyptic year in 2020 but for most Australians the proving times began half a year before. Prophecy has an existential theme around these crazy times we live in. A little bit like shamanistic ritual music Prophecy gives us matter to reflect over the drum arrangements and jazzy contemplative melodies. Here’s a serious(ly) good album with an heavy theme that will absorb you entirely and live you with an feeling of meditative serenity. It was released in the Summer of 2020 on The Leaf Label.

Jesse Koolhaas – Click Me

Dutch producer and sound designer Jesse Koolhaas dropped his latest album earlier in 2020 via the Belgian label Urban Waves Records. “Click Me” is a modern piece blending electronica, jazz and ambient. Unravelling like a motion picture’s soundtrack, the album depicts the imaginative world of Jesse Koolhaas. A meditative album that will help you achieve inner peace through analogic synthesized sounds and blips. Here’s modern ambient music at its finest. A must have, there’s only an handful vinyl stock left too!

Blameful Isles – Chimerical

The latest album by Swedish producer and song writer, Blameful Isles came out this September and is absolutely breathtaking. Chimerical is filled with soulful and emotional songs that go from spiritual jazz to modern electronica by exploring ambient styles and with touches of inspiration from world music. The style range on the album is incredible, it takes you on a journey. The artist is known for his spiritual albums and while this one goes a bit away from his freeform jazz style from previous albums it still is his own style. The album feels very personal and as if Blameful Isles dug really deep within himself to come up with songs that would convey what he’s been going through since the last album which was a couple years before. The album on vinyl came with a small booklet that is incredible, each song has a short “haiku” style text written by Blameful Isles himself to express how he felt about them. This whole project is so gorgeous, give it a go you won’t be disappointed.

Photay – Waking Hours

The latest album by the New Yorker, Evan Shornstein aka Photay is a very special piece of work. While continuing his path as a musician, song-writer and producer Photay keeps evolving. For every new album his work changes and transforms. His music is an extension of his own life experiences and feelings. As he grows and mature the same happens with his music. I was a huge fan since his early releases in 2012 and never stopped following his work during the years, always surprised by his new albums. Waking Hours is no exception to that rule and it’s a very powerful album with a strong message and direction. It’s a special experience to listen to it repeatedly and on each new listen I’m discovering something new and exciting. It came out in 2020 via the label Mexican Summer based in Brooklyn, New York.