OK, here`s a review of The Definitive Amient Collection 2 by Pete Namlook
RSNLP13, Rising High Records
Track listing:
Escape: Trip to Polaris
Sequential: Duane Sky
Silence: Garden of Dreams
Escape: Trip to Mars
Sequential: Saturn Cruises
Hearts Of Space: 70`s Beauty
Minimalistic Source: Vibe
Dreamfish: Fishology (remix)
This is Pete Namlook, the prolific creator behind FAX records, with his
second Ambient compilation on Rising High. Again, the compilation covers
most of his ambient projects and therefore acts as a pretty useful guide to
the myriad of FAX records and CDs.
The first track, Trip to Mars, mixes otherwordly organic sounds such as
wierd snores with spacey ambience, and the feeling of a journey is conveyed
by the transition from eeriness to warm, optimistic amospheres at the end.
The overall spaciness in this track contrasts well with the bongos and
crickets at the start of Duane Sky. This track has been one of my favourites
since I got it on 12" last summer: the bongos go on for about 2 minutes on
their own until the most brutal analogue drone suddenly comes in over it,
shattering the sense of tranquility from the start of the track. The bongos
continue unabashed, and the atmosphere changes gradually until the end of
the track. Silence provide one of the most minimal tracks on the album, an
20 minute track with reflective, sad chords, a few melodies and an
unsettling human voice among the strings. I felt that it was perhaps a bit
too long, but this is redeemed by the strong emotional content.
Trip to Mars is similiar to the other Escape track in it`s futuristic,
spacey vibe though this is more minimalist and tense. The low bassy chord
which rumbles behind the other strings (a Namlook trademark) provides an
ominous edge, while the echoing bleeps give a sense of floating through
space. This is one of my favourite tracks, but the track which follows it,
Saturn Cruises, is a bit dull. Basically it`s mellow trance with very little
atmosphere or strings, and at 15 minutes long it`s easy to get tired of it.
If only the next track was 15 mins rather than the 2.29 it clocks in at,
because it really hits the spot with me. Again there`s the low-end throb,
but over it there are the most awesome, epic ambient strings, marvellous
chords, almost like space classical music. For about 2 and a half minutes
you`re above the moon watching the sun rise over the Pacific! This would
dfinitely be my favourite track if it wasn`t so short.
The last side is more experimental. The Air track wouldn`t sound out of
place in Twin Peaks with it`s oddly surreal jazzy hi-hats, and the whooping
melody gives this track a surreal, slightly jazzy air. Vibe is quite
similiar to Duane Sky in chord structure and the sounds used, but doesn`t
progress as much. Not as scary as sme of Namlook`s other stuff is, but this
track definitely has an edge to it.
The Fishology remix is too long; it`s pretty rhythmic, and it`s a very
individual and distinctive track. However it`s not a minimalist track yet is
still strangely uninvolving, and quite repetitive, so I don`t rate it too
highly.
Overall the album is very good as an all-round introduction to Namlook`s
sound, and also as a listening experience (the tracks are all mixed into one
another: bit of a pain for the DJ, I should know!). It does justice to
Namlooks original ambient sounds, rather than just including his more
accessible tracks. There are a good number of outstanding tracks, and the
listener comes away knowing precisely which Namlook tracks to look for and
which ones to avoid.
Forthcoming: reviews of the Silk LP and the Fax compilation on Reflective.
Brendan Nelson
Lost Transmission From Cowley