:::Excursions in Ambience: the third dimension (Astralwerks)
1. Spacetime Continuum : Floatilla
Very appropriately named track. A nice floaty / spacey piece with
sweeping tones and dream-like chimes.
2. Grain : Birth .Son
Apparently "Grain" is an LA resident who bumped into an Astralwerks rep
while at the Orb show in LA. A nice tweaky track in general with a subtle
beat that comes and goes.
3. Seefeel : Charlotte's Mouth (Avant Garde Mix)
Havent greatly enjoyed too much Ive heard from Seefeel, one exception
being the track on the second artificial intelligence compilation. This
track doesnt do much for me really.
4. Spectrum : Pulse Drone (Neon Sigh)
I've heard this before somewhere im sure. As the title might suggest,
the track opens with a loud transforming drone that continues for the
full seven minutes.
5. Air : Trip #2
The beginning of this track reminds me of the beginning of "stop" by
Janes Addiction, except in french :) Im sure we're all familiar with the
works of Peter Namlook by now, and this piece is taken from his album Air
II. Nice ethnic sounding track with a background noise which sounds like
people walking through those wooden bead curtains they have in some places.
It works very well.
6. Divination : Ancient Evenings (Najm-Al-Din)
Ambient dub from Bill Laswell who worked with Brian Eno on his "On Land"
album. Sounds like something the Orb might cook up.
7. Future Sound of London : Deep Into Your Subconcious I Slide
Far too short at just less than four minutes. Nice track though in the
FSoL tradition.
8. Steve Fisk : Express God
Opens with a bizarre vocal sample that sounds very familiar. Loses
points however as I dont like religious preaching in my music. I dont
really like the patchiness of it all - the "cocksucker" sample, the
sirens, the backwards beats. Doesn't work for me.
9. Mike Kandel : Slow Boat To China
Well we all know Mike Kandel a little better as Mr Exist Dance, behind
such projects as Tranquility Bass. This track opens with a steady popping
noise which to me, gives the effect of a badly presssed record being played.
Interesting. One of the darker tracks on this compilation.
10. Aphex Twin : track #19
This is the track that is only available on the vinyl version of
Selected Ambient Works II, also the longest track on the compilation at
a little over ten minutes. Incredible amounts of low-level sound with
this one, backed by a discrete ticking - a real house shaker.
:::Summary:
Id like to be able to compare this with the previous installments but I
can't since I haven't really heard them. Good stuff in general, the let down
for me being the Steve Fisk track which I really cant get into. Most of this
material is previously unreleased however which adds a few bonus points.
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/ /\ \ Alan M Parry <finger me for PGP key>
/,_) \ \
(/ \\ fluid@hyperreal.com :65 FD F9 9F F2 23 F8 CF:
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