Crazy weeks between this and the last post in the turntable. Of course amidst the craziness there was a number of single threads that wove a line of sense and calm in front of me. It seems the term ambient is a difficult one used to describe such a vast array of music. Of much of the music I listen to that would be considered ambient, I tend to think of it in terms that sit in opposition to the notion of ambiance. So much “ambient” music is really about singularity and focus. A kind of musical determinism that often requires peripheral focus by the listener. It has often been the case for me that this sort of singularity and determinism is a wonderful accompaniment to mental work (I doubt it would raise productivity levels pumped through loudspeakers at the mine site though). Which leads me to this weeks Turntable post - ambient music to think by.

1. The Dead Texan - “The Dead Texan” (Buy at iTunes) : An absolute must have album. I dare say this is my favourite ambient release in the last two years. Any artists who can create a track called “Glen’s Goo” and still almost bring you to tears is going to say in my book forever. This sounds to me like a wonderful distillation of some of the work of “Stars of the Lid” and some of the gentler moments of the “big name, big member” Canadian post rock bands, but in so many ways it’s so much more. Please buy and listen to this album - sad and joyous and impressing.
2. Fovea Hex - “Bloom” : Bloom finds Fovea Hex collaborating with Brian Eno, Roger Eno and Andrew McKenzie (Hafler Trio), Carter Burwell (Fargo Soundtrack, Being John Malkovich Soundtrack). And what a sublime collaboration it is. The long slow familiar tones brought to the mix by Eno and Burwell make a bed for the haunting vocals of Fovea Hex. On the first listen this may throw you, but as with any album that second adn third listen will pay dividends as the albums sense and beauty begin to unfold. This is ambient folk music at it’s finest.
3. Loscil - “Plume” (Buy at iTunes) : Following the Loscil continuum, Plume manages to be both an exercise on honing their magical submersed dub sounds and compositions as well as a hidden step forward. This album feels like a thousand tiny gas filled ants floating through space only to gently burst minutes after their birth and it would be sad if it wasn’t so dreamy and beautiful. Loscil are about the simultaneous twin dynamics of suspension and movement.

Posted on Thursday, January 25th, 2007 at 11:58 am
comment | rss 2.0 | trackback