Category Archives: Ambient

TOMORROW’S FASHIONS – LIBRARY ELECTRONICA 1972-1987.

Tomorrow’s Fashions – Library Electronica 1972-1987. Label: Ace. Format: CD. Release Date: 28th June 2024. Over the last few years, there’s been a resurgence of interest in library music, with British and European record labels releasing lovingly curated compilations that are welcomed by a coterie of musical connoisseurs who have a passion for library music. …

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LARAAJI: VISION SONGS VOLUME 1.

Laraaji: Vision Songs Volume 1. Label: Numero Group. Format: LP. During a career that has spanned five decades, American multi-instrumentalist Laraaji has released around thirty albums and countless collaborations. Many of these albums were self released by Laraaji on cassettes, and feature his unique and inimitable genre-melting sound. This best described as a fusion of …

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A CRUDE MECHANICAL-DISCOURSE.

A Crude Mechanical-Discourse. Format: LP and Digital. Once in a while, a debut album comes along that features groundbreaking, genre-melting music that stands head and shoulders above other albums that have just been released. That was the case with A Crude Mechanical’s much-anticipated debut album, ‘Discourse.’ It was based on a speech made by American …

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SPACE, ENERGY AND LIGHT-EXPERIMENTAL  ELECTRONIC AND ACOUSTIC SOUNDSCAPES 1961-88.

Space, Energy and Light-Experimental Electronic and Acoustic Soundscapes 1961-88. Label: Soul Jazz Records In 2017, Soul Jazz Records released Space, Energy and Light-Experimental Electronic and Acoustic Soundscapes 1961-88 to widespread critical acclaim. The album quickly sold out and has been out-of-print. Now five years later a new edition of this compilation has just been released. …

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CULT CLASSIC: MOONSHINE AKA MONICA RYPMA AND FRIENDS-CLASSIFIEDS.

Cult Classic: Moonshine aka Monica Rypma and Friends-Classifieds. When Monica Rypma’s released her album Classifieds as a private press in 1985, little did she know that one day, it would be much-prized rarity amongst collectors and fans of the folk-funk genre. That’s why nowadays, original copies of Classifieds are changing hands for ever increasing sums …

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BOB STANLEY AND PETE WIGGS PRESENT FELL FROM THE SKY: DOWNTEMPO AND AFTER HOURS 1990-91. 

Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs Present Fell From The Sky: Downtempo and After Hours 1990-91. Label: Ace Records. Format: CD.  Release Date: ‘1st’ July 2022.   House music arrived in Britain in 1987 and instantly transformed the musical landscape. Just like disco a decade earlier, it went on to provided the soundtrack for a generation in clubs …

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MOONSHINE AKA MONICA RYPMA AND FRIENDS-CLASSIFIEDS.

Moonshine aka Monica Rypma and Friends-Classifieds. Label: BBE Music. Format: CD. Release Date: 17th June 2022. When BBE Music recently released the compilation We Are The Children Of The Sun, one of the highlights was Monica Rypma’s Let Love Flow, a hook-laden Balearic groove hidden gem. The track was a tantalising taste of the album …

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JON SAVAGES’S 1977-1979-SYMBOLS CLASHING EVERYWHERE.

Jon Savage’s 1977-1979-Symbols Clashing Everywhere. Label: Ace Records. Format: 2CD Set.  Jon Savage’s 1977-1979-Symbols Clashing Everywhere is the seventh instalment in the compliant series he has curated for Ace Records. This long-running series has been released to critical acclaim, and like previous volumes features a truly eclectic collection of tracks. They reflect just what music journalist Jon Savage was listening to …

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CULT CLASSIC: COCTEAU TWINS-VICTORIALAND.

Cult Classic: Cocteau Twins-Victorialand.  In 1979, guitarist Robin Guthrie and bassist Will Heggie formed a new band in their hometown of Grangemouth, in Scotland.  The new band they called the Cocteau Twins after a song by Johnny and The Self-Abusers, who later changed their name to Simple Minds. Not long after forming the Cocteau Twins band …

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WARREN HAMPSHIRE-LANGUAGE OF THE BIRDS.

Warren Hampshire-Language Of The Birds. Label: Athens Of The North. Format: LP Many people will remember Warren Hampshire as the guitarist in The Bees, who were formed in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight in 2001 and went on to release four albums between 2002 and 2010. However, he wasn’t an original lineup of the …

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MICHAEL ROTHER-FROM SPIRIT OF SOUNDS TO THE SOLO YEARS

Michael Rother-From The Sprit Of Sounds To The Solo Years. By the early seventies, the German music scene was thriving, and  was one of the most vibrant in Europe. Some of the most influential and innovative music was being recorded and released by German bands who were part of a new musical movement and were making Kosmische musik. Its roots …

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WARREN HAMPSHIRE-LANGUAGE OF THE BIRDS.

Warren Hampshire-Language Of The Birds. Label: Athens Of The North. Format: CD. Many people will remember Warren Hampshire as the guitarist in The Bees, who were formed in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight in 2001 and went on to release four albums between 2002 and 2010. However, he wasn’t an original lineup of the …

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CULT CLASSIC: ENO/CALE-WRONG WAY UP.

Cult Classic: Eno/Cale-Wrong Way Up. Brian Eno and John Cale first worked together in 1974, when they also recorded the album June 1, 1974. When it was released twenty-seven days later on the ‘28th’ of June 1974 it was credited to Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Brian Eno and Nico. Two of the three men who …

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MANONGO MUJICA AND TERJE EVENSEN-PARACAS RITUAL

Manongo Mujica and Terje Evensen-Paracas Ritual. Label: Buh Records. Format: 2 x LP. Manongo Mujica has been a leading light of the Peruvian avant-garde music scene since the seventies, and has met a myriad of musicians who were touring Peru. In 2003, this included Norwegian drummer, sound designer, teacher and composer Terje Evensen who was …

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STEVE MOORE-ANALOG ACTIVITY.

Steve Moore-Analog Activity. Label: Be With Records. Format: LP. Prolific is the perfect word to describe New York-based multi-instrumentalist, producer, remixer and film composer Steve Moore. He’s best known as one half of Zombi the duo that he formed with Anthony Paterra. However, that is just part of the Steve Moore story. He’s also part …

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CULT CLASSIC: CATAPILLA-CHANGES.

Cult Classic: Catapilla- Changes. The story of Catapilla is another case of what might have been. They were formed in West London around Christmas 1970, and signed to Vertigo Records and released two ambitious and innovative albums where they combined progressive rock with experimental fusion. Sadly, neither their 1971 debut album Catapilla, nor the followup …

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OCEAN MOON-CRYSTAL HARMONICS.

Ocean Moon-Crystal Harmonics. Label: Be With. Format: LP. 2020 has been a busy year for Jon Tye of Seahawks. Earlier this year, Seahawks released a new album Island Visions, which featured a collection of library music they had recorded for KPM. The music on the album focused on the deeper, more spatial side of music. …

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HUNTSVILLE AND YUKA HONDA, NELS CLINE, DARIN GRAY, GLENN KOTCHE-BOW SHOULDER.

Huntsville and Yuka Honda, Nels Cline, Darin Gray, Glenn Kotche-Bow Shoulder. Label: Hubro Music. Format: CD. In the spring of 2006, Chicago alternative rock band Wilco and Huntsville  were booked to play at the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville in Quebec, Canada. Wilco played first and their guitarist Nels Cline decided to watch …

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MICHAEL ROTHER-SOLO II AND DREAMING.

Michael Rother-Solo II and Dreaming. Label: Gronland Records. Format: CD. By the early seventies, the German music scene was thriving, and  was one of the most vibrant in Europe. Some of the most influential and innovative music was being recorded and released by German bands who were part of a new musical movement and were making Kosmische musik. Its roots …

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CULT CLASSIC-GALACTIC EXPLORERS-EPITAPH FOR VENUS.

Cult Classic: Galactic Explorers-Epitaph For Venus. A great deal of mystery, speculation, and even cynicism surrounds the recording and belated release of  Galactic Explorers’ debut album Epitaph For Venus. Nobody seems to know what year the album was recorded and it’s thought that the album was released between 1972 and 1976 which was when Robin …

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