Posts from the Uncategorized Category

Akagi is a recent release from prolific & respected one-man US ambient project Celer. It comes in either the form of a CD, or a digital download, and features just a single seventy-nine minute slice of soothing, golden, and life-affirming ambience.

Though this is a 2016 release, the track actually originates from 2012 when it was created for a live yoga event at Yougenji temple in Northern Tokyo. The track is simple yet highly effective in it’s sonic make-up. It  takes in just two tape loops of very minimal  ambient keyboard drift – these each have similar time structures, but each have subtle different, overlapping chord patterns. These loops were played simultaneously, to create slightly different ambient combinations, with some manual alterations to both the volume and high/low settings of the tape reels on play-back. The whole track just slow circles though a series of lulling & rich simmers, fades & drifts.

The whole thing has a wonderfully pleasing, calming & mellow unfold to it’s slowly revolving & merging patterns. So you can either let it play out as soothing & restful background music, or concentrate more & let your mind focus in on the subtle shifts & ebbs in the flow of the track. I guess when one thinks of lengthy journeys into tape looped based ambience you think of the likes William Basinski – but this is a lot more lush & uncorrupted in it’s golden & harmonic reparations.

Truly this is a really beautiful & highly pleasing slice of long form ambience – I’ve always enjoyed this project past work, and this is another very worthy addition to the bands large discography.

“In a white-hot blue rush, the sun came breaking in with enough strength to push you over backwards. Smoke was still lingering on the ceilings, being sucked out once the windows opened up. She leaned out the window, looking down into the empty streets. Nobody. It’s a more peaceful life, now. Everyone’s at the beach, no more working. They gave that up years ago. He came into the room, and laid down on the sofa.

Minutes later, night was coming, and the car warmed up, as they went out along the boule- vards, and into the mountains, for the foggy climb to the top. The keyboards on the tape ste- reo sizzled in the crisp night air, and below, from the lookout point, all the lights were off and quiet. Let’s sit here and see the moon rise.” – Harmony State

..

Harmony State is the debut release by Rangefinder, aka Will Long. The project was started as a return to the technology of the 1970’s and 1980’s, using only Yamaha synthesizers, Roland sequencers, and multitrack tape mixing. With the current availability and countless options through computers, it can be overwhelming, and can destroy the immediacy of creativity and spontaneity through becoming too involved with processes and possibilities.

Harmony State came from experimenting with simple capabilities and ideas, and through this, finding a way to have fun and enjoy making music.

Available from now Room40!

The first release of my new project Rangefinder, ‘Night Ride’, is now available on cassette from Bun Tapes.

Press release:

You’re instantly moving at 130 kph, the long stretching highway thinning on the horizon, turning to dust in the past behind. There’s a permanent sunset, since the sun now spins horizontally. Shooting stars fall to the east, the closest to darkness we’ll see. The stadium lights of the city replicate the daylight, but from here, practically alone on the salt flats, there’s nothing but dry desert and evening light. Let everything stop, and then spin out of control. Tempos are dancing, the radio sings, and the lost days have past. We never thought the dreamers would win in the end, but we did.

Night Ride is the debut release of Bun Tapes, available in an unnumbered edition with a full color insert, white and transparent norelco case, and sun-orange imprinted cassettes.

Cassette available now in these shops:

Japan:  Bun Tapes  Meditations  Murmur Records

United Kingdom:  Norman Records

Digital: Rangefinder Bandcamp