ISAN - Glass Bird Movement

Berlin's Morr Music was responsible for some of the best electronica/IDM releases during the pioneering period of the early 00's, alongside labels such as City Center Offices. With the likes of Manual, Christian Kleine, and a rather brilliant Slowdive remix compilation, Blue Skied An' Clear, it's often easy to look back and think the label's best times have passed, but as proven here, one of it's most notorious inclusions, ISAN are back with some of their best work yet. 

The title of their latest release is a perfect reflection of the sound you can expect from Antony Ryan and Robin Saville (ISAN) - six years after their last. Working from different locations (UK and Denmark), the pair create glorious, shimmering patterns of warm electronica that are familiar, yet unmistakably ISAN. Many would claim to have been inspired by Antony and Robin, and it would be easy to draw comparisons that exist somewhere in-between the analog depths of Freescha, the innovative abilities of Aphex Twin, the melodic constructs of BoC, and the technical drum-patterns of Loess, but I do so only to draw attention to the brilliance of ISAN's music.

Tracks like 'Lace Murex' hit with an air of confidence, the crispness of a fine production, that makes the hairs on your neck stand on end, as the slow-burning melody creeps in amongst the pulsating, crunchy synthesizers, all set on a crisp day at the seaside, full of color and joy. 

Switch to the analog 'Rattling Downhill' to hear ISAN's fun retro side, manipulating simple synthesizer constructs into an addictive, progressive dance, as a spectrum of color swirls around your already hypnotized head.

As if demonstrating a breadth of approaches to a sound which is often easy to pigeonhole, tracks like 'Slow Rings' present a completely unique approach to this quirky electronica sound, leading into more ambient and inviting sounds in the softer album closer, 'Risefallasleep'.

As well as being another ISAN classic, this album is one of two things. It's either two master-minds of electronica finally polishing off tracks that have been finessed over 15-years or so, which still feel as fresh today as they ever would. Or Antony and Robin just decided, 'hey, it's about time we showed the world how great this type of music can be again' - like those people you meet who are just so damn good at something, no-matter how little practice they've had - they've just got it, popping up six years later to remind us how music can make you feel. Beautiful colors, happiness, and music that was made with fun and laughter. This is music that ISAN do best, and they do it better than anyone else.

Available on Morr Music and Bandcamp.

bvdub - Yours are Stories of Sadness

What hasn't already been said about bvdub and is left to say?

He's a man of many words and expression, often through his relentless music output. Some, have wished for more departures from his sound over the years - a signature sound at that. In Yours are Stories of Sadness, Brock gives a glimpse of change, just enough for him to prove he is never done evolving and in fact, reflecting is just as powerful. 

Brock's releases often vary in intensity and emotion. From the harshness of static, to the rollercoaster of varying song structures, and the pull of the soaring melodies; there's perhaps one thing that Brock hasn't played with before to keep us guessing, and that's track length.

Not to make this entirely about how long a track is, but not only have I wondered what Brock would construct in such strict circumstances, but he's notorious for the progression in his ambient music - so much so they should start naming an approach to ambient music after him...

With each track on this release 1/4 of the normal bvdub length of around 12+ minutes, and each depicting a time in which he remembered a moment from 4-years ago, this is the purest distillation of Brock we've seen to date. 

Each track starts as if it was embarking on a typical bvdub journey, but quickly forms its shape and purpose - be it a unique sample in track 3, Pop Ambient sounding synthesizers in track 5, Helios style organic warmth in track 9, more familiar heart-wrenching chords in track 14 or soaring static and synthesizers in closer, track 19.

bvdub notoriously isn't the easiest introduction into his own music (let me explain that a little). His tracks are often intense and emotional, yet placed for positions of quiet and personal listening. Finding the right moment to listen to bvdub is one of the reasons I don't listen to his albums more - they become destined for very special occasions, intense emotional places, and I think that's why he manages to connect with so many people on a much deeper level than most. You don't listen to one track of his, you listen to an entire album, and you're his companion in time of need, stress, celebration or reflection. Be it a close death, a friendship, or in this instance, fragmented memories, Brock is brilliant at painting these vivid emotions. 

With Yours are Stories of Sadness, Brock not only made his music more accessible, but he's managed to distill the many parts that make up his sound over the years into tiny fragments. You can hear everything in here, with nods to the past and a glimpse into the potential future. He's not one to show off, but if you needed a resume from Brock, this is it - perfectly executed and a summation of his many unique styles. If this is the sound of bvdub recalling memories from the past 4 years, this is also the distilled sound of bvdub from the past 4 years, but with one clear difference.

Unlike his previous works, where the painting was finished, these memories are purposefully grainy and incomplete. Like a 12-minute bvdub track, the remaining 8 minutes or so, are left for you to wonder.  And what better music to wonder with. 

"Unlike all my other works which are meant to be in the foreground, these are meant to stay in the shadows... to be the quiet and subconscious soundtrack... each not a story, but just a moment... that moment you realize. Unlike the norm, when I elucidate every second to near unbearable levels ;), this time how that moment materializes or continues is up to you..." 

Available on Bandcamp. 

Joachim Spieth - Evaporate

Joachim Spieth graced us with an isolatedmix last year, diving into ambient and deep techno - a form that many of us have known him by since the very early Kompakt Pop Ambient releases.

Since then, Joachim has invested time in his own label, Affin Records, slowly curating a solid line-up of techno artists, including some of Markus Guentner's earliest releases, as well as becoming an outlet for his techno-oriented releases. It's of no surprise then, to see a Joachim release on Affin, but this one's a little special.

A new two track EP, Evaporate covers the split sides of Joachim we love the most. Immersive, organic textures, with one side peppered in driving, ear-rattling deep techno, a-la Donato Dozzy, Luigi Tozzi etc and the other finding itself lost amongst the complex birdsong of a mysterious, dense forest; the kind you'll find ASC orchestrating, or even Dozzy's deeper project, Voices From The Lake.  

Joachim's roots in ambient music are clearly evident throughout and it's his respect for these deep textures that creates this solid slice of hypnotic techno music, and a must own 12".

Available on Bandcamp.

Jóhann Jóhannsson - Orphée

His name has been floating around in recent months, after it was announced Jóhann Jóhannsson would take up role scoring the highly pressured Blade Runner sequel.  If this news introduced you to the Icelandic composer, then welcome to a shining example of this mans capabilities in Orphée. If you're already aware of Jóhann's work, then join me in welcoming another masterpiece, and his first solo album since 2009.

Inspired by the story of Orpheus from Greek Mythology,  the poet became a metaphor for the album and the process of change. It's taken Jóhann over six years to complete this album, without the pressure to finish, and the ideals of "mutability, transition and our relationship with the dead", played a big part in this magnificent score. 

Some of the music on the album has been around for quite some time (take this 2012 performance on KCRW of Flight From The City - one of the best pieces on the album shown updated below) and as described in the video above, the album could've continued to evolve if Jóhann hadn't decided to let go - it seems unfinished - just like most artists would lead you to believe, who continually strive to perfect their work. But upon first listen, this is a defining, completed piece, with some of the most emotional compositions you're likely to come across. 

As you can imagine from an album drawn out over a long period of time, with no existing boundaries; the pieces each stand on their own, albeit with a slightly dark and ominous tone throughout. Incorporating a range of approaches, from solo cello, organ, string quartet, string orchestra to "the mesmeric sounds of shortwave radio numbers stations”, Orphée, holds true to its ever-changing, evolving inspiration; tracing a path from darkness into light akin to the Greek poet.

The emotion and atmospherics are unparalleled, and without reading too much into the album upon listening, and with Jóhann's background scoring the likes of The Theory Of Everything, I initially believed this was another score for a major motion picture - think James Newton Howard, Mark Isham or Michael Nyman on deck, given the drama and intelligence at work. But, no. This is simply an album of extreme beauty built for its own intent and purposes, reflecting on some very personal stories close to the artist and its development over the years.

I don't normally write about soundtracks on here as they are normally intrinsically tied to a film and best expressed that way. Orphée purposefully stands tall on its own, and it's becoming increasingly clear that Jóhann Jóhannsson is no ordinary composer, exemplified within the range of compositions and emotion at play here.

Listen to the album in full over on NPR.

Pre-order.

Horizontal Excursions - Higher States

A journey into nature is a healing experience, and one that can be married to your own personal health and mentality. At its most symbolic, Roger Martinez’s new album as Horizontal Excursions, not only refers to the mountains, but the higher states of mind through which he channeled to make the music. Whether you find calm and peace through nature, its sounds and presence, or through your own personal journeys, Higher States was built as your accomplice.
 
Through Roger’s own experiences, and by transmitting these higher states of mind through music, "the music then becomes a medicine to bring people together, or to put people more in touch with their emotions”. Not content with the present day spoken language and modern culture that surrounds us, Roger believes music is the missing element in order to achieve lasting happiness and peace within people - “music and the emotional language it conveys is much stronger at bringing people together, communicating states of oneness, peace, love and unity, that could ultimately contribute to a more loving, peaceful humanity”.

As Roger’s fifth release under the Horizontal Excursions moniker, Higher States is an evolution from his previous releases; the self-titled album of 2011, and the long-players of ‘Symphonica Helvetica’ and ‘Enantiodromia’. Atmospheric and organic, Higher States ascends through the many mental and physical layers one would experience when climbing towards fulfillment. Be it the low, swirling mist on ‘Opening Up, the relief and optimism of ‘Balance’ or the distant detail and memories in ‘The Gift’. From lush, warm pads to the sound of the sea, hundreds of feet beneath you, Higher States combines detailed soundscapes with a consistent current of depth, creating a vivid journey - an instrument designed where “higher states of intelligence emotion may flow, eventually towards the hearts of other people”. 

As Albert Einstein once said: “Our separateness is simply an optical illusion of consciousness”. 

Available on Bandcamp.

Download Roger's contribution to The Places Series - Symphonica Helvetica, for free.