Vakula – Metaphors [LELEKA009]

March 3, 2018March 1, 2018 hipodromealbum, ambient, drone, experimental, leleka, vakulaLeave a comment

Immersive listening music from Vakula, created in the hidden depths of the Ukraine. ‘Metaphors’ is slightly different from some of his (admittedly eclectic) full-length excursions, focused as it is on the gently unfurling, head-in-the-clouds world of ambient music. Of course, much of the music is still gently rhythmic – check for example, the pulsating arpeggio lines and tumbling kalimba melodies of the strangely foreboding “Proem”, or the spaced-out, keyboard demo rhumba rhythms underpinning languid opener “Smooth Movement” – but the vibe remains thoroughly horizontal throughout. While the standard is high throughout, we’re particularly enjoying the two versions of “Tale of Eternal Thought”, with the weightless bliss of the “Different Version” standing out.

Terekke – Improvisational Loops [MFM028]

March 3, 2018October 22, 2020 hipodromealbum, ambient, music from memory, terekkeLeave a comment

Terekke drifts gracefully onto Music From Memory with a long player of looping ambient pad pressure. The recording of ‘Improvisational Loops’ began in 2012 during yoga classes at Body Actualized Center in NYC. In the spirit of past ‘New Age’ or Minimal music, it aims to open up a space within the room giving the listener a chance to explore inward or outward. It was recorded using a digital synthesizer, reverb, and looper.

Nuances – Murmurs Of A Heavy Heart [TABR040]

February 18, 2018February 16, 2018 hipodromealbum, ambient, manni dee, nuances, tabernacle recordsLeave a comment

Manni Dee’s Nuances project joins the label with a mini-album recognizing splendor in feelings of somberness and isolation.

Giuseppe Leonardi – TBC [SC007]

February 17, 2018June 29, 2021 hipodromeambient, experimental, giuseppe leonardi, music from memory, outernational, second circleLeave a comment

Returning with another debut release, Second Circle’s eighth record to date comes this time from young Viennese musician Giuseppe Leonardi. Performed on an array of synthesizers and experimenting with spoken word and vocals from various local singers, Giuseppe’s ‘TBC’ EP take us on a dance through the catacombs and out through the jungle floor with ritualistic rhythm and haunting song… Whilst at other moments Giuseppe’s horizontal ambient pieces leave us gazing out on the shores of a distant half-remembered planet.

Jeff Mills – And Then There Was Light (Soundtrack) [AXCD052]

February 4, 2018February 1, 2018 hipodromealbum, ambient, axis records, jeff mills, soundtrack, tatsushi omoriLeave a comment

Last year, Jeff Mills provided the soundtrack for a curious Japanese film by Tatsushi Omori called And Then There Was Light. The movie was based on a novel called Hikari, which focuses on a teenager who kills his girlfriend’s other lover while mistaking their affair for sexual assault. The dark tone of both novel and film naturally shines through in Mills’ refreshingly electronic score, which flits between moments of quietly spacey ambience, creepy intensity, Reichian minimalism (see “Danger From Abroad”), icy soundscapes, industrial strength intensity (the panicked “The Players of Consequence” and “Lost Winners”) and, on the “Hikari Mix” of “The Hypnotists”, full-throttle Detroit techno with Giallo overtones.

Tuomo Vaananen – A Small Flood [LJ009]

January 21, 2018January 19, 2018 hipodromealbum, ambient, ambient techno, experimental, ljudverket, tuomo vaananenLeave a comment

Typically outstanding, cultured, listenable techno by the co-founder of this excellent Finnish label, adroitly traversing dub and ambient. Nothing lunky or domineering, dystopian or Gothic, this debut LP generates senses of immediate, natural being out of field recordings (Waiting Halls, Winners, Temple) and the foibles and hiccups of the music-making process itself (New to the System, Sloth, A Small Flood).

RA.605 Chris SSG

January 7, 2018January 4, 2018 hipodromeambient, chris ssg, experimental, interview, mnml ssgs, podcast, resident advisorLeave a comment

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VA – Element: Earth [EL001]

December 29, 2017December 26, 2017 hipodromeambient, electro, electronic leatherette, franck kartell, heinrich dressel, msrg, vessel in distressLeave a comment

Electronic Leatherette is the new label from Riga based producer Dmitry Distant. After years of making electro and wave music he decided to create a new story and run his label. With a first release label provides a series of 4 basic nature elements. As a fundament of everything this release is dedicated to element Earth and can bring you though atmosphere of esotoric electronic music within guides from Vessel in Distress, Heinrich Dressel, Franck Kartell and new comer name from same planet MSRG. Enjoy your travel and sound scape.

Docetism – Potential Natural Vegetation [SSX08]

December 17, 2017December 15, 2017 hipodromeambient, docetism, drone, maciej banasik, silent seasonLeave a comment

Maciej Banasik has been releasing plenty of music as MB as well as Docetism since 2012, but this release on Silent Season marks the first time the prolific artist’s music has been committed to wax. In true Silent Season style the mood is consistently haunting, leading in with the foggy pulse of “Dentario Enneaphyllidis – Fagetum I” before the second part of the piece heads off into pure swelling drone. “Querco – Pinetum I” is a different kind of droning techno that comes loaded with cinematic poise, but it makes for a natural partner to the A side. The second part of that piece drifts into calming field recordings of birds and shapeless synth swells of a truly majestic nature.

OWL – Blackstone [SSX07]

December 17, 2017December 15, 2017 hipodromeambient, drone, owl, silent seasonLeave a comment

OWL has previously been spotted on labels such as Anekoic, Circular Limited and Planet Rhythm, but he made quite an impression with the digital release of his Blackstone EP on Silent Season. Now the label have done the right thing and cut the release to vinyl, giving ambient belters such as “Fragment” the chance to sit beside none quieter gems like “Solar Wind” on wax. There are whispers of rhythm to be found tucked away in “Blowing The Light”, while “Innominate Horizon” imparts a little warmth with its tender chords, making this a record rich in variation as much as subtlety.

Isorinne – Speechless Malison [NE47]

December 16, 2017December 15, 2017 hipodromealbum, ambient, isorinne, michael isorinne, northern electronicsLeave a comment

There is an intricate sorrow to Isorinne’s new album, ‘Speechless Malison.’ Though broadly melodic, it feels exhausted rather than restrained; though rippling with a pulse, the rhythmic passages are sparse, their measured source a great distance away. Building on last year’s cassette, ‘Echoic Memoir,’ ‘Speechless Malison’ takes greater and emotive strides, however brittle the path.

CN – The Expedition Beyond [FPR003]

December 7, 2017December 7, 2017 hipodromeambient, cn, electro, future primitive, stian gjevik, wil-ru recordsLeave a comment

Future Primitive is back with an immersive new LP from CN, whose approach to electro comes loaded with analog fuzz and a wistful vision of science-fiction sounds. Originally a cassette release on Wil-Ru Records in 2011 ”The Expedition Beyond” is a musical narrative that chronicles the astral travels of a star-craft and it’s crew through the outer reaches of the Galaxy. 10 tracks of cosmic acid funk, drifty nebulous synth-scapes and robo-centric electro.

Black Zone Myth Chant – Feng Shen [GRVTS010]

November 26, 2017November 24, 2017 hipodromealbum, ambient, back zone myth chant, editions gravats, electro, experimental, max p, maxime primaultLeave a comment

Among many of the producer’s aliases and side monikers, Black Zone Myth Chant is surely Maxime Primault’s finest accomplishment as an artist. Having come through via Low Jack’s unfailingly pleasing Editions Gravats over the last few years, he has now begun to establish himself as our go-to man for sounds that truly lie on the periphery of what is deemed normal or sane. Feng Shen is his new LP, once again coming out through Editions Gravats, and it’s a wild, ethereal journey from start to finish. The frameworks are loose and cavernous, but most tracks going further than ambient or drone do contain plenty of rhythmic flow, making them playable on the more open-minded of dancefloors. “Spiritual Decay Dub” perfectly reflects the diversity of sounds on here, their mysticism, and Black Zone Myth Chant’s ability to construct meaning out of sparse sounds.

Acronym – Malm [FIELD026]

November 19, 2017November 17, 2017 hipodromeacronym, album, ambient, field recordsLeave a comment

Field Records welcomes Acronym for a new album, Malm, which follows many great ambient laced deep techno EPs and LPs on Semantica and Northern Electronics. The 10-track beatless affair pays homage to one of his lost friends who was torn between his dualistic nature. In a state of paranoia, stress and inner conflict, even brief moments of panic can be fatal for yourself and the people around you. This album is born from those ideas and was recorded and arranged between 2015 and 2017 in different parts of the world using various analog and digital synthesizers and effects. Informed by grief and sorrow, the album evolved through a number of different forms and finally comprises three acts; the first two showcase the artist’s take on the mental and physical circumstances during the events that took place on the 4th of January 2016 in Malmi, Helsinki, and the final act presents his viewpoint after that date. The Swedish artist offers absorbing and meditative passages of ambience and sombre atmosphere across all pieces here. Long, tailed pads gently come and go, occasional percussive sounds get sprinkled about and bleak keys bring real tenderness. It’s an escapist listen that ranges from oppressive and heavy to more subtly uplifting and is one of the most coherent and cohesive albums you could wish to hear.

Pauline Anna Strom – Trans-Millenia Music [RERVNG10]

November 19, 2017November 17, 2017 hipodromealbum, ambient, experimental, pauline anna strom, re-release, reissue, rvng intl.Leave a comment

Special re-issue in the form of a compilation of various tracks from Pauline Anna Strom’s albums: Trans-Millenia Consort (1982), Plot Zero (1983), Spectre (1984), Japanese Impressions (1988), Aquatic Realms (1988) and Mach 3.04 (1988). Essential ambient works by one of the pioneers from back in the days.

Max Loderbauer – Greyland [MARIONETTE06]

November 19, 2017October 7, 2022 hipodromeambient, experimental, marionette, max loderbauerLeave a comment

Superb, expert neo-minimalism from the retiring Berliner — veteran of collaborations like Vilod (with Ricardo Villalobos), the Moritz Von Oswald Trio, NSI and Sun Electric — making a rare, treasurable solo foray. Six tracks ranging from oscillatory steppers to eerie hauntings. Beautifully sleeved, too.

Alessandro Cortini – Forse 1 [IMPREC373LP]

November 11, 2017November 26, 2025 hipodromealbum, alessandro cortini, ambient, drone, experimental, important records, re-release, reissueLeave a comment

Alessandro Cortini (Nine Inch Nails/How To Destroy Angels) composed the Forse series using a Buchla Music Easel. Forse, meaning ”maybe” In Italian, is a series of 3 double LP releases Cortini recorded for Imprec to release in 2013. ”All pieces were written and performed live on a Buchla Music Easel, in the span of one month. I found that the limited array of modules that the instrument offers sparked my creativity. Most pieces consist of a repeating chord progression, where the real change happens at a spectral/dynamic level, as opposed to the harmonic/chordal one. I believe that the former are just as effective as the latter, in the sense that the sonic presentation (distortion , filtering, wave shaping, etc) are just as expressive as a chord change or chord type, and often reinforce said chord progressions. Of all the years with Nine Inch Nails the period spent writing and recording the instrumental record Ghosts I-IV is probably the one which changed my approach to music making the most. After that record I started getting more into instrumental composition, although I tried to approach it in a different way. While we had a vast array of tools and instruments at our disposal then, I decided to approach my pieces limiting myself to one instrument only, as I found myself being more decisive when faced with a limited creative environment.”

O Yuki Conjugate – Scene In Mirage [ERC053]

November 7, 2017November 7, 2017 hipodromealbum, ambient, andrew hulme, cold wave, emotional rescue, emotional response recordings, experimental, final image, minimal synth, o yuki conjugate, re-release, reissue, roger horberryLeave a comment

Emotional Rescue returns to the music of “dark ambient” pioneers O Yuki Conjugate (OYC) with the reissue of their debut album, ‘Scene in Mirage’. Released in 1984, it’s post-industrial; cold wave overtures mixed with an ambient oeuvre created a compelling album that has gained cult status. Quickly selling out in its original pressing, inexplicably their record label decided not to re-press, so an expanded cassette version called ‘Scene In Mirage/Soundtracks’ was re-released on the band’s own Final Image label with an accompanying video. Here, Emotional Rescue’s re-issue combines the best of both versions in a lovingly recreated sleeve taken from the original design templates. Based around original members Roger Horberry and Andrew Hulme, OYC is now returning in its fourth incarnation with live shows and hopefully, new music to come. Watch the horizon.

Mr. Eff – The Parallel LP [GD028]

November 6, 2017November 6, 2017 hipodromealbum, ambient, disco, electro, giallo disco records, mr. effLeave a comment

Introducing Mr. Eff. Part myth, part man. Dragging by the arm to safety through digital swamps and haunted houses, The Parallel stands as a singular vision of Miltonian proportions. Small vignettes and passing scenes give way to grandiose and beautiful moments, from the wave-sleaze of Midnight Predator to the pre-credits Suicide-tribute of H E A R T T H R O B, The Parallel works as much for drive time as it does for drifting off to a far off land that is both wonderful and strange.

Renart – Fragments Séquencés [CRACKI038]

October 25, 2017October 24, 2017 hipodromealbum, ambient, cracki records, deep house, detroit, electro, renartLeave a comment

This album is the result of a long personal journey and is conceived as a series of small tales.On stage or on CD, the dreamlike world of Renart will take you away. Between solitary experimentation and acclaimed electronic performances, he keeps surprising us.Renart weaves melodic and melancholic atmospheres through tales which give free rein to our interior wanderings. At the crossroads of repetitive musics, 70’s psychedelic rock and modern techno, Renart creates powerful nagging rhythms and sharpens his future tracks in his misty castle of Malpertuis.

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