Category: Ambient

Ambient, Dream Pop, Dreampop, ExperimentalLeave a comment

Lightning Bug – The (L​)​onely Ones

Tom

The new single from New York’s Lightning Bug is a magical moment for these ears. The Onely Ones mixes dreampop, shoegaze with ambient and experimental music. They then push the boundaries out even further on The Lonely Ones which ventures deeper into ambient territory which includes some “dubby” moments alongside bursts of white noise. There is no need for me to gush any further as the music speaks for itself. The (L​)​onely Ones is out now on Fat Possum Records. Facebook Continue reading Lightning Bug – The (L​)​onely Ones

Ambient, Electronica, Experimental, PopLeave a comment

Hey Elbow – Nurture​/​Aptitude

Tom

There are a few bands that operate outside imposed boundaries and constraints – self or otherwise. Of the top of my head, bands such as Haiku Salut, The Leaf Library and more recently Dummy fall into that group. I can now add Swedish band Hey Elbow into that mix. Late to the party as ever as the band have been going for a few years now I have been exposed to them via their new single Nurture​/​Aptitude. The band combine ambient, experimental and pop to mould a novel and, at times, unique sound. The vocals are woven like thread during … Continue reading Hey Elbow – Nurture​/​Aptitude

Ambient, ExperimentalLeave a comment

Palm Haze – Walk Away

Tom

The new track from Vancouver based Palm Haze revisits David Bernstein’s 80’s-era ballad You Walk Away. Never having heard the original basis of this song I got stuck in. Musically Walk Away is fuzzy, distorted and atmospheric whilst the vocals are restful but sorrowful. As for the original. Nah. I couldn’t be bothered to find it as my guess would be that it would spoil this lovely but bleak, drifting soundtrack piece. Facebook Continue reading Palm Haze – Walk Away

Ambient, PopLeave a comment

Pale Skies – Larung Memori

Tom

Pale Skies, who hail from Tangerang (Indonesia), cheekily tagged themselves in a twitter thread I had going on the recent Bandcamp Friday. Normally I ignore unsolicited contact but in this case I was intrigued enough to give them a listen*. Before I go on I had better set the scene because I am currently revisiting David Toop (ex Flying Lizards) and Virgin’s Ocean Of Sound series which was released in the 1990s. It covered a historical survey of ambient music as well as other aspects such as vocals and structures. Why do I mention this? Well, should decide to Virgin … Continue reading Pale Skies – Larung Memori

Ambient, Dream Pop, Dreampop, Shoegaze1 Comment

Relay Tapes – Early Morning Abstract

Tom

Early Morning Abstract from Brisbane’s Relay Tapes is the follow up to 2018’s Semblance EP. The band delve into a range of influences ranging from ambient to shoegaze in order to create a range of really strong songs. The ambient opener Theme 42 has some drone textures woven in whilst In The Ground opens with some kosmische sounds, slowly building with layers of repetition but without any negativity attached. It was Planetarium with it’s blend of drone, shimmering guitars and low audible female vocals that finally turned me onto the band in a big way whilst Dream Colour is a … Continue reading Relay Tapes – Early Morning Abstract

Alt Rock, Ambient, Experimental, Psychedelia, Shoegaze1 Comment

Dummy – Dummy EP

Tom

Dummy, the band led by ex Wildhoney member Joe Trainor, have released their self titled debut EP. It’s a great blend of styles featuring noise pop, shoegaze, fuzzy guitars, drone and ambient not to mention some psychedelic pop. Lead track Angel’s Gear has that in abundance, wowing me back in January and I have been waiting for this EP ever since! The kosmische influenced Avant-Garde Gas Station follows which switches from slow building moogs and hushed vocals before expanding into a crescendo of noisy guitars. Slacker Mask is up next with a mix of fuzzy indiepop and krautrock that takes the … Continue reading Dummy – Dummy EP

AmbientLeave a comment

The Angel Makers – Deliquesce/Crystallize

Tom

Colchester’s The Angel Makers have moved into ambient territory on their new single which they describe as an “isolation mini mix tape for your quarantine dreams”. Opener Deliquesce sounds like an ambient remix of Slowdive’s Souvlaki Space Station with atmospheric sounds that encompasses the listener. Crystallize adds more textures and tones but the result is the same, as the track gives an affect of drifting through the clouds. Lovely and calming. Facebook Continue reading The Angel Makers – Deliquesce/Crystallize

Ambient, Dream Pop, DreampopLeave a comment

Pia Fraus – Hidden Parks

Tom

Estonian dreampop band Pia Fraus have released a new single in the shape of Hidden Parks which is taken from the forthcoming new album. It’s a blissful track with some nice arrangements which fits in well with the falling autumn leaves outside my window. Like the previous single Sweet Sunday Snow it’s bundled with a number of remixes which may or may not enhance the track depending on your persuasion. I can easily live without the Wolfredt and Vanishing Twin remixes which do very little for me. That said things pick up up with the Erko Niit remix which adds … Continue reading Pia Fraus – Hidden Parks

Ambient, Drone, ExperimentalLeave a comment

The Leaf Library – Hissing Waves

Tom

I enjoyed the Monument Series released earlier this year which was the side project works of members of The Leaf Library. Now the band will be releasing their new and second album, entitled The World Is A Bell, next month. Hissing Waves is the first track to be lifted from the album and it’s a hypnotic, vibrating track that through it’s various folds mixes elements from a range of genres. Drone pop in it’s element. The World Is A Bell is released on 25th October 2019 and will be available in limited, vinyl, CD and digital formats. It can be … Continue reading The Leaf Library – Hissing Waves

Ambient, Dreampop, Shoegaze1 Comment

Ummagma – Frequency

Tom

The new EP from Canadian-Ukrainian duo Ummagma consists of soundscapes ranging from ambient to shoegazing. On the likes of Winter Tale or Galacticon I also hear a bit of experimental new age too reminding me of 1990’s electronic artists Deep Forest. However it’s on Orion and Lama where the band plays to it’s strengths with both songs nesting firmly in the shoegaze inspired dreampop camp. The latter also gets the remix treatment from label mates Lights That Change and OMD’s Malcolm Holmes who turns it into a slow building 80’s inspired synth-pop floor filler with singer Shauna McLarnon’s vocals highlighted … Continue reading Ummagma – Frequency