Ambient Sunday is plundering the Cretaceous with: Tenaen Park – Conchoraptor

•January 7, 2024 • Leave a Comment

Ambient Sunday is brought to you from 70 million years ago. What we call the Late Cretaceous period for Conchoraptor from Tensen Park.

Tensen Park is from Amsterdam, Netherlands and dabbles in “Experimental, ambient, dub-techno, IDM, breakbeats.” Here’s a track from new album Futurebeats. The explanation for the title makes me feel ancient with its evocation of the early 2000s as some dim and distant past. Sigh. Tensen Park explains that “The “future” in futurebeats refers to that utopic feeling I had as a child playing video games. Games were infinitely interesting, the new games looked prettier, etc. It’s that youthful 2000’s feeling of infinite computer possibilities. Futurebeats blends these things that were so prevalent during that time: utopism, imagination, playfulness, jungle, breakbeats and blissing out on psychedelic electronic sounds from the computer.”

The track is Conchoraptor. I assumed this was a made up title. Wrong. It’s a real oviraptorid, the name meaning conch plunderer as it is understood to have been a mollusc eater.

As a track it’s a dreamy but wheezy affair. Beats are spaced out, the air is filled with throbbing and woozy sounds. This is a far off psychedelic dreamworld. It’s a bit Ambient and a bit IDM. It’s a bit early Burial but without the garage beats.

There’s also something ineffably alien here. The sound of far off world with their strange calls and burbles. Sounds bubble and gurgle. A wonderful cheese dream of sound.

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Superb chilled IDM clatter from: Mattr – Gaija

•January 6, 2024 • Leave a Comment

If the last post was about awkward Finnish techno, here’s some awkward UK IDM from the increasingly impressive Mattr but with a Finnish connection.

Mattr is Matthew Clugston once of Birmingham now of London. He’s appeared here what must be going on for ten times with his own brand of IDM. There’s always been a sense of forward momentum but his new release Gaija is probably his most accomplished yet. This is reaching for the stars and is up there is people like Max Cooper and Plaid.

As for the Finnish connection, Gaija seems to be a word taken from Finnish and is a support rope (from where we derive ‘guy rope’ I guess). Not sure what that has to do with the track but that’s so often secondary in electronic music. What’s more important is that its release on Mattr’s own label Loft & Sound.

The

Gaija is fantastic. All melancholy downtempo and gritty pitter patter clatter. But with ethereal vocal snippets giving it a contrastingly uplifting tone.

The accompanying blurb says it has “granular synthesis with syncopated rhythms and warm pads.” That’s as maybe but this isn’t about the means of production – though it is beautifully produced. This is about the emotional resonance.

This tugs at the heartstrings to gently grab your attention. And then takes you on a downtempo rollercoaster journey along its six minute length. Easily one of the most affecting things I’ve heard in a very long time.

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Awkward Finnish Techno from: Phonogenic – Suspicion

•January 4, 2024 • Leave a Comment

Still grey and wet outside. Going to retreat into some introspective techno from Finland’s Phonogenic.

Phonogenic (Tuomas Salmela) from Tampere, is one of the most established Finnish Techno and House producers. He’s been around for over 20 years and yet new track Suspicion sounds so fresh. It’s released as part of the Sounds for the 4th Decade compilation from Meltdown Deejays Records who celebrate 30 years in operation.

Suspicion is full of yin and yang. It manages to be both downtempo reassurance as well as uncertain IDM. It’s curious and eager to explore but also full of angularity and reverse.

Musically, it’s an intriguing blend. It manages a downtempo dub techno feel. But that’s undercut by tin pan clattering beats that owe more to the awkwardness of IDM. It’s soothing in some lovely organic analog synth sounds and the throb of a bass.

But those beats pitter patter and never settle. It’s like constant rain on a tin roof. Endless, always anxious, never settled. Great track.

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Melodic Techno in a half shell with: Turtle Mantra – Robot Turtle Samurai

•January 3, 2024 • Leave a Comment

It’s been a wet and windy start to the year in London. Need a hero to lift the mood. Here comes Turtle Mantra with melodic techno trance blend that hits all the right notes. Catchy and uplifting.

Turtle Mantra is a midwesterner from Kansas City, USA. He says he was “inspired by artists like Vexento, Tobu, and Env.” I’ve never heard of them tbh. He adds that “Vexento’s Masked Heroes was the reason he came back to techno, and to this day it’s his favorite techno song of all time. Dude’s a legend.” Ummm… nope. Have included it at the foot of the post in case like me you’re curious about it (spoiler: it’s so so EDM).

Enough of distractions, here’s Robot Turtle Samurai. No idea what lies behind the title. And, frankly, who cares? This is a little cracker.

This opens in a low key piano house sort of way before electrifying itself into something more French House. This Samurai tramples its way across genre boundaries and therein lies its charm.

It has a wonderfully wilful way. It’s full of bouncing hooks like the essence of peak era Daft Punk brought to life. Beats are there but not terribly forward in the mix that allow the synths to soar in a properly orchestral adrenaline rush. Proper peaking.

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Any residual New Year hangovers can be washed away with: Seva M – Phoebe won’t tell (lofi version)

•January 1, 2024 • Leave a Comment

How was your New Year. Mine was quiet until the inner London cacophony of multiple exploding fireworks ruined my mood. If you’re looking for some soothing here’s Hungary’s Seva M with the lofi charms of Phoebe won’t tell.

Seva M is a Hip–Hop and cinematic music producer from Budapest, Hungary. He’s got a background in classical which can make his stuff a bit too classical sounding for me. But his new single Phoebe won’t tell comes in three flavours, of which I’m featuring the lofi version which adds a bit of hip hop to the mix to leave something nice and sweet.

Seva M says that Phoebe won’t tell draws inspiration from The Catcher in the Rye novel’s familial bond and “aims to encapsulate the profound love and protective instinct shared between siblings, evoking emotive connections through its touching musical expression.”

Opening with the sample between siblings this has a sentimental air. It’s rich in lofi beats but also drenched in strings. But a touch of scratching and keeping the beats forward in the mix stops this becoming too saccharine.

The central hook operates on a gently rotated cycle with a tautness to the strings that gives this a musical and emotional edge to it. Yes, there’s a sweetness and love here but also the dangers of the outside world intrude. Skilfully done track.

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Happy New Year. Groove to acid deep house from: Blixa – Lathe Biosas

•December 31, 2023 • Leave a Comment

As midnight creeps closer and 2023 prepares to fade, I wish you a happy new year. Whether you’re on the sofa or in town here’s a track just for you from Blixa. It’s a mix of deep house and acid house. Enough bleep for club heads but with soothing textures for those in their pjs.

Blixa is from Germany and I’m assuming isn’t connected to Blixa Bargeld of The Bad Seeds. As for the track title, I’d not heard of it before but turns out it’s Greek, from the philosopher Epicurus. lathe biōsas (λάθε βιώσας), meaning “live in obscurity”, “get through life without drawing attention to yourself”, i.e., live without pursuing glory or wealth or power, but anonymously, enjoying little things like food, the company of friends, etc.

And so to the track. Lathe Biosas has a lovely chunky beat with a real richness and depth. None of your lofi compression here. Then there’s an old school acid house bass line with a bit of early techno behind it. There are surface blips and bloops to take you back to the heydays.

But most of all this is deliciously groovy and sinuous. It’s a proper old school / new school tune for the whole family to enjoy. Wave your hands in the air. The new year is here.

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Classic techno from: Miles Lee – Spinal Engine

•December 29, 2023 • Leave a Comment

Much of the techno from Australia is infused with sunshine and positivity. Lots of it is good but truth be told ultimately I prefer techno that recognises its urban machine music origins. So it was a surprise to get some enthralling dark techno from Australia’s Miles Lee. Take a listen to Spinal Engine, it’s damn good.

Miles Lee is from Naarm, Australia. He describes himself as a “sound artist working on Wurundjeri Country ambient/experimental/deep grooves.” Here’s Spinal Engine from the new Corpus EP.

Spinal Engine offers a dark dubby techno opening with a raw sound that pays homage to analog and avoids the sheen of digital. It’s dark, dank, and a little bit grubby. This track plays happily in dark corners of clubs. No glitterball necessary.

There’s a sound of the ‘other’ at work. It’s isolated and thrilled to engage with. The beats have aTechno uncompromisingness but also an almost Ambient lightness. And T he synths have a neo- Afro feel to them. There’s even a bit of early Slam clatter. Six minutes pass in a trice.

Top techno.

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Sad music for sad times: Horizon – Ukrainian Lo-Fi

•December 28, 2023 • Leave a Comment

Sad music alert. Here’s some melancholic study beats from Horizon. Given where we are at the end of the year whether in Ukraine or Israel/Palestine optimism seems in short supply.

Horizon is a Ukranian producer and artist from Kyiv. Perhaps inevitably he started out as a rapper but is now making lofi study beats. Here’s the title track from his new album Ukrainian Lo-Fi.

Ukrainian Lo-Fi is a lovely sad piece. Opening with some gently rippled piano to which beats are added. There’s a lovelorn sense of ethereal background sound. A bit of guitar simply adds to the plaintive sense. And the beats roll on.

This is lovely work in which to contemplate the iniquities of the world and the healing power of music. Just lovely.

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Banish the blues with progressive house from: 44 Ardent – bitbybit

•December 27, 2023 • Leave a Comment

It’s been a series of largely grey and damp days in England this Christmas. Time to banish the greys and blues with some choppy progressive house from 44 Ardent.

44 Ardent is an Australian producer (Callan Alexander) who makes chilled lo-fi house music which is a mix between Bonobo, Tourist and Four Tet. He’s a new album Leo out now from which the featured track bitbybit is taken.

Bitbybit is a beautifully summery slice of low key progressive house with a choppy almost piano house sound. Beats are on the lofi side but that matches the delicacy of the rest of the track.

What dominates here is the stabby piano but with the sound ever so slightly muffled so it doesn’t quite get to out and out piano house territory. This allows it an almost chilled beach house feel alongside electronic trickery worthy of Bonobo. This is laid back, warm and sultry music.

Turn the heating up, stick on a summer shirt and dance the night away. Tinnies optional.

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Boxing Day is in Detroit with: Sheebo – Carl #Techno

•December 26, 2023 • Leave a Comment

Cast off the sloth of Christmas Day. Loosen your straining belt, rise from your sofa, put down those chocolates. It’s time to dance to some Detroit Techno from Sheebo.

Sheebo is from Münich, Germany and says they’re “Telling raw warm little outsider house and techno stories.” Here’s Carl from the Pyro EP.

Carl is pitched as “Classic Detroit 909 + sequencer techno action with a lower tempo.” I’d say this is proper techno, made with love. This track is steeped in early Detroit techno. Unclear if this is named after Acidted favourite Carl Craig but I’d rather hope so.

Despite the lower tempo suggestion this is not for the faint hearted. There’s a proper kick from the bass drum from the get go. Analog synths wriggle around on top. Hard not to want to move as the synths get under your skin and in your brain.

But there’s also a more modern bass that buzzes around. It gives the track a depth and bottom end that it needs. This is perfect club music but also works at home. Solid production from a producer that’s on top of his art.

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