Journeys in Sound & Music
One of the silver linings of a miserable year has been the reemergence of a number of artists we’ve enjoyed in years past putting out new releases for the first time in quite a while. Among them is Chronovalve, a project from sound artist & musician Mike Engebretson. Brought to us once again by the…
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With the release of their new album Wake this week on Home Normal, Stijn Hüwels & James Murray conclude their masterful triptych under the name of Silent Vigils. The project began in 2017 as “an exchange of gestures across the water” with the first album being finished on what turned out to be the day…
Read MoreThose who have followed the minimal electronic and electroacoustic music of James Murray have learned there is always a method behind the London-based composer’s work. Offering much more than simple atmospheric soundscapes, there is almost always some important conceptual arc or contextual backdrop to lend deeper meaning and, hence, deeper connection for the listener. This…
Read MoreOne of the steadiest sources of light among labels that feature & promote ambient music from around the globe is Home Normal under the guidance of Ian Hawgood, a fine artist and mastering engineer in his own right. The newest entry to their catalog brings together two outstanding artists who likewise both curate independent labels…
Read MoreSince its founding in 2009, Home Normal has consistently been one of the shining lights on the landscape of experimental ambient & electronic music. Conscientiously curated and uncompromisingly supportive of its artists, it is more than a label; it is a hub for a community of artists and mindful listeners who appreciate thoughtfully crafted, emotionally…
Read MoreThe origin of the latest work by James Murray goes back to 2014 when he and his wife Anne were set to vacation in a remote log cabin in the mountains. Unfortunately, Anne took ill from the moment they arrived, but as it turns out James had packed a laptop, small midi keyboard, and hard disc recorder,…
Read MoreEnsconced in the azure blue waters of the Mediterranean and surrounded by fabulous cities such as Rome, Naples, Barcelona, Valencia, and Marseille, one is tempted to imagine a blissfully idyllic existence on the island of Sardinia, but it is home to one of the most industrious and prolific modern classical on the scene today in  Stefano…
Read MoreYou would be hard pressed to find an ambient composer/musician out there with a more clearly defined minimalist aesthetic than Baltimore-based M. Ostermeier. He describes his compositions as often featuring “skeletal piano melodies that are augmented with electronics, acoustic recordings, and occasionally guitar”. True to that aesthetic, his most recent work draws inspiration from simple…
Read MoreCavade Morlem, due to be released soon by Moscow-based Dronarivm, is the first new work from composer and musician Alex Smalley, aka Olan Mill, since he closed out a year of numerous solo and collaborative efforts in 2014 with a fine EP on the Home Normal label called Half Seas Over.  If you enjoy beautifully crafted, blissful, and serene ambient…
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