Benjamin Dauer & Specta Ciera - Traced in Sand (2014)

Distance Recordings

Distance Recordings

/Ambient, Soundscape, Abstract, Modern classical, Experimental electronica, Crossover/

Comment: Traced in Sand is a collaborative issue between Benjamin Dauer, and Devin Underwood aka Specta Ciera. The most general adjective which could be ascribed to the issue is deep. More profoundly, these six tracks used to converge at a crossroad of ambient, classical, experimental electronica, glitched-out minimal rhythms and more tectonic, dub music-alike overthrows, however, being tightly interwoven with one another frequently. On the other side, which is deep it might also be picturesque and arousing – Dauer, and Underwood did it. The finishing track Over the Coastline chimes like a borderline between more abstract, hyper-realistic and recognized sounds, however, presenting barely audible sonic effects throughout the course. The launching track Ice Train depicts a post-apocalyptic world saturated with radioactive vapour and bleak terrains. Indeed, these are good examples about minimally tonal yet highly emotive electronic music. In overall, it is like your own life where exciting moments used to happen to force back general ennui and drabness. The issue is a part of the discography of Glaswgow-based imprint Distance Recordings.

The OO-Ray – Waimea (2011)

 Distance

9.4

/Ambient, Ambient drone, Shoegaze, Post-rock, Experimental rock, Minimal, Epic/

Comment: this set of a handful of compositions tends to drift between ethereal and noiseful territories searching for redemption due to these amplified reciprocal poles. Stylistically it appears to be highly epic and majestic shifting somewhere inbetween anthemic, symphonical propulsions and compelling droning outlets and beatific post-rock-esque panoramas. Furthermore, at times these sonic progressions do reach lofty shoegaze-tinged points and undulating anchors (Bee Symphony). Indeed, the album includes a batch of stylistical and sonical infiltrations and organic transmissions.

Beth Kleist - Drei (2011)

Distance

9.6

/New Weird Europe, Psych-folk, Folktronica, Post-rock, Experimental electronica, Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Sound art, Art pop, Organic electronica, Ambient, Noise, Shoegaze/

Comment: behind Beth Kleist is the collaborative aspiration by two man, Nils Quak, and Philipp Bückle. Their 16 tracks tend to drift between lush dreams and otherworldly reveries. It shifts between solemn and mundane. Between artificial and organic spheres. Between minimal sort of soundscapes and more accentuated, guitar-based effects and bends and repetitive patterns (for instance, the album starts off with a shoegaze-ish instance). Mostly it is filled in with every kind of sonic effects and phase changes (experiments with radio waves and barely audible frequencies and microtonal noise) which, in turn, would be suitable rather for chosen art venues and sound art festivals. In disregard of it the release preserves its warm feeling for the listener. All in all, the result is totally captivating which would be exploited as an instrument for curing the patients with mental disorder.