Bibio – Ambivalence Avenue

To me previously unknown British artist Stephen Wilkinson aka Bibio made one excellent album that’s, as all good ones, kinda hard to describe – it’s largely electronic music but at the same time it floats back and forth between folk and funk let’s say. Mellow but experimental, it grows on me on each listen. I don’t associate the music to a perfectly ordered street with identical cars parked on the side… rather to an afternoon out on a hill.

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Jack DeJohnette ft. Lester Bowie – Zebra

Found this little gem, recorded 24 years ago, from a drummer that I know from the Keith Jarrett Trio.

The music on this obscure LP was used as the soundtrack for a video program. Jack DeJohnette is heard on synthesizers and is usually joined by trumpeter Lester Bowie. The performances are moody and has its colorful moments although most of it does not stand alone without the film all that well. Superior background music. – allmusic

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The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble

As one might expect, this is some dark, slinky jazz music that mixes lots of organic instrumentation (including guitar and some particularly effective trombone and cello) with mostly subtle programming. The opening track of “The Nothing Changes” is particularly effective, as a skeletal rhythm consisting of sparse upright bass strums and simple percussion provide a shakey backbone while tendril-like horns and strings wisp around repetitive and eerie guitar.

Well, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Spooky jazz.

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Nosound – Lightdark

Not currently in the right mood for this post-progressive ambiental rock sound coming from Italy, but I’m taking a note as I’m pretty sure I’ll be digging it at some point.

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Aphex Twin – Selected Ambient Works Volume 2

An ambient classic, over two and a half hours of Aphex Twin’s anti-music. It’s very hard to describe it as on the surface it’s quiet, undefined yet you feel that it always reflects and creates emotions. There’s an air of feeling uncomfortable. It doesn’t have any pattern, it flows freely as a state of mind.

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Boards of Canada – Trans Canada Highway

My first time with Boards of Canada. This EP is from 2006 and it’s simply brilliant relaxing electronica that actually makes me feel like I’m out in nature somewhere in spring time.

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Fennesz – Black Sea

An album that sounds like a human response to whales. A soundtrack to a transformation, a texturized loop into eternity. Will keep an open eye on Fennesz from now on, happy to have discovered him.

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artist web site

Bohren & Der Club Of Gore – Dolores

A superb addition to my late night listening pack. It might sound scary when the German folks Bohren & Der Club Of Gore claim that the listener of their music “must have the feeling of being in a grave”, but it’s actually an atmospheric jazzy collage that relaxes as much as it creates emotional tension.

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Portishead – Third

Portishead’s third, their first in ten years. I think that this is a remarkable album which I would recommend to anyone with any significant interest in music. Its’ gloomy atmosphere might not suit you at every occasion, but it is the depth and variety of delicate ideas in each song, ranging in style from vintage electronica and folk to prog-rock and jazz, that make it outstanding. Its subtle sounds get me into a feeling that reality can easily be paused for us to ponder on our thoughts and actions…

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official website

Nine Inch Nails – Ghosts I

What a beautiful surprise this new album from Nine Inch Nails is to me. It is first of all great to see Trent Reznor sticking to the plan of releasing albums by himself, without the constraints of record industry. And then the music. It is what I have always wished that Trent would do, go completely instrumental. Except for track eight, you won’t find the aggressive noise as on apocalyptic Year Zero, or similar loud NIN work. Instead, comparing to the previous albums, it is close to the instrumentals on my still-favourite The Fragile. As he says, it’s “a soundtrack for daydreams”. I think that it makes most sense while you are walking, thinking, exploring, in peace with yourself. I’ve been playing it on repeat – it is very captivating, simple yet feels so rich because it does not overwhelm you, but rather allows (or better yet – inspires) your thoughts and feelings to freely pulsate above the sound texture.

Btw a nice detail is that all songs have a custom photograph embedded in the file (except for the first one, illustrated with the album cover), which looks very nice on players and adds a bit more of NIN to the visual experience.

Please make sure that you visit the official website, and when you download, read the README!

Thanks Trent.

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