|
Number Ten: For the Most Interesting Change of Direction:
Tuu The Frozen Lands (9.1)
(Amplexus - 1999) - A different side of Martin Franklin reveals panoramic slices of an etheral otherworld. On a collectible 3" CD.
Number Nine: For the Ambient Navigator in Us All:
Rapoon: Navigating By Colour (9.1)
(Soleilmoon - 1999) - Shapeless abstract beauty ebbs, flows and pulses via Robin Storey's artistry.
Number Eight: For Giving Up:
James Johnson: Surrender (9.1)
(Zero Music - 1999) - Perfect drift music for those awakening Springtime atmospheres. Beautiful, lush soundwaves.
Number Seven: For More of His Good Things:
tear ceremony: emulsion (9.1)
(Simulacra - 1999) - Let yourself again be lured into Todd Gautreau's strangely wonderful soundworlds of experimental beauty and isolation.
Number Six: For Dirt and Wild Transformations:
Nick Parkin: Island of Dust (9.2)
(Soleilmoon - 1999) - Ethnic instrumentation is transmuted into truly unbelievable soundforms. Impressive in execution and scope!
Number Five: For Great Sounds From the Bedroom:
Jon Sheffield: Calves Valves (9.2)
(Sparkling Beatnik - 1998) - Slightly beaty electronic/ambient experiementations are marvelously executed.
and
Jon Sheffield: Shore Hoses (9.2)
(Sparkling Beatnik - 1999) - Inventive layerings and prudent percussion make for beautifully bizarre sounds.
Number Four: For the Doing their Part(s):
Vidna Obmana/Asums Tietchens: Motives for Recycling (9.2)
(Soleilmoon Recordings - 1999) - Esoteric and ethereal new constructions are yielded in this second recycling collaboration; special guest appearance by Vidna Obmana
Number Three: For Living On:
Muslimgauze: Azure Deux (9.4)
(Staalplaat - 1999) - An energetic "best of" compilation culled from several of Bryn Jones' limited editions.
Number Two:For Microscopic Beatuy:
shuttle358: optimal.lp (9.4)
(12k - 1999) - Ephemeral electronics generate a warm, lovely glow from computerized coldness. Absolutely wonderful!
Number One: For Ambience from Down Under:
Ashera: Cobalt 144 (9.6)
(www.ashera.com - 1999) - Extremely high points for an absolute gem from Australia's Anthony Asher Wright.
Honorable Mentions:
David Tollefson: new eyes on the universe (9.1)
(Hypnos - 1998) - Gorgeous and otherwordly sounds are manipulated from plain old guitar. Beautiful freeform constructions!
twine: reference (9.0)
(AdAstra - 1999) - A very impressive blend of noise, rhythm and and moods in a mechanicalistic collage.
Meg Bowles: from the dark earth (9.0)
(Kumatone - 1999) - An unusual pairing of Meg Bowles' dark, spacey electronics with David Bilger's golden trumpet flows.
Robert Rich: Inner Landscape (9.0)
(Hypnos - 1999) - Travel back a few years to recapture the timeless sounds from one of Rich's improvised concerts.
Vidna Obmana/Serge Devadder: The Shape of Solitude (9.0)
(Multimood - 1999) - Devadder's electric guitar sounds are draped in Vidna Obmana's atmospheric treatments... introspective, dark and lovely.
Vidna Obmana and Jeff Pearce: True Stories (9.0)
(Mirage - 1999) - Poignant tales collaboratively told by two of ambient's premier "authors".
Ayers/Everall/Harris: Mesmeric Enabling Device (9.0)
(Soleilmoon - 1999) - Dark, dark, subterranean textures to add a perfect amount of gloom to your soundworld. Lovely!
Posted December 28, 1999
| 
