James Johnson: Surrender James Johnson: Surrender (Zero Music - 1999) Just in time for Spring's cleansing rebirth, another spacious outing from James Johnson will decorate your atmosphere with sublime, drifting electronics. Though consisting of only three tracks, Surrender fills almost an hour with gorgeous, soft synthwaves. And yes, that is James in the sombrero :) Allowing your ears to bask in the slowly morphing soundshapes of She Will Shift You (28:04) is the aural equivalent of comfortably lying on your back and watching springtime clouds transform overhead against a backdrop of azure skies. Various smooth tones merge in an absolute state of lushness which simply and naturally continues to flow. With its soft piano (and muted frogs), Remembrance (5:46) retains a bit more of an "earthly" atmosphere, though still presents a most lovely space in which to float. Especially nice with headphones, Johnson's wandering piano notes gently ring over a bed of electronic haze. If the sounds of the first track were billowing white cumulus clouds, then those of Surrender would be low, gray stratus clouds (or cumulo-stratus, in spots). The tones are denser, longer and bear a hint of coming rain. Another exercise in vaporous beauty, this track seems a bit melancholy (or pensive, perhaps), though I don't think those states has ever been so richly portrayed. Wherever the piece leads you in its almost-20-minute duration, it's an unbelievably soft way to get there. Of course, for further info (and two flavors of sound clips) visit Johnson's own Zero Music website, or learn more right here at his AmbiEntrance Exclusive interview. If you're looking to simply drift, James Johnson has spun the perfect atmospheres for doing so. Surrender seems to me an ultimate Springtime release, everything seems so luxuriant, fresh and clean. High marks for this one... a 9.1. This review posted April 28, 1999 AmbiEntrance © 1999-97 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).