Modular floaty Sunday morning (Daylist)

Moedi, Vol. 2 available now: https://ffm.to/abstract-aprils-moedi-vol2

With comparisons to Brian Eno, Robert Fripp and Hammock, the deep ambient blogosphere has described past Abstract Aprils work as “tranquil,” “rich in organic sounds,” and a “masterpiece of ambient music.” Inspired by the vast skies and landscape of western Montana, these past releases have explored a marriage between ethereal organic layers and experimental electronic sounds.

The first release on Minneapolis label Anthem Falls, the Moedi EP series, however, marks the start of a new chapter.

A strict limitation was placed on the writing of these songs - everything you hear is entirely made from synthesizers. No microphones, no field recordings, no organics - only electronics - only oscillators and the manipulation of their audio signals. In fact, the word moedi actually translates to “limitations.”

Ironically, boundaries can open the door to freedoms. The challenge of making the songs interesting under these limitations led to unexpected and unique outcomes. Finding depth may have been more difficult than usual at times, but, with a nod to author Ryan Holiday, sometimes the obstacle is the way.

Experimenting with analog synths such as the Prophet Rev2 and Moog Mother-32, along with vintage synth emulators via the esteemed Arturia Collection series, the journey to this depth comes in the form of imaginative and unexpected layers - be it finding the right plucking sound through synth envelope experimentation and then reversing the recording to create sparkly atmosphere; or, taking a small clip of a few recorded notes and processing it through a granular synth for a 12-minute improvisation, and finally cutting and chopping that ensuing recording up even further - to name just a few of the experiments.

Indeed, even the song titles were limited to one word.

Moedi and its subsequent EP volumes is a new chapter for Abstract Aprils - one that was not held back by limitations, but rather given its pulse by them. The result is a rich, unique, and enduring ambient offering.

Moedi, Vol. 2

Margin

Balearic Pulse

Polyrhythmic Focus And Studying

Polyrhythmic Focus and Studying Part 1

Relief Focus

Relief Focus Part 2

Bvdub With Broken Wings And Giants Tall Audio

Flow in the Back

浮遊の立体

Rabbit Foot Blues (In A Cave)

Minimal Meditation is an ambient mini-album built on sparse textures and steady tones, designed to create a calm, focused atmosphere for relaxation, meditation, or quiet reflection.

Produced, mixed and mastered by Matthew Callahan (Dellasollounge)
Cover picture and design by Dionis Afonichev (Dionisaf)

Minimal Meditation

Omni Luci

Dropsonde

Dissolving Clouds

Substrata + Man with a Movie Camera

Poa Alpina

He She Them Us

Willing Suspension of Disbelief

Celer - Elapsed Paradise (excerpt)

track 4 from “Hyogo” by Hirotaka Shirotsubaki (@infection)

https://stereoscenic.bandcamp.com/album/hyogo

Hyogo

Support on Bandcamp

Hirotaka Shirotsubaki - Yanagiwara

Purchase: bit.ly/3oh8DpK
Catalog #: GN59
January 22, 2021
CASS+DIGI

Ever the aural adventurer, Carmen Villain has long traversed a boundless array of sounds, deftly moving from art nouveau pop to fog-laden avant-dub. Yet at every artistic turn, the Norwegian-Mexican’s chameleon-like charm seldom loses its alluring, organic beauty. Fresh off her contribution to 2020’s A Little Night Music… compilation, Carmen joins Geographic North’s Sketch for Winter series for its 9th installment. Perlita, named after Carmen’s grandmother living in Puebla, Mexico, is a sweetly somber reflection on the ever-present cycle of and hibernation and reemergence.

The A side begins with “Everything Without a Shadow”, a wide-angled and windswept vista of expansive permafrost and still-glowing embers of a recently extinguished fire. A sign of life in an otherwise desolate place. “Two Halves Touching” continues to drift through the frigid scene, lightly pulsing underneath a muted but vibrant tundra until coming upon echoes of voices chanted into the snowdrift. “Light in Phases” follows the cue with hurried hesitance, uncovering a sonic slush of radiant zither, blurred voices, and calm resolution.

“Things That Are Solid” begins to thaw the B side, strolling through newly uncovered verdancy, welcoming murmurs peeking out of the snow. With “Molina”, any last remnants of Winter have disappeared, leaving only a solemn suite of piano motifs breaking ground like seedlings bursting to life. With help from Johanna Scheie Orellana on flute and alt-flute, the album’s closer “Aqua Azul'' floats along with unencumbered motion like a happy stone skating across a tranquil pond.

Carmen Villain - "Everything Without Shadow"

Electronic,Ambient,Downtempo,Chillout Musician. Sound designer.
& Singer song writer.

Flow in the Back

KENJI KIHARA / sphontik

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