A selection of downtempo musical highlights from 2020

 

With the landslide of emails, shares and media streams of new music, it’s becoming harder and harder to scratch the surface of music releases. So this list of no particular order is quite frankly a selection of releases that either impressed me or I repeatedly played on the commute to and from the day job.

1) The Orb – Abolition of the Royal Familia

https://theorb.bandcamp.com/album/abolition-of-the-royal-familia

Back in March the was a bit of a buzz about this album, with many saying the Orb were back to their best. Although I really liked the predecessor COW (Chill Out World) I could see from the off why this album would have universal appeal.

2) Gaudi – 100 Years of Theremin (The Dub Chapter)

https://gaudimusic.bandcamp.com/album/100-years-of-theremin-the-dub-chapter

Alongside a selection of heavyweight dub pioneers, the Theremin maestro celebrated the invention of this eerie electronic instrument by cementing a union with dub reggae.

3) Gigi Masin – Calypso

https://masin.bandcamp.com/album/calypso

A beautiful selection of sun-kissed Mediterranean ambience with touches of jazz. Just perfect to kick back and relax.

4) Yaima – Ceremonia

https://yaimamusic.bandcamp.com/album/c-e-r-e-m-o-n-i-a

Quite simply a lovely acoustic album from this American folktronica duo, which is inspired by the natural world and aimed at encouraging growth in the hearts and minds of the listeners.

5) Matt Coldrick – Music For A Busy Head Vol 2

https://panelectric.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-a-busy-head-vol-2

After many years Matt re-kindles this concept and dives deep into healing ambient textures, with touches of 70’s inspired prog rock guitar and gentle piano.

6) Paya – Hollow Skies

https://suriyarecordings.bandcamp.com/album/hollow-skies

A selection of tracks from the classically trained vocalist/multi-instrumentalist, that spans celtic folk, electronica and pop. At times almost mirroring her idols Dead Can Dance. The album is produced by Youth, who compared her vocal capabilities to Lisa Gerrard.

7) Tripswitch – Momento Mori

https://section.bandcamp.com/album/memento-mori

After a number of years concentrating on progressive house, Nick Brennan returned to the folds of downtempo where he initially made his name. At times darker than it’s predecessors but still balanced with moments of light.

7) Erothyme – Steep Dreams

https://erothyme.bandcamp.com/album/steep-dreams

This was the second Erothyme release that I purchased after a long hiatus on my behalf. With three exceptionally strong tracks this album ignited my interest in those albums I’d missed.

8) Andrew Heath – The Alchemists Muse

https://andrewheath.bandcamp.com/album/the-alchemist-s-muse

Not having heard his latest release I can only go on the two releases of this year I have heard. This edges it ever so slightly for me. However, if you like Andrew’s brand of ambient soundscapes, field recordings and laid back piano then they all fit the bill.

9) Eguana – Serenity

https://cosmicleaf.bandcamp.com/album/serenity

Eguana has churned out a good number of releases this year without lapsing on quality. Quite frankly I could have included any one of them. This album steered away from the space themes of it’s recent predecessors, with the focus placed on nature before moving to more mythical and fantasy themes of his following release.

10) Kaya Project – Body.Mind.Soul.

https://sebtaylor.bandcamp.com/album/body-mind-soul

Once again fusing tribal rhythms and world music with ambient soundscapes and ethereal vocals. Additionally featuring some re-mixes from Seb’s other projects such as Hibernation and Biotone.

Additionally ...

Richard Norris – Music For Healing (The Complete Long Form Series)

Richard followed on from his Abstractions albums with a series of 12 twenty minute ambient pieces, released weekly and aimed for relaxation or an accompaniment to practises such as yoga. Which is now available in a more compact version both digitally and on CD. There’s nothing really catchy about these releases they just suitably serve their purpose.

https://richardnorris.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-healing

Andrew Heath 'The Alchemist's Muse' Review

 

Artist:

Andrew Heath

Title:

The Alchemist’s Muse

Label:

Disco Gecko

Released:

11^th September 2020

Following on from previous albums Andrew continues drafting together piano notes, guitar drones, synths and field recordings to create what is becoming a signature sound within minimalist ambience.

We get underway with ‘Observers and Airmen’ which combines warm synths with the broken radio samples of airmen and sparse piano notes, immediately setting the atmosphere fans have come to expect. It doesn’t take long till we reach the title track which oozes tranquillity into the ears, with it’s combination of atmospheric synths, guitar drones, gentle piano keys and a wonderful bass clarinet provided by Bill Howgego.

The remainder of the album maintains the general ebb and flow of the music, providing an hour and 23 minutes of audio relaxation. Fans may recall the track ‘The Garden Reveals Itself’ from his 2018 album ‘Evenfall’. Well it’s back (or at least the Night Mix is) and whereas the initial version was bright, with crisp and clear lyrics provided by the poet Maria Stadnika. This version is darker, quieter, with the lyrics whispered in an almost haunting fashion.

Review by Woodzee

Links

https://smarturl.it/alchemistsmuse?mc_cid=555cd4a6ed&mc_eid=aad2749a47

Andrew Heath 'A Trace of Phosphor' Review

Artist: Andrew Heath

Title: A Trace of Phosphor

Label: Disco Gecko

Released: 1^st May

In the promotional blurb for the release Andrew states this album is very personal to him. Written in dark times through the winter, often in the middle of a sleepless night. You can clearly see by the majority of the titles of the tracks, the root cause and Andrew himself admits this is probably his darkest production to date. Historically, it’s often been reported that artists produce their best work in times of pain and sorrow and perhaps that is often true.

One of the things that has always struck me with Andrew’s music is that like a good DJ who knows how to build suspense before the drop, for me he really knows how to use space between sounds. Whilst listening I ascertained a sense of pondering and melancholy with the slow deliberate use of the piano between the drones and field recordings. Other than this it was business as usual with what I come to expect with his musical productions.

Then I reached track five ‘The Airwaves Call Us’ where I didn’t feel any sense of melancholy, more a sense of peace and beauteous to my ears. The only comparison that comes to mind is a cookery class, where everyone prepares the same dish from the same ingredients and recipe. The results are always variable but this is the dish that stands out above the others.

The sense of peace and beauty continued for me listening to track six ‘I Sleep Above the Forest’, enhanced somewhat by the addition of Lydia Kenny on Soprano Sax. This trend continues with a good proportion of the tracks that follow although there are more sombre pieces like ‘Black Days’ for example which utilises subtle field recordings of wind and rain.

To summarise if you are a fan of Andrew’s music this album ticks all the boxes as well as the others. At times it can feel melancholic however, it’s counterbalanced with feelings of peace and harmony. I guess it’s all down to personal perspective, many of us can relate to troubled times and some people like music to tug at an array of emotions.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links

https://andrewheath.bandcamp.com/album/a-trace-of-phosphor

Toby Marks and Andrew Heath 'Motion' Review

Artists:

Toby Marks & 

Andrew Heath

Release:

Motion

Label:

Disco Gecko Recordings

Released:

10^th May 2019

Motion is an innovative new album by sound artists Toby Marks and Andrew Heath. Although the pair have collaborated on individual tracks and shows before, this is the first album they have worked on together.

Toby and Andrew started making extensive field recordings on trips to the four corners of Britain during 2018. They went deep into Llechwedd Slate Caverns in Wales, explored Suttle Stone Quarries in Bournemouth, hopped on the Swanage Ferry to Poole Harbour, took to the air with the Yorkshire Gliding Club, floated down the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and rode the Bure Valley Railway in Norfolk.
By the end they had a staggering hundred hours of audio in total, which they processed and transformed, blending piano, guitars and electronics, to produce a deeply meditative, endlessly unfolding collection.

Sometimes evoking images of machinery, sometimes of nature, these pieces flow and twist, at all times maintaining a humanity and sense of personal experience at their core. At times intense, sometimes barely even present in the mix, the music enthrals and entices, drawing the listener into a world both seemingly familiar and weirdly unknown – a quite alien, and yet still organic, space, which is of this world and yet ultimately of Marks and Heath’s own invention.

The first track of the album ‘For Stone (West)’ sets the ambience with an ethereal quality drifting through choral voices, delayed guitars, melancholic piano, creaking floorboards and machinery. This is followed by ‘With Iron (South)’ which beginnings with footsteps and flowing water, subtle piano and guitar nestled amongst eeire synths, which sets me in mind of Pink Floyds ‘Signs of Life’ from their album ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason’.

Next up is ‘In Air on Water (North)' where the intro of buzzing insects, birdsong, boat engines and church bell chimes leads into passages of piano, indistinct vocal samples and guitar licks that once again have a Floyd’esque quality to them. The final piece of the journey ‘By Fire (East)’ initially layers a shuffling train beneath brooding synths before the guitar strings bring a gentle ambience to the piece.

To Summarise this collection comes across as a natural pairing of Toby and Andrew creating this ambient sound collage, which is probably more closer linked to Libary Music and Musique concrète than Toby’s more dancefloor inspired Banco de Gaia releases.

Links

http://www.discogecko.com/

http://www.andrewheath.co.uk/

To celebrate the release, Toby and Andrew are touring the UK, playing in Stroud on May 10, Sheffield on May 11, Kingskerswell on May 17, Frome on May 18, London on June 14 and Birmingham on June 15.

Animat 'The Last Man' Review

Artist: Animat

Title: The Last Man

Label: Disco Gecko

Released: 9^th November

Animat specialise in developing and performing new soundtracks to existing cult films, and have played live at cinemas, festivals and other venues throughout the U.K.

This November they are revisiting their soundtrack to the 1964 post-apocalyptic horror fantasy ‘The Last Man On Earth’ which stars Vincent Price as scientist Robert Morgan, the one man apparently immune to a virus that has killed 90% of the earth’s population and transformed the survivors into vampire-like creatures.

Originally toured in 2011, the film inspired the album ‘Imaging Ghosts’, first released by Big Chill Recordings, and this collection brings together the highlights from that album together with exclusive new re-workings plus remixes from Deep Dive Corp, DF Tram, The Verbrilli Sound and Disco Gecko’s own Andrew Heath.

As a fan of Vincent Price, this film and partial to Animat’s productions this was of instant interest to me. I found myself eager to hear the results and slightly sad I hadn’t witnessed the audio/visual experience. Beginning with ‘Ghost People’ a dub reggae tinged piece of electronica, that embraces a bit of warmth amongst the colder passages along with a touch of electric guitar. This is followed by the Forest Fires mix of ‘September Falls’ which doesn’t alter the mood too much with plenty of dubbed out guitar licks. The Only Seen At Night mix of ‘Throwing Shapes’ grips me instantly with a Vincent Price vocal sample running over the bass guitar. The piece soothes out before sequences are slowly added that expertly build back to the bass guitar before dropping off again. My attention is retained with ‘Gogo’s Dub’ a mellow piece of dubbed out electronica containing some wonderful harmonic voices.

Vincent’s distinctive voice is utilised alongside mellow dubbed out electronica once again, with the 2018 Revamp of ‘International Frequency’. By this point I’m beginning to imagine how this soundtrack works with the movie. The next piece Verbrillis Windy Accumulation Mix of ‘A Promise of Snow’ maintains a similar vibe with a slightly more atmospheric vibe as you probably gathered from the title. By now I’ve reached the first of the guest re-mixes with Deep Dive Corp’s take on ‘Ghost People’ which is subtly done, a little more heavy on the drums and a touch of reverb adding to the groove.

Andrew Heaths re-mix of ‘Throwing Shapes’ omits the Vincent Price samples and instead tinkers on the ivories, this gives a whole new feel to the piece and personally I love them both. Next on the agenda is the DF Tram & Future B.C. re-mix of ‘Gogo’s Dub’ where the vocal samples are twisted and chopped and the fx bubble away nicely. Finally to see us out is The Only Michael’s Ambient Mix of ‘Earplay’ where ambient strings give way to dubbed out sequences only to return for the finale.

Review by Woodzee

Links …

https://discogecko.bandcamp.com

http://www.animat.co.uk/

Various Artists 'Strange-Eyed Constellations 2' Review

Artist: Various

Title: Strange Constellations 2

Label: Disco Gecko Recordings

Released: 19^th Oct 2018

The second release in this series, which places the focus on downtempo grooves, atmospheric soundscapes and ambient moods, mixing field recordings, classical instruments and electronics. Combining artists from the Disco Gecko label, associates of Toby Marks and a few which came as a result of asking a wider audience to send in their tracks for consideration. While the artwork chosen to complement the music once again fell to Zoe Heath (possibly the wife or a relative of Andrew?)

The album begins with Simon Power a games and film soundtrack producer who has created soundscapes for none other than Doctor Who! This piece entitled ‘Immerse’ layers classical piano over spacey atmospherics and while relatively short is a wonderful intro to the album. This is suitably followed by Banco de Gaia’s ‘Pavlov’s Children’ which delivers an eerie sense of descent as the atmospheric synths transports you into a chasm of monks chants and intangible spoken samples. Next on the agenda is Halcyon Daze’s ‘Orbiting a Distant Star’ which is a more string infused piece of electronica with Clanger’esque sound fx, that never cause any disharmony to the gentle beauty of the piece.

The atmospheric mood re-emerges with Experiments in Silence ‘Cerulaen’ a side project from Spatalize (Neil Butler) I would draw comparison with Banco de Gaia, with some of the synth sounds floating alongside heavenly choral voices and chimes which blend seamlessly into the sound fx utilised, this really is an exceptional piece of work. I could be wide of the mark assuming the next track is one of the submitted pieces but I can’t say I am familiar with Project Transmission. However, I can say ‘At Dusk’ the track in question, sounds like a field recording of walking through a sodden marsh accompanied by an eerie electronic drone, while the sound of pipes entice you to follow and escape to freedom. The mood lightens somewhat and you almost sense you are stepping out of the marsh, with what I guess is the second of the submitted pieces ‘Beast from the East’ by Peter Toll. Where gentle delayed organ sounds are suitably counter-balanced with natural field recordings.

Label boss Toby Marks drops the Banco de Gaia moniker on this production ‘Sleep, Boy and Dream’ quite possibly, as it is far removed from his more groove guided world dance or ambient dub productions. Switching from gentle field recordings and spooky sound fx to electronic drones which at times times build a foreboding sense of terror. Another unfamiliar name to myself, Glenn Marshall restores the calm with a suitably ambient piece of electronica entitled ‘Spring Shade’. This is followed by a collaboration by Toby Marks and Andrew Heath, a short piece of field recordings, electronica and Andrew’s trademark piano.

The apples not falling far from the tree with the next piece ‘Falls’, again by an artist I’m personally not familiar with Phonsonic. A slow burning piece of electronica, where indistinct voices wash over the atmospheric backbone alongside the deeper bass notes. The strings employed by yet again another name I’m unfamiliar with Simon McCorry, initially provide a Celtic folk feel to ‘Anima Mechanica’, which transcends into far more of a classical piece throughout. The compilation comes to a close with ‘In the Presence of Angels’ where an aptly gentle piano and lovely guitar strings nestle in amongst the synth voices, a combination that embodies everything I love about Andrew Heath’s productions.

To summarise I don’t think this album has as much variation as it’s predecessor and in some cases may not appeal to those looking for an album of ambient dub or world music infused chill out. However, if when the mood takes me, then this is an album that appeals to me, it’s an immersive, experimental journey which I found to be very thought provoking and at times simply beautiful.

Reviewed by Woodzee.

Links

http://www.discogecko.com/product/strangeeyedconstellations2/?mc_cid=5877c4894a&mc_eid=aad2749a47

Andrew Heath 'Evenfall' Review

Artist: Andrew Heath

Title: Evenfall

Label: Disco Gecko Recordings

Released: 21^st Sept 2018

Andrew returns with another release of pieces where you can immerse yourself into deep ambience with lingering tones, occasional gongs, field recordings and minimal piano. If you enjoyed his previous releases then this doesn’t disappoint. However, if you’re unfamiliar with his work then don’t expect any beat orientated tracks like some of the fellow artists on the label, this really suits meditative alone time or simply lying back in a hammock or sinking into the sofa.

As you would probably imagine with releases of this nature many of the tracks are long, some reaching around the 15 minute mark and the changes both within and between the tracks are subtle and at times beautiful. It’s the kind of album where I find it hard to pick a favourite but if the mood strikes me it’s the journey throughout the album where the appeal lies.

For those who wish to immerse their minds into the live experience Andrew is launching the album with two gigs one in London on Friday 21st at The Old Church in Stoke Newington, alongside label head honcho Toby Marks (Banco De Gaia) and in Stroud on Friday 28th at The Museum in the Park. Whether you opt for the album, the show or both … dive deep and enjoy this wonderful music until you emerge fulfilled and relaxed at the other side.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links

http://www.andrewheath.co.uk/

http://www.discogecko.com/

https://www.facebook.com/events/841622989346201/

Andrew Heath 'Europa' Review

Artist: Andrew Heath

Title: Europa

Label: Disco Gecko

Released: 4^th November

Andrew’s productions appealed to me immediately and I’m always keen to listening to further pieces of his work. What I found interesting is the excerpt from his web-site below as I can recall watching this program possibly repeated as a child myself.

I look to create sonic textures and lower case music. A point when music and sound hang in the air, particles and elements in constant agitation around a theme or half-remembered thought.

I remember as a small boy, watching a film about an artist who had made a sculptural piece of work that involved hanging large pieces of metal and wood inside an old barn. When one piece was moved it made contact with another until ever so gradually, the whole building was filled with random motion and sounds. I was fascinated by the serendipitous nature of this creation.

This new release begins with ‘The Railcar Attendant’ which combines bird song field recordings with melodic tones layered over the sound of a distant locomotive. This is occasionally interrupted by a more piercing tone which conjures up the image of the train braking here and there. As the piece continues occasional piano keys join the accompaniment as well as theremin like sounds and indistinct voices providing an overall feeling of blissful calm. This is followed by ‘Requiem’ which sets me in mind of sunbathing in the garden with low background noises capturing your attention, soon after a mellow piano joins a plodding almost clock like ticking once again providing a musical symbol of calm.



The intro to ‘Prussian Blue’ sets me in mind of a bizarre melting pot of fog horn, whale song and flute which works a treat this is interspersed once again with mellow piano keys and at points joined by synth notes, plucked strings and winding clocks. The album continues in this fashion somewhat more eerily with the intro to ‘Lunz’ with chimes, chants and piercing tones rising and falling in volume over a mellow drone.



Crackles lead into sequenced tones sounding like a cross between a bird and a heart-rate monitor alongside mellow piano keys and a selection of other synthesized voices in ‘Sputnik/Little Earth’. While ‘Larks Under Lowland Skies’ once again employs a similar approach to it’s predecessors on this release and I am coming to the conclusion that this is the album where Andrew has found his sound. Admittedly, there are plenty of ambient artists using field recordings, chimes and piano’s but what stands out with Andrew is he appears to have mastered this sound somewhat akin to the sculptor but in a production fashion. 


I absolutely adore this album so far it really does create a soothing and relaxing atmosphere. However, it’s also proving very hard to do a track by track analysis. So, just before the title track I’m going to close with saying although the pieces all have their subtle differences there is no significant changes going forward. In my view this works far better with this type of music than many others, after all you enter to relax and for me Andrew achieves this in a splendid fashion.



Reviewed by Woodzee



Links



http://www.aqueousarts.com/



https://andrewheath.bandcamp.com/

Disco Gecko's 'Strange-Eyed Constellations' Compilation Review

Artist: Various

Title: Strange-Eyed 

Constellations

Label: Disco Gecko

Released: 4^th Sept

Compiled by Toby Marks (Banco De Gaia) with a title inspired by a Tom Hardy poem and as tribute to Mike Barnett the founder of Beyond Records who featured some of Toby's earlier works on their Ambient Dub series.

The album begins with 'Dum Spiro, Spéro' by Astropilot, whose space style synth work I've always admired but the four by four beats he often employs can become repetitive. There's no such problem here with this beat less number which hooked me immediately with it's sheer aural elegance. This is followed by 'Sirens of Lorelei' by Dr Trippy as I've never heard him before. Admittedly, there's an ethnic element to the track which increases in the middle but either side throws a sheet of angelic voices and flutes over a snail pace beat. The theme of mixing angelic voices and tribal chants continues with 'The Inuit Snow Song' by 100^th Monkey a superbly chilled psychedelic dub and by this point I'm tipping my hat at Toby's fabulous selections.

The looped sequences that kick off 'The Future's Bright the Future's Incandescent' by Radium88 immediately brought Fluke and Underworld to mind (albeit with the brakes on) upon which an ethereal vocal leads to a more eastern flavour and you'd be hard pressed to find a more chilled vocal than this. The mood turns slightly darker with a combination of eerie atmospherics and tribal beats with 'Floating World' by Spatialize but the light shines through the darkness with some lovely strings. This theme of light and dark continues with a Far East drone fusion with the Shanghai 8am mix of 'Falling Tides' by the man himself and surprisingly not under his Banco De Gaia moniker.

I'm not sure you can go much slower than the dreamy tribal dub 'Festival of Lights' by Oombata Key. Whilst the tempo is taken up a notch with 'Dimensions' by Temple Hedz this piece initially layered with guru monologue and complemented further with a lovely eastern vocal is still more than suitably chilled. Moving towards a more experimental direction with 'Project Transmissions' by The Heavenly Hundred combines soft gentle piano with fuzzy atmospherics and distorted orchestral tweaks.

Back under his Banco De Gaia pseudonym 'To the Nth Degree' threatens to bring an uplifting surge with it's opening tribal chorus but soon dips down into soothing ambience with field recordings and piano. 'It's Beautiful Mike, It Really Is' by James Eller is a wonderful combination of NASA transmissions, spacey fx and piano. Although, he may not be the first to utilise this theme with the samples it works superbly well. 'Penates' by Sam Salem drifts back to the eerie atmospheric tribal drones of some of the previous tracks and leads us to the climax 'Epiphany' by Andrew Heath where once again the piano takes centre stage in a beautifully gentle melodic piece.

To summarise as with many compilations some tracks appeal more than others. However, there are some really strong tracks on here for me and I can't say I particularly dislike any of them. The years not over yet but for me this has to be a contender for ambient album of 2015. Full marks to Mr Marks so to speak and hopefully this isn't the last we hear of his selections.

Reviewed by Woodzee.

Links

http://banco.co.uk/

http://www.discogecko.com/

Pre-Order here https://discogecko.bandcamp.com/album/strange-eyed-constellations

Andrew Heath 'The Silent Cartographer' Review

Artist: Andrew Heath

Title: The Silent Cartographer

Label: Disco Gecko

Released: 300 cd's available to pre-order on bandcamp release around the 18^th of August. Available on general download in October.

The 2^nd non-Banco release from Disco Gecko showcases Andrew's journey into beatless ambient terrains comprising synth, piano and field recordings. I find I have to be in the mood for these type of compositions, usually quiet reflective times in my own company. Now although this isn't Andrew's first album. I've not come across his work before. Having a look at his web-site 'Aqueous Arts' I found it minimal and to the point and I liked the cut of his jib with this passage 'I remember as a small boy, watching a film about an artist who had made a sculptural piece of work that involved hanging large pieces of metal and wood inside an old barn. When one piece was moved it made contact with another until ever so gradually, the whole building was filled with random motion and sounds. I was fascinated by the serendipitous nature of this creation'. So I find myself trusting in Toby's judgement and hoping that I'm transported into a content and relaxed state, somewhat akin to floating in water on a hot, sunny day.

I began with 'In Search of Eden' and although the sound of the materials differs from the instruments. I could easily draw a comparision to the statement of the passage above. Andrew utilises sparse piano and synth layered over birdsong maintaining a minimal beauty and managed to keep my interest without the need of multiple complex loops diverting from the main theme of the piece.

The next track 'Kleine Blume Irgendwo (a homage to Joachim)' an epic 18 minute piece, which refers to Hans Joachim Roedelius (an experimental synth player at the forefront of the 70's Krautrock scene). In some ways it's similar to the first track but with a far more elongated synth passage and stereotypical field recordings such as waves lapping on the beach, door creaks etc that's not to say it's a bad piece, in fact it's great and I enjoyed it all the more for those inclusions.

The album continues with tracks of variable lengths and although keeping to the same format they all have little traits and personalities of their own I particularly liked the overall sounds of 'Shoreline (found object)' for example and the eeire and less stereotypical field recordings of the title track against the melodic piano and krautrock like synths.

I would recommend this to fans of Krautrock artists such as Klaus Schulze and the ambient compositions of Keith Keniff (Helios/Goldmund) or simply those looking to relax.

Review by Woodzee

Links

http://andrewheath.bandcamp.com/

http://www.aqueousarts.com/Home.html