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Bulletin: Second Generation of Space Music composers has emerged!
by
Lloyd Barde
Usually
there is an imaginary torch passed when there is a noticeable emergence of a
second generation of artists. The old guard has stopped releasing new material,
or, in some cases, aged or passed away. In this case, the torch has hardly been
relinquished by the likes of Roach, Parsons, Serrie, etc. But a new batch of
creative artists has helped further the course of space music artistry and is
certain to effect the longevity of this cherished genre. While nomenclature is
always a challenging aspect of music description, there is little confusion with
the term space music. And though it is inclusive of both "inner space" and
"outer space", there is without a doubt plenty of space involved. Even the term
"ambient" is loaded with confusing interpretations, ranging from beatless or
minimalist to electronically rhythmic and highly "chilled", such as ambient dub
music which has achieved its own deserved popularity. Anyway, in the hopes of
leaving that age-old debate untouched and far behind, it has been with great
delight that I have noted this second generation of space music artists,
delineated more by their chronological appearance than earth years or birth
years.
For this article I wanted to focus on three of these artists, and
explore their catalogs of titles: Jason Sloan, Brannan Lane, and Diatonis.
Between these three, we can look at an artist (mostly) on the lighter side, one
who lands somewhat on the darker side of the spectrum, and one who occupies
either or both with equal chameleon-like expertise.
Jason Sloan lives in
the Baltimore area and is a visual performance, video & sound artist. He has
always been interested in sound and the wonderful surfaces and textures one can
create with it. Most of his aural work is created with computers, guitar and
environmental sounds extracted from his surroundings.
His last CD is
called Still, easily one of the best recent space music CDs. Each
track is subtly different, yet complementary to each of the others, creating a
totality of sonic experience that rivals the classics of the genre, past and
present. I can definitely say that this was one of the finest space music /
ambient releases of the year, (unquestionably outshining most if not all of the
past masters' recent contributions to the
genre)
Winterwomb, has being quietly released on the heels
of Jason's successful 2003 CD 'Still.' Winterwomb is a live CD, which presents
three shows from 2002 and 2003. The first track, recorded last December at
Baltimore's Bottom Floor, features the entire 25-minute set. The second track is
a 30-minute excerpt from Jason's 65-min radio concert on WXPN's Star's End this
past August. The disc closes out with an experimental live performance from this
past November broadcast live via the internet. This disc is unique as it is the
first CD to feature Jason's layered & dense live performance sound. Still
very ambient by nature, his live sets also bring lots of grit and texture into
the smears of sound Jason has become known for. Winterwomb is
presented in a .25" thick, 5" x 7.5" clear plastic housing wrapped in a vellum
sleeve. This CD is available from his website and also from Backroads
Music.
Earlier CDs incorporate these same sounds, primarily on the
lighter side but with a depth that separates Jason from the pack. He uses his
familiarity and expertise in the visual arts to include video tracks and a
strong "eye" presence to his music.
Brannan Lane specializes in any and
all of the following: Ambient Atmospheric Instrumental Chillout Meditation
Relaxation Electronic Ethereal New Age Space Music Soundscapes. While his
catalog grows to Roach-ian proportions, his musical depth has also grown,
alongside his compositional skills, ability to feel at home with many varied
styles, and his attracting other key artists to play with. Brannan Lane has
collaborated with ambient artists Ashera, Amir Baghiri, Robert Carty, Vidna
Obmana, Zero Ohms, Tom Larson, Matt Borghi and Jason Sloan. In fact, his next
release is made up entirely of collaborations with these artists that are
previously unreleased. He also has a number of solo releases that similarly
range across the board through styles found in the broad ambient/space
genre.
To discuss each of his CDs would require more space and time than
is available, but suffice I to say that these are my personal
favorites:
Solo recordings:
Hypnotic Drift is similar
in scope to Roach's Magnificent Void, with the added appeal of a strong sense of
resolution
Lost Caverns of Thera so convincingly portrays the
journey through newly discovered underground caves near Greece that is you
listen in a dark space, with considerable volume and maybe a candle lit, you
will truly be there, dripping water, constrictions and
all.
Collaborations:
Tribal Spirit (w/Tom Larsen) is a
superb CD that builds its energy outward. Even those who shy away from Tribal
drums and the like only need to hang in there just a bit to get to the
atmospheric spaces that are equal parts tribal and pure ambient penetrating
space.
Sextant (w/Ashera) offers atmospheric drift par
excellence through five sprawling ambient pieces, imbued with feelings of
vastness and peace--all via the tradewinds of sea and space.
Diatonis
(aka Stuart White) started creating his ambient style of space music in about
1980. His friends called it Stuart's strange music because it was a little
before the mainstream exposure and marketing machine kicked in. While he has
been prominent in MP3 circles for years, his music first came to my attention as
he started releasing "real" CDs last Fall, starting with the extraordinary 3-CD
Box called "Ambient Life". Since then four other CDs have joined our offerings
here at Backroads, with more to follow. Here are brief details for each of the
five:
Landscape of a Dream is
Ambient-Alpha-State-Stillness, wherein formless symmetries clone infinity. A
Dream mind wash of sonically charged particles, this CD sounded to me like the
second coming of "Structures from Silence". Since I received it as a new
release, I was therefore not surprised to see 1984 as the original date!. This
music is a soundtrack to dreaming while awake.
The Endless
Knot is semi-progressive ceremonial rock with a twist of ambient-drone
and Gamelan, which is the traditional music of Bali. The song "Unlock the World"
was inspired by the Balinese Horse Dance, which is a possession ritual, and
incorporates chants and prayer bells, pan flute, Tibet bowls, and Tuvien vocal
samples. The timing of the gamelan (bells, drums, bass) has a trance inducing
effect. This is his attempt to capture the sense of power and apparent
randomness the style gives rise to.
On Convolving Universe,
you can hear the depth of highly processed choirs, voices, and other natural
sounds in 5.1 Surround or stereo. It is sometimes shimmering, sometimes
haunting, but very deep and filled with mystical resonance, an inspired creation
of electronic deepness. It's ambience invites surrender to a higher state of
being. The Convolving Universe is gothic, dark age, heavenly choirs and drones.,
and is excellent headphone music that will take you right out of your body, to
fly with the angels.
Ambient Life: The sounds Stuart made
for this album are from a variety of acoustic instruments, including trumpet,
panpipes, voice, bamboo and clay flutes, strings and even a gong. These sounds
are layered with other samples with more personal meaning, like his
grandmother's old, slightly out of tune upright piano and leaves that blew
through the yard one day. The sounds are processed by layering, convolving,
inverting as well as stretching them out over time. The electric guitar strains
and a bass guitar softly thread though the music now and then. The effect is a
very calming impressionistic sound. It's less structured muted quality is like
sounds that are remembered so it tends to inspire a state of nostalgia in the
listener. From start to finish the album took about two years to create, and
promises years of enjoyable listening,
guaranteed.
Trajectories, the latest, has an organic
quality similar to what gives nature it's beauty. Stuart finds this to be the
most exciting and enjoyable place from which to create, and hopes that the
recording conveys more than I intended. Deep, penetrating music is the fare
here, and it will take you on an inward journey that will be of a highly
personal nature.
By the way, the old guard, notably David Parsons, is
still producing viable, if not ground breaking new music. For those unfamiliar
with this artist, who is somewhat below the radar, his recent 2-CD "In
Retrospect: 1980-2003" is the perfect introduction, and even includes two
unreleased pieces. And Steve Roach - well that is another story in itself! All
of the recordings listed here are readily available from Backroads Music, along
with 100's of others. To contact Backroads, call 800-767-4748 or visit the web
site: www.backroadsmusic.com
Part one discography:
Jason
Sloan
Winterwomb: Selected Live 2002-2003
Still
The Space
Between
Whispered with Water (compilation of previously released, unreleased,
& reworked tracks)
Shoreline of an End
Brannan
Lane
Lucid Circles (w/Baghiri)
Sextant (w/Ashera)
Escape
Velocity
To Earth and Back
Hypnotic Drift
Tribal Spirit (w/Tom
Larson)
Lost Caverns of Thera
Immense Distance (w/Zero Ohms)
Soundfall
to the Infinite (w/Zero Ohms)
Climactic Infusion (w/Robert Carty)
Deep
Unknown (w/Vidna Obmana)
Relaxing Effects of
Water
Sleep
Diatonis
Trajectories (2004)
Ambient Life
(3-CD) (2003)
The Convolving Universe (2001, just reissued)
The Endless
Knot (2000)
Landscape of a Dream (1984, just
reissued)
===============
next article:
Part 2:
Zero
Ohms
Darshan Ambient
Galactic Agents
Numina
Lloyd Barde
c/o Backroads Music...home of the Heartbeats catalog
401-A
Tamal Plaza
Corte Madera, CA 94925
phone: 415-924-4848
fax#:
415-924-0648
toll free: 1-800-767-4748
email:
lloyd@backroadsmusic.com
url: http://www.backroadsmusic.com |
