April 2004 Archives

Let’s get some facts out of the way, shall we?

Number one: I love Pete Namlook. He is, by far, one of my all-time favorite electronic musicians. Number two: Jochem Paap, whom you may know by his Speedy J moniker, has already released two solo projects on Namlook’s FAX label. Both CDs are magnificently haunting and way out there; many have said they are reminiscent of Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works, Volume II. I agree. One thing however, remained to be seen. When would Namlook and Speedy J collaborate? And if so, how would the final result come out?

After two years in the works, and years waiting for it to happen, we have our first of two collaborative efforts by these great electronic music pioneers.  I can tell you this CD was recorded on Pete’s new Apple G5 system, so you know we’re going to have a very fresh sound. I remember when he painstakingly restored Klaus Schulze’s Big Moog system, and recorded Free Your Mind as its first restored work.

This CD is no different in terms of freshness.  In the opening track alone, it doesn’t even sound like the classic Namlook we have come to know and love.  Rather, it sounds like someone took a brush and with watercolor, swept through recordings from the KOMPAKT and 12k labels, and as the second track kicks in, we finally land at the Klanglabor.

Our venture was recorded both in Rotterdam (Papp’s home) and in Germany, and the result? Great ambient. In many ways, it gives me similar visions from another FAX CD, Chris Meloche’s Recurring Dreams of the Urban Myth.  It’s all about going from an ambient pulse, to ultimately being left to die in the sewer. Strange vision, maybe; but this CD was well worth the wait.

What will the second collaboration have in store for us? We have to be patient and see.

Click on the ’Play’ button to hear the samples!

Back in 1994, I bought a compilation which visually looked like it was going to be interesting. It was right around this time period that I was expanding from New Age music, and looking into more of the more ambient aspects of electronic music.

So, which compilation did I buy? It was From Here to Tranquility, Volume 1, on the now-defunct Silent Records from San Francisco.

The opening track was by Michael Mantra, and the song’s title was "Sonic Alter." However, it wasn’t an electronic, trippy, spacey track.  Instead, I found an environmental piece, featuring sounds of the ocean; perhaps a pier or bay—maybe by a dock? Birds, water and low drones which can be anything your mind wanted it to. I loved the compilation a lot, but I knew I wanted to hear more of this Sonic Alter CD.

Forward about a decade later, where after countless tries searching both on- and offline, I finally bought an exceptional used copy from eBay . This album is pure exquisiteness, because it is total Environmental-Ambient.

It’s three large pieces which blend so well you don’t even detect where the next track started. I had no idea the opening track on From Here to Tranquilty, which was only six or so minutes long, was just an edit of this mammoth piece.

I recommend this CD if you want something awesome to sleep to, or maybe relax outside in a hammock, perhaps laying in bed reading a good book? Whatever relaxing activity you wish to do, make sure you bring this album along. It will drift you deeper and deeper into your activity than anything else. Personally, I enjoy leaving it on repeat while writing.

Click on the ‘Play’ button to hear a 30-second sample!