POST CATEGORY : Ambient

Superheart – ‘Talk About It’

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Over the past 18 months or so, UK-based producer Luke Batt aka Superheart has proven a reliable source of comforting and dreamy, electronic synthpop jams with singles ‘Count On Me’, ‘After Midnight’ and ‘Satellite’.

Superheart is kicking off 2019 with an equally elegant, shiny, glittery new single ‘Talk About It’. Moving along a slumber pace, in a dreamlike state of awe ‘Talk About It’ combines gentle hushed guitar, a soothing layer of synths and a pillowy soft bassline with elegant, heavenly vocals and the outcome is just beautiful. All dreamy, blissful vibes and warm, gentle soundscapes, packed with emotion, divine layered vocals, and a beautifully, tranquil and soothing finish – ‘Talk About It’ is a small slice of heaven.

Superheart really is a gift that keeps on giving – listen to ‘Talk About It’ below:

Richard Devine – ‘Takara’

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After a six year break, Atlanta’s Richard Devine returned to the fold in 2018 with new album Sort/Lave, sculpting a sound that is complex, elegant and organic.

Devine’s return was heralded by his ambition to create a record that sounded different to his previous work, which had been more cold, digital, clinical even, in favour of something more organic, detailed, spacious, big and warm; a record to play all the way through that flowed in a seamless fashion. While Devine’s idea of warmth may be open to discussion, Sort\Lave is exquisite, as is the latest track lifted from it ‘Takara’. Something of an ambient lullaby, it is elegant, soft and beautiful. ‘Takara’ is a gorgeous track that twinkles and glistens amid ambient textures, subtle melody and atmospheric gushes – one of the album’s finest moments, perfectly suited to its role as the album closer.

Listen to ‘Takara’ below now – and if that is to your liking why not give Sort/Lave a spin? You can do so here.

Altvater – ‘Quietly, The Sea’

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Throughout 2018, producer Altvater proved a more than reliable source of downtempo electronica; a fusion of cinematic electronica, trip hop, and dark synthwave.

Hailing from Columbia, South Carolina, Altvater’s style is marked by an ability to blend colour and warmth to a glacial but imperious ambience, as evidenced by his Walking Creatures EP, and single ‘Moonbird’, and with the release of latest single ‘Quietly, The Sea. Really’, he is insuring he is finishing the year on a high note. Inspired by a picture his grandfather took in the Bahamas in the 80s; one of the sea in its calm, serene state and Altvater set about creating an instrumental interpretation. ‘Quietly, The Sea’ is a beautiful, smooth and chilled out slice of tranquil downtempo electronica. It flourishes with sultry piano and guitar arrangement, driven by a steady drums and seductive melody, all wrapped up by smooth saxophone lines and soulful vocal sample. ‘Quietly, The Sea’ is beautiful, calm and rather easy-on-the-ear while capturing how pensive and meditating the sea can be.

Listen to ‘Quietly, The Sea’ below:

Introducing: Sulkin’ Raven

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Sulkin’ Raven is the brainchild of Kevin De Nicolo, an electronic music producer, composer, and DJ hailing from North Hollywood, California.

Sulkin’ Raven’s intricate and delicately woven, glitchy atmospheric electronica flows from a well of ambient sounds and interspersed with subtle grooves and melodies, and charming computer game synths and 8-bit sounds – a fine and fascinating balance that his recently released Strange Days + Other voices EP is testament to.

‘Help! I’m Ambient’ is, as the name suggests, a work of slow burning ambient sounds. This is one to get lost in, as it evokes moods, feelings and memories on this magical trip through ethereal, atmospheric textures. ‘Not Near Whatever’ is simply gorgeous as it unfolds radiating a sense of awe and wonder as sounds drip, splash and twinkle amid the chiming tones, glitchy sounds and flourishes exuberant light. It bubbles and fizzes with playful computer game synths and 8-bit sounds delighting in delivering irresistible melodies. ‘I Can’t Even’ is a sort of crossing point between the two above; ethereal tones and atmospheric textures abound while slivers of synths and 8-bit sounds create a retro-futuristic vibe. Be they dreamy, playful, or both, Sulkin’ Raven wares are magical and beautiful instrumental electronic jams.

Listen to some choice cuts below and if you like what you hear, check out the new EP here.

R. Seiliog Announces New Album; Shares ‘Opal Drift’

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Welsh producer R.Seiliog aka Robin Edwards has announced he will release a new album Megadoze, on November 30 via Turnstile.

With this most welcome news comes lead track ‘Opal Drift’ which suggests subtle shift from the sonic palette of previous albums Doppler (2013) and In Hz (2016) – both masterful works. ‘Opal Drift’ is a wonderful slice of deep flowing ambient techno that opens with a gently evocative sound of trickling water that flows through ambient textures and synth waves along a subtle beat and gentle pulsing rhythm, swelling to softly envelope all in its carefully sculpted surrounding. Mesmerising stuff that certainly adds to the excitement for the forthcoming album.

Get hypnotised below with ‘Opal Drift’ – Megadoze is out on November 30 via Turnstile.

Little People – ‘Tonight’

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London producer Little People‘s – aka Laurent Clerc – creates a colourful sound collage that is part beats, bleeps and samples that stems from a love of hip hop, it effortlessly combines warm synths, intricate melodies and string arrangements.

Little People has a new album Landloper coming on January 11 2019 via Future Archive Recordings, a first release since 2015, ahead of which we’ve been treated to lead single ‘Tonight’. A slick, smooth and effortlessly cool track as scattered beats dance with clean, crisp bass lines that run underneath a pitched vocal sample amid cascading flourishes of glitchy sounds and colourful, frazzled synth and electronics. A plush, captivating and seductive tune, ‘Tonight’ combines silky production skills with infectious hip-hop inspired beats for a fresh, imaginative and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Tune into ‘Tonight’ below:

Pines – ‘Speak’

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Aussie duo Pines – aka Adam Dormand and James Kenneally – hone an elegant fusion of blissful relaxation and lush electronic sounds.

The Adelaide pair’s latest single ‘Speak’ follows ‘Glisten’ and ‘I’ve Been Waiting’ to complete a trilogy of singles calling time on their business for 2018 – and how! ‘Speak’ shimmers majestically as it tips along a lockstep rhythm in a swirling vortex of hypnotic sounds while the breathy vocals not only complement this perfectly but add another layer of frosty, almost glacial elegance. Precise, pristine and hypnotic – the pair once again eke out a space where colour and warmth can coexist with a glacial but imperious ambience.

Pines are planning to release their debut full length some time next year – so keep an eye out for that too.

Daniel Brandt – ‘Sailboats III’

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London and Berlin based producer Daniel Brandt has shared new single ‘Sailboats III’, ahead of his album Channels, released on October 12th.

Brandt is a producer with preference for ambient electronic soundscapes with a techno-core, often down-tempo, moody and deeply atmospheric – they are in no way listless – these are late night / early morning jams with an emphasis on mood, groove and rhythm. Capturing this essence perfectly is Brandt’s new single ‘Sailboats III’. An immersive jaunt through a world of minimal ambient electronics with clean, crisp beats and rich textures which create dark atmospheres, emotion and a feeling of venturing into the unknown. Propelled on a pulsating bass line it is a vivid, vital and versatile; it is suited to late night club or home environs. A deeply enthralling and transfixing experience, ‘Sailboats III’ is a mesmerizing introduction to his forthcoming album Channels.

Listen to ‘Sailboats III’ below.

Catching Flies – ‘New Gods ft. Jay Prince and Oscar Jerome’

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London producer Catching Flies is busy prepping the release of a new album and the first fruits of that labour come in the shape of new single, ‘New Gods’.

Joining forces with rapper Jay Prince and multi-instrumentalist Oscar Jerome, together the trio create ‘New Gods’; a warm aural feast of jazzy, soulful and slow-slung, hip-hop grooves. Sweeping electronic textures coalesce with soft drum rhythms, twinkling keys, flourishes of strings and bright flecks of guitar and are smoothly intertwined around the natural spoken rhythms of Jay Prince’s eloquent and thought provoking ponderings. An elegant, beautiful and dreamy blend of perfectly balance sounds, textures and pallets – ‘New Gods’ is a jazz-fueled hip hop lullaby.

That so far unnamed album is expected in late 2018 or early 2019 – for now feast your ears on the wonderful ‘New Gods’.

Kan Wakan – ‘Unlucky’

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After a quite a wait, Bulgarian born Los Angeles-based artist Gueorgui Linev, aka Kan Wakan, has delivered Phantasmagoria, Vol. 1 to the world, the first part of his album trilogy.

Recorded with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, the calming and enveloping record features some of the sublime singles that held our attention until its release; namely ‘Molasses’ & ‘I Would’ among others. To mark the album’s release, Wakan has shared the opening track ‘Unlucky’ as his latest single. It encapsulates the record perfectly, using a gorgeous blend of organic and electronic layers to create a dark sultry pop sound with a breathy enticing vocal. The tension, the progression and perfect arrangement as it swells beyond any early indication – Wakan’s music just requires your time and patience. Sublime!

Listen to the ‘Unlucky’ below and you can check the album out over here.