FIELDS WE FOUND – IN YOUR HANDS
Quiet Details is the label where “each release is an artist’s own unique interpretation of that phrase”. The label is run/curated by Alex Gold aka Fields We Found. Apart from running the label, he is also a mastering engineer and a musician himself.
Consequently, In Your Hands is Alex’s musical interpretation of the idea behind Quiet Details. It is not his first album: his music was previously released on Ambientologist, Handstitched Recordings, Home Normal, Fluid Audio, and Headphone Commute. In 2022, a short EP called Chroma was published on Quiet Details.
The music on In Your Hands has an intense personal background story: in February 2024, Gold was diagnosed with lymphoma. The intense treatment that followed thankfully worked, and the experience profoundly transformed his view of music.
“Music was a panacea in these times; long listening sessions were truly healing. I learnt a lot and knew it was important that my own music came out of it. This album is the result.”
The immersive drones are created on modular synthesizers “for deeply expressive tonal and textural explorations”, performed live directly from the machines to tape. Field recordings that were made by family and friends are subtly (almost unnoticeably) added to the soundscapes, so in this way the people who helped him and were important to him became part of this music.
All proceeds from this album are donated to the Milton Keynes University Hospital Cancer Center to support their work. In Your Hands is available on CD (including a fine art print) and as a digital download.
KAPTEP – EXHALE
I had never heard of KapTep before, and there was not much information I found online apart from a short bio on the Chitra Records label. KapTep is Derek Carter‘s ambient/drone project alias (Sullivan, Illinois).
“The concept behind the KapTep project was to try creating the style of emotional music that he wanted to listen to himself.”
Exhale is the third solo album for this label. KapTep’s Bandcamp page also mentions four more (self-released) titles.
Exhale presents eleven relatively short pieces (most around 5 minutes), with different atmospheres – but all of them quiet, unhurried, and immersive.
“Every track should evoke an emotion to which you can write your own story.”
Kapteps adds hints for these stories in the liner notes, but these are not very helpful (intentionally, I suppose):
“Probably not really a Lullaby per se, and maybe not ambient. You can decide.” (for Static Lullabye)
“I think they are one of my favorite flowers for some reason, I don’t know why.” (for Geranium)
So I guess you’d best make up your own story for these tracks. Or: just enjoy them as they are.