Oe + Coniglio; Yannick Franck; Tone Color

Taalem is a Paris-based label – “exploring the different sides of ambient music through 3” CD-R’s and FLAC downloads – with a somewhat different release policy:
“As we’re tired of all these ultra-limited & ultra-expensive releases, taâlem discs are unlimited editions. As long as the demand exists, every release is available.” Some fine examples from their recent releases:

∅E + ENRICO CONIGLIO – INNER FROST
21 Minutes (2 Tracks) of Glacial ambient created by ∅e (Fabio Perletta: guitar, loops) and Enrico Coniglio (guitar, field recordings, sampler).
The (december 2013) release was especially postponed because the music perfectly fits the winter season. The opening sounds of a harsh winter storm might give you some extra chills.
But in summer, this wide musical landscape full of fascinating details may help you cool down when desired!

Aqua Dorsa – The November Earth

The November Earth is Aqua Dorsa‘s second full album, follow up to Cloudlands (2009).
Sadly, it will also be their last: Gianluigi Gasparetti (better known as Oöphoi), died in april 2013.

The album they were working on was finished by his Aqua Dorsa partner Enrico Coniglio and was released later in 2013.

Therefore,The November Earth has become a fitting In Memoriam album to remember one of ambient music’s finest artist.

Enrico Coniglio+Under the Snow – Dialogue One

I first learned about Enrico Coniglio on the Underwater Noisescompilation and from there found his fascinating Salicornie (Topofonie Vol. 2)”, dedicated to the city of Venice.

Compared to “Salicornie”, this latest release, Dialogue One”  is quite different: one hour of abstract soundscapes and mutually attracting opposites.

“Dialogue One” is a ‘split’ project with Silentes label artists Under the Snow (Stefano Gentile (guitar, field recordings) and Gianluca Favaron (field recordings, processing)).

Enrico Coniglio – Salicornie


Salicornie

Most ambient music deals with more or less imaginary landscapes -like, for example, the two compilations recently reviewed: “Hidden Landscapes” and “Underwater Noises“.

This is definitely not the case for both Topofonie albums by Enrico Coniglio (who also contributed to the Underwater Noises compilation), that are inspired by Venice and its lagoon.

“A polymorphic portrait of what Venice is today, one moment decadent and melancholy, then romantic, rowdy, colourful and chaotic. Postcard of a thousand postcards, photos of a thousand photos…”

But, just as Venice is not like any other city in the world, Salicornie (and its predecessor: Areavirus ) is not like any other ‘ambient’ album.