Otorongo * Olenc
Unusual atmospheres: ethnic-sounding ‘medicine music’ from Otorongo, and granulated theatrical cello sounds by Olenc.
Tag: ethnic
Steve Roach * Loren Nerell
Steve Roach further explores ‘time- and space-altering realms’, while Loren Nerell dives deeper into the mystical sounds of the Balinese gong.
J. Derwort * Simon McCorry
Hanyo van Oosterom remixed the music of fellow Chi member J. (Koos) Derwort into a beautiful tribute album *** Simon McCorry’s Border Lands is a diverse and adventurous album exploring the electro-acoustic possibilities of the cello.
Matthew Burtner * Saba Alizâdeh
‘Eco-acoustician’ Matthew Burtner turns parts of the melting glaciers into instruments …. Saba Alizadeh merges his virtuoso kamancheh playing with cutting edge electronics
Michel Banabila – Float
Beginning his career in the early 80’s, Michel Banabila‘s albums covered many different styles.
So many, in fact, that his place in music was a bit difficult to pinpoint which sometimes seemed to confuse critics as well as potential audiences.
His albums presented world music, jazz, theatre play soundtracks as well as electronic music of the abstract or ambient kind – all kinds of genres which Banabila seems to be able to cross over with ease.
Jan Linton – Buddha Machine Music
I guess most readers will be familiar with the Buddha Machine concept by now.
Not only because the Buddha Machine itself now exists in four generations (including the Throbbing Gristle edition), but also because various artists (most notably Robert ‘Monolake’ Henke) have included the recognisable lo-fi samples in their recordings – or created completely new music using them.
One of the latest Buddha Machine-inspired releases is “Buddha Machine Music” by Jan Linton – English musician/composer, working from Tokyo, Japan since 1990.
In the past, he has been working with people like Leo Abrahams and Richard Barbieri . But for his latest project, he chose the (first two incarnations of the) Buddha Machine as source of inspiration.
Paul Sharma – Safar
Paul Sharma is a british painter and musician who was raised in India.
Regular Ambientblog.net visitors and podcast subscribers will probably remember the exclusive tracks he presented earlier this year: the electronic Raga tracks called “Embers” (vocal and instrumental version)
His new EP, called Safar (meaning ‘Journey’ in the Urdu language) is now presented on the Test Tube netlabel.
Paul Sharma – Embers
Paul Sharma‘s Embers is a beautiful electronic composition based on the Indian midnight raga Malkauns, and thus is very suitable for midnight listening (The Raga Guide indicates Late Night: 12 – 3).
“Malkauns is a serious, meditative raga, and is developed mostly in the lower octave (mandra saptak) and in a slow tempo (vilambit laya).”
(Wikipedia)
On this version the vocals are more in the middle octave as that suits Rajesh’s voice, but there are instruments at the lower (and sub-lower) to compensate. The vocal piece starts with an alap (free or rhythmless tempo) and then a slow tempo vocal.
“It is a majestic and somewhat introverted pentatonic raga, which seems to have undergone quite a transformation over the centuries. Superstitious musicians describe it as a raga with supernatural powers, and some believe that it can attract evil spirits.”
(The Raga Guide)
Banabila + Asid: Oh No Uaredero
I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it again: Michel Banabila’s music (a well-balanced fusion of electronic, ambient, jazz and ethnic music) deserves much more attention, and not only in Europe!
To get a good impression of his versatility, you can check the myspace accounts listed below. Or read the ‘Hilarious Expedition’ weblog entry earlier. Or just click the icon below to listen to ‘Oh No Uaredeo’ with Salar Asid on violin).