RAFAEL ANTON IRISARRI Vinyl & CDs

Review: Since 2007 Rafael Anton Irisarri has been imparting his grandiose ambient explorations with the world via labels like Room40, Immune, Uzor Rex and Miasmah. Amidst a steady uptick in output in recent years he shared the acclaimed Midnight Colours via Geographic North in 2018, originally confined to a cassette and digital release. Given the towering sonics contained within, it feels appropriate the album now gets a wider physical release on this magenta coloured vinyl reissue courtesy of Irisarri's own Black Knoll Editions. If you dig the kind of tundra scapes conjured by classic Tim Hecker, you'll certainly enjoy this album.

Review: Curiously, Rafael Anton Irisarri's eighth solo album, the genuinely brilliant Midnight Colours, was not released on vinyl when it first appeared in 2018 - hence this belated and much-needed appearance on wax. Presented beautifully and pressed onto delicious 'bio green' vinyl in limited numbers (only 300 copies have been manufactured), it offers a brilliant starting point for those keen on exploring Irisarri's distinctive take on 21st century ambient. Built around colourful, slowly-shifting synthesizer chords and billowing aural textures, each of the eight immaculate tracks comes drenched imerssive, echoing electronic noise - the kind that helps create cavernous, immersive soundscapes and enveloping, beat-free sound worlds. It's a triumph of both ambient composition and sound design and remains as potent now as it did back in 2018.

Review: Midnight Colours originally came out on noted ambient label Geographic North in 2018, arriving in the midst of a flurry of activity for accomplished drone navigator Rafael Anton Irisarri. Irisarri's work has graced plenty of scene leading experimental labels from Room40 to Umor Rex, sometimes given the lavish ceremonial release treatment and other times tucked away in the furtive folds of the tape world. One listen to the monolithic icebergs of sound drifting through this album, and you'll agree it was too large a work to not make it onto a full vinyl release. Now Irisarri has done the right thing and pressed this spectacular album up via his label, Black Knoll Editions.