Ambient / Drone Recommendations February 2015

Review: Oh yes, Exitab's Proto Sites series delivers its third instalment and it's nothing but vibes thanks to a collaboration between Hungary's Imre Kiss and Slovakia's fledgling artist, Casi Cada Minuto. The former has appeared on London's Lobster Theremin while the latter has remained within Exitab's catalogue for the time being. Three tracks from each artist, all of them exploring the furthest ranges of techno and electronica. Casi Cada Minuto's contributions can only be described as ambient stunners thanks to their watery textures and sparse soundscapes, while Imre Kiss' cuts are undeniably more club-friendly, but only just about! "Dis Slo" is arguably the winner of the lot, bringing forth a twitchy beat jam filled with airy sonics and just the right level of grit.

Review: A new year brings a third S.A.M. release on his own Delaphine label from Samuel Andre Madsen and a noted change in approach from the Danish producer. Whereas the two previous S.A.M. 12"s have seen Madsen explore the more minimal and dubby strains of techno with aplomb, this third record sees him retain the sense of atmosphere but discard with the need for any rhythmic backbone. It's telling that both tracks here are quite exquisite ambient journeys, suggesting Madsen is currently in the midst of an inspirational production patch. If you need some ambience to set the tone for a mix both tracks here fit the bill perfectly, with the orchestral touches of the B-side our personal favourite.

Review: There's not much to say about a reissue of such an essential album. Lovingly repressed on heavyweight vinyl, this is a rare chance to own one of Aphex's finest moments in the golden format. After the fluffiness of Selected Ambient Works Vol 1, this album makes a polar opposite in its sheer drama. From achingly sweet melodic moments to utterly terrifying drones, scrapes and clangs, this triple-vinyl epic is a pinnacle of sound design with soul. If you're not already familiar with it, waste no time in delving into the somnambulant wonders this album holds.

Review: Those with a passion for left-of-centre electronic music - particularly cutting edge drone and ambient - should already known Ian Martin, who has previously released on Bunker and Further Records. Opfer is a new project for the Dutch producer, alongside Belgian artist Sebastien Crusener. The latter provided a wealth of curious field recordings, which Martin then moulded into dark, claustrophobic and unsettling ambient pieces with the addition of his own trademark electronics. The result is a set that's variously bleak, unearthly and strangely beguiling, with little room for sentiment or structure. Monument is, then, an impressive set, but not for the faint hearted.

Review: Brandishing a dark sound that draws from electronics and string based instruments and adds a touch of the crepuscular to finish, the Lupine fancying OAKE have become a most suitable act for the current iteration of Karl O'Connor's Downwards label. First emerging on DNS early last year with the Offenbarung EP, the Berlin duo have subsequently committed another EP of claustrophobic electronics to the label as well as contributing to the rather fine Halha compilation. One of the final Downwards acts of 2014 is to issue Auferstehung, an 11 track debut album from OAKE which offers the pair more of a canvas to work with. With a title that translates as "resurrection" and a rather opaque theme that apparently "marks an end and a beginning at the same time," there is plenty that is open to interpretation about Auferstehung, and the album is largely free of any techno aspirations. Instead OAKE elect to coax you deeper into their web of sonic paranoia, which at times is a joyously crushing experience.

Review: First surfacing at the same time as Mount Kimbie, James Blake et al, South Londoner Klaus could have succumbed to the "post dubstep" pigeonholing some lazy types would have classed him under but instead he's forged his own unique path. Forgoing the spotlight in favour of issuing material through his own low key Tanum label seems to have creatively freed up Klaus on the basis of the two 12"s he's released in the past two years. Tele is his third 12" on Tanum and the 40 minutes worth of music are perhaps the most advanced sonics from Klaus yet, aligning him with outliers such as Dynamo Dreesen and SVN.