Tracks from recent Hidden Shoal releases by Beautiful Lunar Landscape, Jumpel and Slow Dancing Society are featured on a fantastic compilation of new ambient/downtempo music put together by excellent music zine Sonic Frontiers. Entitled Reveries, the “two-disc” collection is available for free download.
Excerpt: “Using guitars, bass, drums and electronics, Togawa ever-so-carefully builds his tracks into exquisite instrumental settings where guitars sometimes delicately chime and at other times swarm into buzzing masses… For listeners new to the group it’s as good a place as any to start. Opening the set strongly, ‘The First Step to End the Life’ becomes an irresistibly jubilant romp in remixer Si Begg’s hands… no one will come away thinking the group is only about elegant quietude.”
Excerpt: “Outer Sunset presents eleven polished samplings of radiant effervescence from New York-based quintet Monocle… The bossa-fueled pop of ‘Emmanuelle’ opens the album euphorically… In ‘Gaspard’, Kim’s heavenly voice rides a wave of squalling guitars… the band flirts with guitar freakout territory during the astral sonics of ‘Music of Space’… All things considered, a gloriously entertaining and accomplished debut.”
Recently released albums by Monocle and The Retail Sectors have just received glowing reviews in this month’s edition of the essential music zine Textura. Visit Textura to read the reviews in full, or pop along to Monocle and The Retail Sectors‘ review sections for excerpts.
