Markus Mehr’s debut album Lava is turning heads all over the blogosphere, receiving attention from the likes of Furthernoise, Pellytwins, Music Musings and Miscellany and No Ripcord. It’s perhaps a little early to proclaim it album of the year, but have a read of the plaudits being piled at its cosmic doorstep, or do one better and have a listen below.
Markus Mehr – Hubble Markus Mehr - Hubble
Hidden Shoal Recordings today announced the CD release of the album Lava by German experimental ambient artist Markus Mehr.
Lava holds true to its title – blending the dense surge of Tim Hecker with the radiant luminosity of Mountains, making new paths as it pushes through the landscape. But, after any destructive force there is new growth. Green shoots of melody arc out of the surface and populate the terrain as new possibilities emerge. A new master of heartbreaking ambient drone has arrived. These tracks evoke time spent transfixed, gazing through a giant looking glass, waiting wide-eyed as new discoveries are revealed in the album’s textured contours.
On epic opener ‘Agenda’, layers of gorgeous synth gradually accumulate into a gloriously massive chord. On single ‘Hubble’, a bedrock of fuzzed drone is decorated with glistening counter-melodies, tracing shards of light across the coal-black skies. ‘Softwar’ builds and then falls away, only to return with a spine-tingling theme that crumbles under its own majesty.
“…there’s something so fresh about Lava… The German musician/composer simply sounds liberated, despite the familiar vocabulary and nods to his various influences… Lava explores a wealth of approaches and destinations without getting in its own way. It’s wonderfully slow, enriching going.” – Cyclic Defrost
“Hubble is the most gorgeous synth orchestration I’ve heard in ages, a 1000-yard low drone gathering sparkles of melody as it rolls.” – The Underground of Happiness
The CD version of the album comes in a custom amaray case with gorgeous widescreen artwork. It is distributed through n5Mailorder where it is also available for online order. Lava is also available in all digital formats through Hidden Shoal Recordings and all good digital stores. Buy the album here and read a full press release here.
Markus Mehr – Softwar Markus Mehr – Softwar
Hidden Shoal received a lovely mention on the Pelly Twins‘ blog this week, with a special mention of recent releases by both Markus Mehr and My Majestic Star. Put you’re feet up and have a listen below, and have a read here.
Markus Mehr – Hubble Markus Mehr – Hubble
My Majestic Star – Crampling My Majestic Star – Crampling
Markus Mehr’s stunning ambient album Lava has received a fabulous review at Cyclic Defrost, one of the finest Australian music sites. Scoot along to CD to read the review and visit the HSR Store to stream the album in full.
