Browsing Tag

Dark Ambient Electronica

Jeff Goldsmith – Tied to the Track: Melt Into the Darkly Ambient Melancholy

Following the resounding success of his former releases, the Minneapolis composer, musical sound designer and producer Jeff Goldsmith unleashed the lamentfully arrestive atmosphere of his latest score, Tied to the Track.

With the art rock nuances of Radiohead, the progressive feel of Fear of a Blank Planet era Porcupine Tree and deserty Josh Homme-Esque vocals bleeding into the darkly ambient neo-classic electronic arrangements, succumbing to the cinematic melancholy of Tied to the Track is non-optional.

Goldsmith started his venture into creativity aged four at the Suzuki Music Academy, where he learned to play the violin by ear. In 2020, he made his debut with the album, Vodu, subsequently followed by his poetically titled scintillating sophomore album, May You Find the Light Before the Devil Knows He’s Right, in May 2021. In addition to his solo work, Goldsmith scores for TV and film and works with a myriad of other artists, such as Austin Texas’s Sparta. 

After hearing Tied to the Track, I know I will never stop turning to Goldsmith’s visceral sonic proclivities which innovatively amalgamate ambience with exultant ingenuity. He isn’t just one in a million, his presence on the airwaves can’t be quantified. I can’t recommend him enough.

Tied to the Track is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Static Null looked into the void with his industrially ambient latest release, Blister

Static Null

The Lynchian oscillating effects and reminiscence to Big Black Delta make Static Null’s latest single, Blister, an instant feat of atmospherically dystopic beguile.

Instead of just lacing light with dark, Static Null fused warm reverb with cuttingly cold tones and opened the narrative between man and machine. Dark ambience may have been hitting the airwaves by the smorgasbord in 2022, but Static Null is a caustic cut above the rest.

His work subversively implants what it means to be human in soundscapes inspired by his idyllic Swedish hometown while mourning the loss of our humanity with a faint yet infectious sense of optimism. We can’t wait to hear what follows. Seemingly, neither can his 9k monthly Spotify streamers. He’s undoubtedly one to watch.

Blister is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tim Reynolds & Michael Sokolowski take us on a Soul Pilgrimage with their latest guitar-infused electronica album.

Long-time collaborators Tim Reynolds & Michael Sokolowski have teamed up once more for their guitar & synth duet album, Soul Pilgrimage. The standout symphonic piece, Freighter Hop, carries the dark and ominous textures of post-punk in the ambiently arranged synth lines while the warm bluesy guitar notes transform it into an invigoratingly optimistic soundscape.

If anyone has what it takes to prove that the future of music will be synthesised, it is Tim Reynolds & Michael Sokolowski. Their album was released on August 25th, 2021; it is available to stream on all major platforms; the vinyl release is due on October 31st, 2021.

Stream Freighter Hop for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

apatternimperfect – Entrance: Disqueitly Ambient Alt Eltronica

Give your Portishead records a rest and delve into the ethereal tones in Alt Electronic Rock artist, apatternimperfect’s, standout single ‘Entrance’.

With a Post-Punk style prelude, Entrance starts to unravel to the tune of cavernously haunted vocals and trepidation-laden beats. The deftly-placed static amplifies the disquiet energy of the release as it builds to a climax of jarring buzzsaw riffs to mesmerisingly hypnotic effect.

apatternimperfect is the latest creative project by English producer, composer and songwriter, Rob Wacey. After honing-in on his talent in a myriad of successful bands, he put his accumulated talent to work, orchestrating deeply emotional tracks which offer a cathartic formula of ambience, pulsating rhythms and haunting vocals.

You can check out apatternimperfect’s single Entrance for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

 

Review by Amelia Vandergast