New releases today: Ambient/Drone

Review: Deep techno lovers Hypnus have been showcasing the work of Paul Roeleveld aka Rambadu for some time. Only back in 2021 was he a newcomer with a sound that belied that status and now a few years on he has kept impressing. 'Yatra' is slow and deep, menacing and full of paranoia as snaking synths slithering along a desolate landscape. 'Nadi' has a dubby undercurrent and percolating grooves that gurgle and spit like molten lava, and 'Reis' is utterly stripped back to deep space pulses and a subtle, barely-there rhythm that is full of suspense. 'Setu' shuts down with more unsettling and otherworldly deepness and alien sound designs.

Review: World class dronesmiths Zach Frizzell, Marc Ertel and Damien Duque unleash their first joint effort in several years, delving deeper into the patented 'dronegaze' formula characterising their first outing 'Liberamente'. Landing somewhere in a soothingly liminal zone between the lighter and more introspective tone floats of La Monte Young and Jefre Cantu-Ledesma's roomy feedback washes, the trio extract a vast array of sweet, soporific and unconventional timbres from instruments both acoustic and electrified to meditative effect. A perfect soundtrack to studious introspection and languid bliss-outs alike.

Review: In a commendable bid to musically relive and recapture the philosopher Plato's infamous cave allegory, explorer, researcher, paleorganologist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Walter Maioli makes a welcome return on the Black Sweat label. Here the Italian polymath keeps it simple in sound but expansive in concept; his specialism in the musicology of ancient societies resounds especially on this calming release, which investigates the secret dialogue between the trickling of pond waters and the faint percussive reverberations of stalagmites and stalagtites, all through the resonant chimes of mallet instruments such as tubular organs, Tibetan bells, glockenspiels, xylophones or stone marimbas. With seemingly every ding and bong sound at his disposal, Caverne Sonore makes for one of the most relaxing yet also the most engaging records of the year, one that admittedly beckons us further into the cave.

Review: Six Organs of Admittance is the main project of the American guitarist Ben Chasny. His music is widely considered new folk but he operates differently to most, infusing various sounds like chimes, percussive elements and layered drones and here features nine new songs that explore a strictly more soundtrack approach than anything he's done before. The result is riveting, with tracks like 'Summer's Last Rays' busy tonal compositions where multiple instruments and percussion blend together to a triumphant crescendo. Whether something left on in the background and absorbing your full attention, this works well and the evolution of the band's sound is exciting. With over 25 albums to their credits, this may be their most experimental and groundbreaking yet.

Review: Black Sweat turn their attention to the work of Klaus Wiese, a noted if not widely recognised German ambient musician who briefly worked with krautrock legends Popol Vuh in the early 70s. His first solo album in 1981 was Baraka, a cassette-only release of shruti box drone, sustained string hum and singing bowl resonance with a distinct focus on instrumentation from other parts of the world. Receiving its first official vinyl pressing after more than 40 years, it's a perfect demonstration of minimal ambient music as an ancient, eternal force which transcends the realm of electronic production.

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Review: Delia Recordings is a new micro-label from Nottingham that launches into the world with this very tidy new album, Then Horizon Is On The Horizon. It's a various artists collection of absorbing works curated, mixed and produced by lifelong gear collector Matt Horobin and it comes on vinyl and CD and includes postcards. The tracks are all taken from three upcoming albums the label is working on by artists Brown Fang, Torn Sail and Shrinkwrap, and bridge the gap between the local evolving Balearic scene and Laurel Canyon escapism. Gentle grooves, downbeat dub and delicate drones all feature.