"Nostromo" by Sleep Research Facility

Inspired by Ridley Scott's classic "Alien", Sleep Research Facility's "Nostromo" is a well-crafted homage to one of cinema's darkest and most brilliant works of sci-fi. Incorporating drones, feedback, found sounds and more, Kevin Doherty of Sleep Research Facility has crafted a worthy alternative soundtrack that captures the brooding tension of the film remarkably well, successfully representing a number of significant moments in the story.

Opening with the subtle and minimal "A-Deck", the mood is set with sparse and quiet tones and drones that gradually build from nothing. Throughout the piece a steady pulse is heard, a dripping sound that creates an anchor for the rest of the track, something to focus on while other sounds move in unpredictable and irregular ways, changing direction and purpose. Certainly a very theatrical and visual track that fits in well with the mood and feel of Scott's work.

"B-Deck" follows, blending in seamlessly from the earlier track, joining the two pieces through static and the sound of footsteps. There's a slow and steady breathing that plays underneath these elements, a subtle tone that fits in so well with others that it becomes very easy to miss, lying in wait to be discovered, much like the Alien from the movie.

Opening with the droning sound of wind, "C-Deck" has a strong sense of oblique movement to it. Other tones pass along as part of the track, clear in focus but never really defined enough to be recognized. As time progresses the listener is drawn deeper into the heart of the track, surrounded by sounds. It's a bit of an uneasy feeling, certainly a very claustrophobic one. Around the 10 minute mark the sounds lower in intensity and one is left with the sense that the walls have closed in and there is nothing else, no air, no room, no light, one is entirely encased. Creepy in all the right ways.

"D-Deck" opens with minimal sound, an oscillating tone that rises and falls slowly but steadily, suggesting some sort of failing machinery. As the track continues slight variances and intermingling tones are added to the soundscape leaving the suggestion of slow deterioration and decay, the possibility of time running out and danger ensuing. There's a resultant tension here that builds throughout as a result until everything... just... stops...

The sound of a switch being thrown leads us into penultimate track "E-Deck", which begins with a steady static. Tones creep out of the static slowly, haunted voices and bending metal, thin walls that keep you separated from the cold vacuum outside. Like much of the disc, it's creepy and unsettling and all together unnerving and that's a testimony to it's greatness.

"Narcissus" closes the disc with slightly more defined tones playing throughout. Drones and spinning aural shapes weave and blend with each other, and a meshed framework is created, much more defined than earlier tracks on the disc. Ideas come to a head all at once and there's a sense of urgency to the proceedings as if to suggest that situations have deteriorated on the Nostromo. And of course if you've seen the movie, you know all too well how badly they've deteriorated...

Without question, "Nostromo" is an excellent companion to the film, an homage that wonderfully compliments it's source material. In an era where popular soundtracks are more often than not haphazard collections of songs with little or no relation to the film involved, "Nostromo" stands out as a work that effectively captures all the most important parts of the movie in question. I commend Doherty for his excellent work on this release, and I look forward to more music from him in the future.

rik - ping things

A review for "Les Landes"!

We're thrilled to have received our first review for "Les Landes"! The very cool and very thoughtful people at www.somethinginstrumental.com were nice enough to write up something about Spatial Correlation and you can read it here.

Thanks Colin! In addition to this awesome piece of journalism you can also find reviews of Steve Roach, Nadja and other ping things favorites. Check 'em out!

BTW if you haven't already downloaded "Les Landes" by Spatial Correlation then you should visit www.pingthings.com/PTlabel.htm and get yourself a copy!

Cheers,

rik

Download "The Perfect City" by Phil Ogison for free!

Download "The Perfect City" by Phil Ogison for free!

ping things is proud to present the second release from the ping things net label! "The Perfect City" by Phil Ogison is a sparkling collection of music that captures the essence of the metropolitan ideal, painting an aural picture of a bright future in a utopian lifestyle. A fine example of melodic ambience, "The Perfect City" is a stunning disc from start to finish. Phil's guitar work throughout is a study in ambient beauty, emotive fretwork that is by turns elated, pensive, mournful and more.

"The Perfect City" by Phil Ogison is available for free download as a 104Mb Zip file containing the full release in high quality 256kbps mp3 format along with front cover and tray card art suitable for printing. The music on this release is copyright Phil Ogison 2008 and may not be used or reproduced without the artist's express permission. If you like the work of Phil Ogison, check out his website at http://www.myspace.com/ogison

"The Perfect City" is the latest release from the ping things net label. New releases will be added to the site on the 22nd of each month. In the coming months you'll be able to download exclusive work from Andrew Duke, Nunc Stans, Ortez, naw, Building Castles out of Matchsticks, Remora and more. I hope that you'll enjoy their music as much as I do, and I encourage you to let me know what you think of it by e-mailing me at rik@pingthings.com

"Ambessence Piano and Drones" by Bruno Sanfilippo and Mathias Grassow

In honour of the tenth anniversary of ad21music, label head Bruno Sanfilippo has released "Ambessence Piano and Drones", a collaboration with Mathias Grassow. Blending together drones and piano work, this disc is a wonderful summation of the label's sound, serving well as both a celebration for existing fans and an introduction to ad21music for a new audience.

"Ambessence Piano and Drones 1" opens the disc, weaving Sanfilippo's beautiful piano work throughout the course of a steady drone supplied by Grassow. Bruno's piano has a subtle charm here, displaying an emotional nature that I've come to associate with his work. From the start it's clear that this is an excellent pairing, the two working well together to blend musical ideals and shape them into something new.

"Ambessence Piano and Drones 2" features a more drone based feel, the piano still very apparent but acting more as a counterpoint to the sound of the drone. As it rises and falls in strength and volume, the drone develops a more natural tone, the sound of wind or the tides, some sort of powerful force that holds sway over all others. A particularly dark and beautiful track.

In "Ambessence Piano and Drones 3" the piano takes centre stage again, a mournful melody played overtop a low drone. It's a stunningly beautiful piece, a heartbreaking melody accompanied by a dark and dreary mechanical tone that somehow brings to mind a dark machine overtaking the countryside. Around the five minute mark, the piano is dropped from the track and the drone shifts slightly, reversed sounds sprinkled throughout the soundspace leading us to the end. A very stirring and evocative work that's surely one of my favorites on the disc.

A repeating piano loop opens up "Ambessence Piano and Drones 4", layers of melodic piano weaving in and around themselves. Occasionally a low tone rises up through the sound, but for the most part the soundfield is filled with a tapestry of piano sounds rising and falling beautifully throughout the track, enveloping and encircling the listener in quite beautiful ways.

"Ambessence Piano and Drones 5" starts quietly with a slow drone that builds up from nothing until it reaches a steady state of being. Sanfilippo's piano blends in seamlessly, providing sparse melodies that fit in perfectly with the proceedings. A delicate, fragile and very very wonderful work.

There's a certain regal sound to the drone that opens "Ambessence Piano and Drones 6", a feeling of rich tones and deep reverb. The track has a very full sound that suggests caverns or chambers, places filled with mystery and secrets. It's an evocative sound, one that's almost theatrical in nature. Certainly another wonderful track that stands out as one of my favorites in this collection.

A percolating whirl of sounds opens "Ambessence Piano and Drones 7", alternating ascending and descending arpeggios to form a backdrop to a sparse melody. There's an uplifting quality to the track, a sense of hope and possibility and of course that's always a good way to end things. A very beautiful track to end a very beautiful disc.

I've been a fan of ad21music's catalog for some now, and have very much enjoyed all of the work I've heard from them in the past. "Ambessence Piano and Drones" is another excellent release from the label, a release that I'm sure fans of both artists will appreciate very much. I strongly recommend it not only as an excellent introduction to the label but also as an example of how differing styles can be brought together in ways that compliment and develop on each other's strengths.

rik - ping things

New stock at ping things from The Circular Ruins, The Winterhouse, Methadrone and Oophoi!

We've added new stock to the ping things catalog that you should definitely check out!

The Circular Ruins "Falling Into the Sky"


The Circular Ruins "The Alchemy Concert"


Nunc Stans "Timeless"


Nunc Stans "Night Vision"


The Winterhouse "Slow Promises"


Methadrone "Sterility"


Oophoi "An Aerial View"

Needless to say, in addition to these titles ping things has a number of other fabulous CDs that are well worth hearing. Visit our catalog to see what else is in stock...

Announcing the ping things net label! Download our first release, "Les Landes" by Spatial Correlation, for free!

Download "Les Landes" by Spatial Correlation for free!

ping things is proud to present the very first release from the ping things net label! "Les Landes" by Spatial Correlation is a beautiful collection of minimal dreampop from one of my very favorite artists. On "Les Landes", Ryan Hagerman of Spatial Correlation creates pieces of great beauty and wonder where tones float together seemlessly and silence is just as important as the notes it surrounds. From the opening track "scene" with its sparse introduction and subtle use of percussion, through "edit" which sweeps and flows just underneath your perception, to the subtle charms of "breathe", one can't help but be swept away in a wave of bliss that grows and deepens as the disc continues. The delicate strains of "borealis", the hypnotic rhythms of "riga", you can't help but get lost in this disc, hypnotized, mesmerized, beguiled.

"Les Landes" by Spatial Correlation is available for free download as a 75Mb Zip file containing the full release in high quality 256kbps mp3 format along with front and back cover art suitable for printing. The music on this release is copyright Ryan Hagerman 2008. If you like the work of Spatial Correlation, check out his website at
www.myspace.com/spatialcorrelation

"Les Landes" is the first release on the ping things net label. New releases will be added to the site on the 22nd of each month. In the coming months you'll be able to download exclusive work from Phil Ogison, Andrew Duke, Nunc Stans, Ortez, naw, Building Castles our of Matchsticks, Remora and more. I hope that you'll enjoy their music as much as I do, and I encourage you to let me know what you think of it by e-mailing me at rik@pingthings.com

Cheers!

rik - ping things

"Sinking Upwards" by Sonanaut

Wonderful down-tempo aural landscapes from Sonanaut

Buy "Sinking Upwards" by Sonanaut at ping things!

With the release of "Sinking Upwards" Simon Smart, performing as Sonanaut, has crafted a fine example of environmental triphop, a chilled work that aurally explores and examines urban ambience and spaces. Moving through a variety of moods and locales, Smart's work is slick, evocative and engaging, the perfect soundtrack for a nighttime tour through the heart of an unnamed city.

"Induction" opens the disc, sounds heard from a distance, a muffled beat gaining clarity and space. It soon evolves into a thick environment heavy with percussive elements and driving bass. A repeated chorus plays through the sound in a steady pattern, a melodic addition that brings a certain warmth to the track, something to keep it bright and inviting. It's a nice way to start the disc, and a great way to introduce the themes within.

"Reasons" follows, sweeping through the senses, taking the listener on a trippy ride through some of the shinier parts of town. There's a nice groove at play here courtesy of some percolating synths, something very appealing about the way it grows and builds, a wonderful musical accompaniment to an evening's drive.

"Judith's Way" is a playful and romantic track with bright arpeggios and vocal shine. Pads ebb and flow into a nice melodic section blending an elastic bass line with some sweet synth lines. It all comes together nicely, a well put together lounge track that sets the toes tapping and the heads bobbing at a sensibly relaxed rate, and really, isn't that what all the best tracks do?

"Mind over Matter" continues our trip, a drift through all the most happening places in town, the places that only people in the know go to. A steady beat keeps us rooted to our transport while a constant bass line rolls through the track, the suggestion of tension and the sexy swagger of possibility.

"Carbon" is up next, opening with a feedback drenched guitar line paired with an urgent beat. Spanish guitar plays over top giving it all a really nice, really human feel. The beat picks up speed around the 1:30 mark, a quick shuffle that adds an immediacy to the track. I'm not going to try and make an urban comparison here, I can't really think of anything that does it justice, but don't worry, it fits in with the theme of the disc.

"Within This City" is based around a steady melody surrounded by a cityscape of sounds that suggest late nights in a sprawling metropolis. Muted horns and sax ebb and flow throughout the track, while pads sweep by echoing the sound of traffic. It's a subtle track, something more for late night listening than anything else, something for when all the bars have closed and all that's left is cruising around waiting for dawn to come. Needless to say, it's very successful at what it does.

In contrast to previous tracks, "The Twins" has a vaguely industrial sound to it, not so much in terms of the musical genre, so much as it recreates the sounds of industry. A certain Fritz Lang feel permeates this track, voices rising through the sounds of steam and repeated bass lines. I imagine an underground workspace, a million factories each filled with people who's only purpose in life is to maintain a hungry machine. Certainly an evocative piece that creates more than a few mental images.

"Don't You Know?" returns us to more friendly locales, a groovy rhythm section filling out a space filled with sweeps and synthscapes. Scratch below the surface and you'll find that there's a wealth of sounds happening within the track, all bubbling beneath the surface waiting to be discovered, much like the stories that hide beneath the surface of any city. A well produced track offering much to the listener to discover.

"David" uses a steady piano line over top a slowly shifting synth pad, a fine example of oblique motion at work. Over time the piece gains volume and size, filling out the soundscape, reaching a peak where the listener is entirely surrounded and enveloped by the work. I've always liked immersive pieces like this, something that builds up around the senses. My only regret is that it ends a little too soon after the peak for my taste, I would have liked to have spent a little more time exploring this space.

"I Can Feel You" opens with a blend of pads and reversed synth stabs creating a simple melody of sorts. As the track continues, volume and strength increase until the synth lines are almost explosive over top a deep bass line. A simple yet engaging track that draws one in and maintains interest from start to finish.

The last track, "From Now On" brings to mind Ryan Hagarman's work as Spatial Correlation, a futuristic lounge-y ambience as filtered through contemporary eyes. Sounds for future living that have filtered through the time stream to be listened to now. It's a nice way to close the disc, a satisfying end to a very satisfying collection of music.

From start to finish, "Sinking Upwards" does an excellent job of creating a vibrant and full environment, a very real and living city scene that is striking in it's detail. Throughout the disc I'm led to feel as if I know the streets and sites of this new space, and repeated listenings have given me a sense of belonging to the music that I find very appealing. A truly impressive work that I thoroughly enjoy.

rik - ping things

"Deep Frieze" by Sleep Research Facility

Cold, glacial and lonely, "Deep Frieze" by Sleep Research Facility is a stunning example of environmental ambiance drawing inspiration from cold winters and arctic climates. Featuring five long form pieces, "Deep Frieze" presents a beautiful and emotionally resonant view of a harsh yet wondrous landscape.

Opening with "79S 83W", the mood is set with the sound of a cold wind playing over top a steadily building drone. A slight tone can be heard low in the mix, something metallic and pulsating. One can't help but be overcome with a sense of space and atmosphere here, the feeling of being isolated in a harsh winter environment. But despite the feelings of isolation and solitude the track creates, there's still a sense of wonder, a suggestion of natural beauty. As the track progresses, infrequent sounds appear, sharp and twinkling, almost like stars but more likely like ice, new discoveries in a frozen landscape. Taken together as a whole, the track is an evocative way to start the disc, and an excellent introduction to the work to follow.

Track two, "72S 149E" follows, blending in with little fanfare or introduction. The wind continues to blow, a constant theme and focal point, but the space has changed to some degree. The sound of wind has become more contained, it echoes more in a way to suggest a canyon or a cave of some sort offering shelter. There's very much a feeling of being apart from the cold, being able to observe or experience it from afar. Small melodies play on the border of the track, little sounds that can be heard through all of the sounds of a storm. It's a peaceful feeling, a sense of serenity. Lovely work.

"82S 62E" flows immediately from the last track, the sound of the wind lowering to a background drone, but of course always present. Echoing tones play a sparse melody that loops and weaves around itself, varying slightly as the track progresses until it becomes something new and different. As the track comes to a close, a pulsing alarm that brings to mind the Tardis begins to take hold of the track leading the listener away from this space and into somewhere new.

Maybe it's just my Whovian sensibilities, but I can't help but feel we've arrived at a whole new space with track four. When I hear "86S 115W", there's a definite feeling of relocation, a sense of a more hospitable terrain where life and industry are more apparent than earlier locales presented by the disc. Once again the droning sound of the wind is present, but there are more melodic elements here, a more human element that suggests contact and interaction where previous tracks were deeply steeped in isolation and solitude.

"80S 96E" closes the disc, returning to the landscapes of earlier tracks in the collection. It's a very solemn piece, one that somehow stands separate from others, suggesting that these spaces, locations presented during the course of the disc will exist long after we've gone. The cold will always be there, as will the wind and snow and the barren landscapes that have formed as a result.

Needless to say, "Deep Frieze" is a wonderfully evocative release, filled with imagery and suggestion. I can't help but be drawn into it, to feel the space that's been created. I've always enjoyed music that transports me, takes me to a new place wherever it might be, and I commend the work of Sleep Research Facility for doing just that so well and so effectively. A truly beautiful and inspired work that has earned my highest recommendation.

rik - ping things

"Sounds of a Universe Overheard" by Various Artists

A brand new compilation from the Hypnos label featuring work by dreamSTATE, Freq. Magnet, Jonathan Block and more!

Buy "Sounds of a Universe Overheard" at ping things!

With the release of "Sounds of a Universe Overheard", the well respected Hypnos label has put together an excellent collection of work representing some of the brightest talents in the contemporary ambient music scene. Drawing from a variety of styles and tones, it's a fine compilation offering some valuable insight into not only the Hypnos label, but the ambient scene as a whole.

"The Language of Rocks" by Jonathan Block opens the disc, a lightly melodic track where pads and sounds bend back and forth. There's an elastic feel to some of the tones in use here, a feeling of stretched notes and elongated sounds that pull against each other to create a fascinating study in tension and texture. A wonderful way to start the disc.

"Somna" by M. Peck is up next, beginning with a dripping cave-like environment where tones shift throughout the soundfield, phasing in and out within a well-crafted atmosphere. The space is really well defined here, an area clearly established by the use of carefully placed tones throughout. As the track continues new sounds are added, keening drones, backwards loops, a variety of others, all of which contribute to the environment, effectively and expertly shifting it to new spaces and locations for the listener to discover.

Freq. Magnet's contribution, "Nitrous", is a beautiful drone-based piece where sounds ebb and flow throughout. There's a hint of melody just on the edges of the track that make it a really intriguing piece for me, giving me something that I can wonder and speculate about as it plays. There's also a brightness to this work, a light that permeates the sound to create something hopeful and optimistic, something that sounds to me like being born. Don't ask me why, I can't put my finger on it, but there's something about it that suggests possibility and newness and warmth. Certainly a lovely track, whatever you might hear in it.

"Scarecrow" by Kirk Watson follows, featuring a slow opening that builds from silence to reveal a vibrant soundscape where languid pads weave through more abstract sounds. A sense of slow drift plays throughout the piece, a feeling of movement in a defined space suggesting a planet's rotation. It all contributes to a very space-y vibe in this track, a really nice sensation of floating amongst the stars.

"Ghost Nebula" follows, a dark and hallucinatory track from dreamSTATE, a piece of music that begs to be heard with your eyes closed so you can give yourself over to it's visual nature. I've always felt their work is very cinematic, very rich in mental imagery and this track is no different. Pads blend with each other in a seamless mix to create a web of sounds, rising and falling within it's own space. Listening to it, I'm filled with images of solar systems and nebulae, the sounds of stars being born and dying. Certainly a wonderful piece of music from two of my favorite ambient artists.

"Strange Attractor" by Seren Ffordd is a dark and haunting piece, very subtle and mysterious. Sounds play on the edge of the senses, deep down where you have to listen a little more actively to hear them. And I appreciate that effort required as it allows me to pick up on the nuance of the track. It's a piece of music that requires examination and thought, rather than one that can be heard as a personal experience. As you listen to the track, sounds become more distinct, more focussed as it progresses, until you find yourself surrounded by what's happening. Quite an engaging piece, one that particularly stands out for me.

Dwight Ashley's "Behold the Trampled Wheat" begins with a quiet drone that intertwines in and around itself with subtle melodic work. As the track progresses the drone begins to oscillate, creating a new sense of almost oblique movement to the piece. The drone is paired throughout with minimal melodic work, leading up to the last minute of the track where a string section plays a mournful tune. Lovely work.

"Infection" by Justin Vanderberg has a ghostly sound to it, tones and pads in the upper register creating a mournful feeling to the track. A variety of haunted sounds blend in, fluid and crinkly, that fly through the soundfield from one side to the other. There's an effective use of space in this track, resulting in a very nice sound that really appeals to me.

"Pandora" by Igneous Flame is up next, a beautiful piece that blends drones and nicely organic pad sounds. Another bright and hopeful track that I quite enjoy, something more akin to the sound of natural earth scenes than something from beyond the stars. I imagine waterfalls and blue skies, soaring eagles and the promise of a wide open space. Excellent work that brings to mind the majesty and beauty of the Grand Canyon. Another track that stands out for me.

"Float" by Tau Ceti finishes the disc, a slowly moving melodic piece where pads stretch out and elongate, creating a beautiful tapestry of sound. The whole effect is wonderful and inspiring and I imagine I could drift in it's beauty for considerably longer than it's 5:37 length. A lovely piece of music.

The release of "Sounds of a Universe Overheard" confirms my belief in Hypnos as a musical leader, and also provides an excellent insight into the sounds and ideals that represent the ambient genre today. It should come as no surprise then that this is a disc that has been in constant rotation on my CD player for some time. An excellent collection from Hypnos that is sure to be appreciated by both new fans of the genre, and older fans who like to discover new sounds. Highly recommended.

rik - ping things

"Still Life: Volume 2" by Nelson Foltz and Tom Lynn

Organic ambience, whole, natural, beautiful...

Buy "Still Life: Volume 2" by Nelson Foltz and Tom Lynn at ping things!

Volume 2 of the Still Life series by Nelson Foltz and Tom Lynn is a fascinating work where ambient spaces are made through the exclusive use of acoustic instruments and found objects. Rather than rely on electronic instruments, Foltz and Lynn fill out the soundfield with a variety of sounds and tones, all played live in a spontaneous and organic manner, mixed in such a way that the instruments are layered deep within a steady drift, combining together to make a living and breathing musical experience

The disc opens with the sound of drifting, an ebb and flow that stays with us throughout the first half of the disc, pulling the listener through the space that is being developed. As time passes the sounds of brass instruments begin to creep in, rising and falling throughout the piece, recognizable but muted, dreamy mirror reflections of their traditional selves. Around the nine minute mark a lone trumpet rises out of the soundscape, a focal point that draws us further into the work, deeper into the space. Shortly after that some sparse percussion begins, water drums, toms and more, creating a primal rhythm that further surrounds the listener.

Around the twenty minute mark, the sound becomes more lively, and the drift is replaced very slowly and subtly by a bell pattern that emerges, paired with steady percussion and trumpet work. I'm sure there are voices in here as well, but they exist so far on the edges of the soundfield that it's difficult to be sure. While the overall feeling at this point is a steady sound that repeats and loops on itself, careful examination reveals tiny but significant shifts in pattern and tone, maintaining interest and appeal for the listener, and building on the idea of the work as an evolving, organic creation.

Over the course of it's length Sill Life Volume 2 succeeds in creating a rich and beautiful environment for the listener to explore, a shimmering and beautiful work that flows and moves and exists through it's own natural development. An excellent addition to the Still Life series and a testimony to the talents of Foltz and Lynn. Certainly if this disc is any indication of the quality of the other discs in this series, then you can be sure I'll be looking to add them all to my collection.

rik - ping things