Équator

In the high Andes mountains of Ecuador, the intense power of the equatorial sun beats down through thin air onto a grassland world fringed by glaciers and cloud forest. Every day is like summer, and every night is like winter. Within a 24-hour cycle, plants and animals adapt to both blistering heat and freezing temperatures–but how? Part of the Discovery Channel's award-winning Equator series, an epic production–capturing every detail in High Definition–that takes viewers on a 32,000-mile odyssey chasing the sun to some of the most extreme and diverse locations on the planet.

Percussionist Jim Brock gets first billing on this CD that he co-leads with Van Manakas, but Manakas' guitar is the main solo voice, he contributed all nine originals, and he is largely responsible for the date's success. The music ranges from being classical-oriented to funky to atmospheric, and there is even a slight amount of straight-ahead jazz. Manakas dominates the proceedings and is joined on various selections by Brock (whose colorful sounds from his percussion set uplift the music), keyboardist Gary Marcus, electric bassist Steve Kim, drummer Rick Dior, Phil Thompson on reeds, and Alan Kaufman on accordion. This intriguing set is worth giving a few listens to.

The shimmering textures and sparkling patterns on these eight immersive, buoyant dream-fragments began with electric guitar improvisations Erik Wøllo looped in his living room in Norway, utilizing a style first heard on his 2022 Inversions EP. Following the spontaneous and intimate beginnings, Wøllo expands the horizons by seamlessly adding speckles of synthesizers and sequenced rhythmic elements to the sonic excursion built upon his guitar and looping pedal compositions. This minimal album is characterized by simplicity and clarity across the forty-five minutes of emotionally engaging ambient pieces. These tracks invite listeners into a realm where innovation meets passion. Unfolding like a musical narrative, the evolving harmonies and melodic motifs captivate the senses. The interplay between the various guitars and synthesizers creates a harmonious dialogue, engaging from start to finish.