A Madman's Diary

Ambient Diary. One (1997). Elektrolux presents: "It's well known that Elektrolux is one of the global top address for ambient music. With our Ambient Diary.One Compilation we proudly present a fine selection of well chosen ambient tracks by a handful of Elektrolux artists. The Double-CD format invites you to extensive Chill Out sessions with tracks by artists such as Babel, Insect Jazz, Dr. Scissors, Fresh Moods, The Saafi Bros., Cold (Rmxs by Sven Väth, Ralf Hildenbeutel and Flow.Machine), Aural Float, Taklamakan, Ajax, Bix, Fortunato & Montresor, Flow.Machine and Full Moon Fashions. Enchanting, mesmerizing and hypnotic, with the handy selection of the "Ambient Diary.One" you'll have the ideal soundtrack to deeply relax from the burdens of life"…

This “short diary (of loss)”, as drummer Sebastian Rochford calls it, is offered as “a sonic memory, created with love, out of need for comfort.” It is dedicated to Rochford’s father, Aberdeen poet Gerard Rochford, 1932-2019, and to his family. Seb, one of ten siblings, wrote most of the music shortly after Gerard’s death and delivers it here, in performances of deep feeling and hymn-like clarity, together with pianist Kit Downes. The final wistful piece, “Even Now I Think Of Her” was composed by Gerard Rochford. Sebastian explains: “It’s a tune my dad had sung into his phone and sent me. I forwarded this to Kit. He listened, and then we started.”