Venja 2 Albums (1999 2010)

Lakefront (2010). M. Ostermeier’s solo debut "Percolate" (2010) featured fragile Rhodes and acoustic piano melodies atop minimal downtempo electronics and Labradford-esque guitar tones. Here on the seven-track mini-album "Lakefront" (2010), the skeletal acoustic piano remains, but the minimal beats have evaporated and we are left with something more organic, more haunting. Harold Budd is still an apt reference for the piano fragments, but the infusion of acoustic recordings and darker guitar and electronics bring to mind Deaf Center and Library Tapes. The melancholic mood that builds throughout Lakefront evokes feelings of nostalgia and regret. The songs remind us that the passing of time necessarily brings uncertainty to one’s recollection of the past - an uncertainty that has its own poignancy…

Considered by many music historians as one of the most important group out of Germany, Faust were certainly ahead of their time. They took their music to unsuspecting heights somewhere in between Can, Velvet Underground, Neu, LA Dusseldorf or Henry Cow but also much farther and can be considered as founding fathers of the Industrial Rock. Having made their debut in 71 in Hamburg, Faust will never stop their groundbreaking and will be always one step ahead of everybody else including the groups above mentioned and are the prime example of Rock In Opposition (RIO) along with Henry Cow. Faust is definitely not for the faint-hearted person and can only be recommended in small doses because it is very dangerous for the sanity of the average proghead.

Seattle's Gel-Sol is producer/musician Andrew Reichel, whose dichotomous sound spans from ambient soundscapes to complex, rhythmic electronica, creating a dynamic psychedelic universe with heavy emphasis on improvisation. In 2004, Gel-Sol released the critically-acclaimed Gel-Sol 1104 (aka Music Made For You…And By You, I Mean Me.) on the UK's cult ambient label Em:t Records. There's similarities to mid-period Orb releases, especially "Orblivion", as well as Irresistible Force and Pete Namlook's collaborations with Bill Laswell. Layers of warm, comforting synths and some dub-influenced basslines and beats, weirdo samples and a general feeling of detached, enveloping harmony…

Natural Spirits (2010). "Natural Spirits" is pure easy listening. It has an ideal mixture of gentle, smooth arrangements and soft nature sounds, perfect for a relaxed meditation. "Natural Spirits" are wonderful and easy compositions which let you drift away after a long and busy day. Take some time off, let the daily hassle behind you and start to move into a meditative mood which re-vitalises your body, mind and soul. So no time to waste. Surrender yourself of soothing smooth melodies and explore the joys of doing sweet nothings, whilst these tunes will make the sun shine from your speakers…

The original Gabin - a French actor known for his portrayals of jaded, faded anti-heroes in 1930s and '40s-era films - might have chuckled ironically if he had been told that, a half-century after his heyday, two Italian musicians would name a fledgling lounge music project after him. But if he had listened to the music, he would have understood. It's full of languid grace and melancholy and is undeniably stylish - exactly what you'd expect to hear in a Parisian café or supper club. Just to add to the effect, many of the song titles and lyrics are in French.
Gabin (2002). Milky, silken rhythms lace through this collaboration between Roman DJ Filippo Clary and jazz bassist Max Battini. Their perspectives find accord in the realm of what martini-addled old-timers might label "acid jazz"…

Rational Diet, the group existing since the late 90-s in Belarus proposes an unusual mix of styles and sounds: Chamber music, rock, theatre and improvisation, supported by the amazingly instrumental abilities of their components. It's difficult to define the mood of such music, which goes from dark atmosphere to grotesque, powerful or oniric, sometimes even humoristic. Violin, cello, bassoon, saxes and accordion - besides the traditional rock instruments - chase each other along the dizzy instrumental plots, or sustain the dazed texts by the Russian avant-garde poets Daniil Charms and Alexander Vvedensky.

Treasure (2007). David Helpling and Jon Jenkins are both veterans of ambient electronic music. Deep spaces punctuated by powerful grooves make this album a rewarding listening experience that is beyond words. Travel into the deep and discover the magic and wonder of treasure. The Crossing (2010). Since the release of their first collaboration, Treasure, David Helpling and Jon Jenkins have spent the past two years in the depths of deep exile carefully crafting a new recording, and are now ready to resurface with The Crossing. With this collaboration, Helpling and Jenkins embark on a fresh sonic expedition - a cinematic, powerful and deeply melodic triumph that lifts their music to new heights. More than just a follow-up to Treasure, The Crossing is a climb, a challenge and most of all a continuation of the journey; a deliberate sequel that launches from the very place that Treasure so gently released the listener three years earlier.

Australia's All India Radio is an Ambient Electronic/Post-Rock project helmed by songwriter/producer Martin Kennedy whose sound straddles the line between '60s psychedelia, '70s Krautrock, and contemporary styles from downtempo to chillgaze. All India Radio first gained attention issuing a series of evocative, often cinematic recordings in the 2000s, including The Inevitable, Permanent Evolutions, and The Silent Surf. All India Radio's music has been used on TV shows like CSI: Miami, One Tree Hill, The Lying Game, and Emmerdale, among others. Kennedy has also played with the Church's singer Steve Kilbey for a series albums, including 2014's sci-fi soundtrack The Rare Earth and 2017's Glow and Fade.

Australia's All India Radio is an Ambient Electronic/Post-Rock project helmed by songwriter/producer Martin Kennedy whose sound straddles the line between '60s psychedelia, '70s Krautrock, and contemporary styles from downtempo to chillgaze. All India Radio first gained attention issuing a series of evocative, often cinematic recordings in the 2000s, including The Inevitable, Permanent Evolutions, and The Silent Surf. All India Radio's music has been used on TV shows like CSI: Miami, One Tree Hill, The Lying Game, and Emmerdale, among others. Kennedy has also played with the Church's singer Steve Kilbey for a series albums, including 2014's sci-fi soundtrack The Rare Earth and 2017's Glow and Fade.

Known for their impeccable and authentic gypsy-jazz playing, The Cook Trio has delighted audiences through-out the U.S. This wonderfully talented group romps through traditional Parisian Waltzes, Jazz Standards and Modern Pieces with style and virtuosity. The sound of these acoustic guitars and bass, invites listeners on a journey to the romantic cafes of Paris and the Gypsy camps where guitar is the language of life. Two guitars and a standup bass are all that’s needed to produce the haunting and beautiful sounds of The Cook Trio. Brothers Ian and Jason Cook along with Kyle Jones demonstrate an artistry that calls back to Django Reinhardt and looks forward to nights in Paris and days in the hot Florida sun. The trio is by turns explosive and serene, and you won’t believe how fast Jason Cook’s fingers can move, or how deeply you’ll be moved.