in an Ambient Way

Chill Collins: An Ambient Tribute to Phil Collins is exactly what you think it is. Twenty artists doing twenty ambient covers of solo Phil Collins songs. It exists in the vague place between Music For Airports and Music From The Disney Motion Picture "Tarzan". Despite the title, this isn't necessarily a compilation to fall asleep to, though some tracks might fit the bill. There's contemplative flugelhorn over the backdrop of distant fireworks (Jesse DeRosa as Shingles); serene tones buried under swaths of tape saturation (Amulets); rhythmic pitched-down Ambient-hop (Angel Marcloid as MindSpring Memories); feedback loops of self-consuming drones (the welcome return of Nicholas Burrage, née Szczepanik); and plain ol' brilliant stupidity (Breakdancing Ronald Reagan).

Mercury Prize-nominated Portico Quartet has always been an impossible band to pin down. Sending out echoes of jazz, electronica, ambient music and minimalism, the group created their own singular, cinematic sound over the course of three studio albums, from their 2007 breakthrough ‘Knee-Deep in the North Sea’, and 2010 John Leckie produced ‘Isla’, to the self titled record ‘Portico Quartet’ in 2012. Now rebooted as Portico Quartet after a brief spell as the three-piece Portico, the group are set to release their fourth studio album Art In The Age Of Automation this August on Manchester’s forward thinking indy jazz and electronica label Gondwana Records. It’s an eagerly anticipated return, with the band teasing both a return to their mesmeric signature sound and fresh new sonic departures in their new music.

Icon and music pioneer Moby will release Live Ambients Improvised Recordings Vol. 1 on December 24th via the mobyambient imprint. The new body of work was recorded fully live and completely improvised, and will be accompanied by corresponding video performances for each piece available on YouTube on December 30th. The genesis of the project began earlier this year at the start of the pandemic as a form of healing for Moby. As the process unfolded he felt compelled to record the music for listeners as an escape from the anxiety many have experienced and a vehicle for self-exploration. Particularly prescient, the ethereal music now serves as a welcome companion to reflect upon 2020 and anticipate the new year approaching with a renewed sense of hope.

Chihei Hatakeyama is a Tokyo-based musician and mastering engineer who creates nature-evoking electro-acoustic ambient music.
"Journey to The End of August", released through the Hidden Vibes label, is comprised of three lengthy pieces, and the material itself dates back to the end of 2015. Much like the way these compositions unfold at a glacial pace, Hatakeyama continued to tinker with these works until the fall of 2017…