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Review: Ian Holloway & Banks Bailey – A Brief Sojourn (2009)

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:50:02 +0000

artist: Ian Holloway & Banks Bailey
release: A Brief Sojourn
format: CDr
year of release: 2009
label: Quiet World
duration: 36:24

In terms of quality releases, things have been running smoothly for Welsh drone/ambient label Quiet World. A recent example is A Brief Sojourn, a collaboration between Banks Bailey and Ian Holloway, delivering well over half an hour of finely blended drones and field recordings.

The sound on this album is most comparable to that on Summerland, where both men worked together with Darren Tate. A heavy dose of nature sounds like rain, birds, rustlings, are combined with subtle melodies, drones, and pulses, together forming a varied and atmospheric whole. The drones and weather sounds form an organic backdrop for a broad scala of unique ‘voices’.

The release isn’t very extreme at either end of the intensity spectrum; it maintains a stable level of layeredness and volume, without any strong eruptions of noise or silence. A perfect companion piece for a journey, a meditation or relaxation session, and the like. It’s a tad dark and ominous at times, so A Brief Sojourn will primarily be of interest to lovers of more obscure drone and ambient, but that goes for most of the Quiet World titles thus far. Compared to what went before, in any case, this one is certainly no disappointment.

Reviewed by O.S.

Tracklist:

1. A Brief Sojourn (36:24)

Review: Adrian Shenton – The Measuring of Moments (2008)

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:40:59 +0000

artist: Adrian Shenton
release: The Measuring of Moments
format: CDr
year: 2008
label: Quiet World
duration: 44:42

detailed info: discogs.com.

Welsh ambient/drone artist Adrian Shenton is a new name for me, and this full-length album on Quiet World is the introduction. It took me a while to get into The Measuring of Moments, but once I did, it revealed many of its subtler points to me.

The ten tracks on this album mostly stand alone in terms of sound and atmosphere, rather than forming a continuous whole. Each is based on a particular combination of different sounds, drones, effects, and synths, which makes the overall sound quite varied. All in all, I was never exactly blown away by the album, but I must say it is a pleasant listening experience with a lot to discover if you give it some time.

I’m particularly fond of the serene but mysterious opening track, as well as the calmly pulsating “Good Manners”. I’m sure any lover of ambient and drone music will find something to their liking here, as with all Quiet World titles thus far. Not accessible enough for the uninitiated, but with enough content to please patient listeners.

Reviewed by O.S.

Tracklist:

1. Good Morning ( 5:42)
2. Decision (3:38)
3. Persistence (4:18)
4. Sky Gazing (2:14)
5. Toleration (1:42)
6. Expectation (4:32)
7. Good Maners (4:57)
8. Self Confidence (3:46)
9. Sky Gazing 2 (6:11)
10. Goodnight (7:43)

Review: Darren Tate – Small Worlds (2007)

admin — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:00:00 +0000

artist: Darren Tate
release: Small Worlds
format: CD-R
year of release: 2007
label: Quiet World
duration: 38:47

detailed info: discogs.com

The second release on Welsh drone/ambient label Quiet World is this one: Small Worlds by one of England’s most experienced drone artists, Darren Tate (also of Ora and Monos). It seems the collaboration between him and Quiet World owner Ian Holloway was so pleasant that the latter decided to release one of Tate’s albums as well. Another good turn of events for the label, because although Small Worlds is again a record only for obscure ambient connoisseurs, it definitely fits the label.

I haven’t heard any of Tate’s other works yet, but on this one, he presents an approach to ambient that is minimalistic and estranging, yet betrays a subtle touch of someone who knows what he’s doing. The first of the three untitled tracks, the shortest one, is based on some spacey floating melodies, with added drones, little touches, and effects. The second track is a bit heavier, with a thick distorted drone in the background, which is joined later by faint electric guitar sounds: random notes, delay, tuning and detuning. The final track, which takes up over half of the album’s duration, starts off with a fluctuating drone, occasional bits of organ, and more guitar sounds. These elements all go through a gradual development, which especially the drone increasing in intensity.

As befits the title of the album, Tate conjures up little worlds of his own, each with a distinct sound and mood. Literally otherworldly. I think the album should be interesting for lovers of deep drones, calm and quiet listening sessions, and the like. But, like many of the releases from the people around Quiet World, this isn’t for casual listeners an account of its being very minimalistic. Similarly, the release doesn’t transcend its genre boundaries: it’s a quality drone album for insiders, plain and simple.

Reviewed by O.S.

Tracklist:

1. (8:16)
2. (10:27)
3. (20:04)

Review: Ian Holloway – Walking Through Fireflies (2007)

admin — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:00:42 +0000

artist: Ian Holloway
release: Walking Through Fireflies
format: CD-R
year of release: 2007
label: Quiet World
duration: 42:43

detailed info: discogs.com

Normally, Ian Holloway records under the name of Psychic Space Invasion, but for this release, actually the first official Quiet World release, he uses his own name. This is, in a way, appropriate, for Walking Through Fireflies is quite different from the PSI releases so far; both more dark and more personal, I feel. It is dedicated to Vic Golightly, a deceased friend, and a lot of feeling went into this tribute.

All the same, this Welsh artist stays within his genre: dark drones and ambiences. And as always, he knows what he’s doing. The tracks on this album are quite minimalistic, making use of sparse settings of synth waves, slow melodies, occasional samples, and the like. It’s a slowly drifting series of bleak sounds, suitable for dark and rainy days like the ones we’re having now right here.

The major parts of the album crawls along in this fashion, and though it’s atmospheric, I don’t find it as exciting as some of Ian’s other works. This changes in the last two tracks though, which are more than excellent. “Tower of Winds” is one of the darkest ambient tracks I’ve heard in a while, with a solid, low droning base, and layered effects providing the melody. It’s hard to describe, but this is one hell of a track: scary, oppressive, heavy. Equally impressive is “Sunnyshine”, a deceiving name if there ever was one. No happy-happy-joy-joy here, but just one gloomy mass of melancholic synth waves.

So, while the first part of the album is OK, but not incredible, the last two tracks surely make up for that. As a whole, this album is a bleak exercise in ambient electronics, and it shows some of the more darker sides of the expression of mourning – a fitting tribute for a lost friend, in any case. This is a recommended album for drone and dark ambient enthusiasts, and another well done release by Holloway. A good start for Quiet World.

Reviewed by O.S.

Tracklist:

1. New Seasons (5:50)
2. Trimmed (4:26)
3. The Fall of the Year (4:01)
4. A Lighter Being (4:23)
5. The Birds Banquet (9:36)
6. Tower of Winds (7:12)
7. Sunnyshine (7:15)