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 [...]]]> 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)

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, [...]]]>

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)