search for something...

search for something you might like...

You're Going Home in a Pleasing Ambience Jay Lewis continues his meandering look at all that's good this year

You're Going Home in a Pleasing Ambience

Jay Lewis continues his meandering look at all that's good this year

by Jay Lewis, Reviews Editor
first published: July, 2018

approximate reading time: minutes

Sean Hellfritsch... taking inspiration from outdoor locations

Sean Hellfritsch is sitting by the side of a lake at the edge of a forest. In front of him is his 'lunchbox', not a conventional one, filled with sandwiches and soft drinks, no, this one is filled with dials, switches and wires. It is the modular system and that allows him, whilst wearing his fingerless woollen gloves, to make the unique music of Cool Maritime. 

It is an approach that Hellfritsch favours, taking inspiration from outdoor locations, responding in sound to the nature he is experiencing around him and the results, as heard on his latest album 'Sharing Waves' are fascinating. The tranquil Forest Bathing flows gently like a peaceful river, whilst Secret Caves, with it's cascading rythms is a delightful adventure. 

Best of all are the twinkling lights and percussive patterns of Climbing Up, a tune with so many intoxicating layers that it has been reinterpreted three times on the equally enchanting remix album 'Shared Waves'. An essential companion piece. 

Whereas most remix albums are unfulfilling cash ins that feature very little of the original artist, 'Shared Waves' which was released so close to it's parent album, feels more like part of a  collaborative project. 

Hellfritsch's Leaving Records label mate Matthewdavid contributes two mixes. Firstly, he chops up the lovely Mossage and adds stuttering drum patterns, then later he extends the tranquil A Restful Place into a meditative piece with sprinkles of Laraaji like zither effects. It is a wondrous transformation. 

I hate to make presumptions but I would hazard a guess that Cool Maritime is more than a little familiar with Brian Eno's ambient classics Discreet Music, Music For Airports and, in particular, Music For Films. These are the albums that formed the template for what we understand as ambient music. 

Hopefully,  he may have also listened to the 6 CD box set Music For Installations that was released this year. This is music that has accompanied Eno's art installations throughout the world for much of the last thirty year. Outsideleft reviewed this collection in May and marvelled at the diversity of sounds, several of which took the listener to darker and more unsettling places than anticipated. 

In the same month we also heard Jon Hopkins latest album: Singularity. Although the first half refines the shuddering techno of its predecessor (Immunity) to new euphoric levels, the second section is a far more hushed encounter. The delicate piano and sweet choir of Feel First Life is an almost spiritual experience, Echo Dissolve feels like a modern take on Eric Satie minimalism and the closer Recovery is a calming lullaby that dissolves in a blissful haze. Check out those reviews here

If there is one artist though that has combined ambient, electronic, classical and even jazz into his repertoire, it is Nils Frahm.  

All  Melody marks a confident step forward in Frahm's music, instead of assembling his projects at home, the new album was recorded in Frahm's new studio - a former East Berlin broadcast facility that was built in the 1950s.  On a practical level, Frahm now has the physical space to work with other musicians, but it has also brought about an emotional development in his music, as All Melody has a new sense of warmth to it. The music flows freely, the instruments blending seamlessly together in their new surroundings. 

It is his most engaging album to date. Read our full review here.

Jay Lewis
Reviews Editor

Jay Lewis is a Birmingham based poet. He's also a music, movie and arts obsessive. Jay's encyclopedic knowledge of 80s/90s Arts films is a debt to his embedded status in the Triangle Arts Centre trenches back then.


about Jay Lewis »»

Pete Williams web banner

RECENT STORIES

RANDOM READS

All About and Contributors

HELP OUTSIDELEFT

Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]

WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT

If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]

WRITERS thru' the Years

Agata Makiela, Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Becca Kelly, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Cassie Thomas, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, Danny Rose, David Hackney, David O'Byrne, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Rich, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, J.Lee, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Jonathan Thornton, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Kiah Cranston, Kleo Kay, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Martin Devenney, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, Mike Fox, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Burns, Paul Hawkins, Paul Mortimer, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Richard John Walker, Rick Casson, Rikki Stein, Ronan Crinion, Rowena Murphy, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Tony Fletcher, Toon Traveller, Trevi, Urs Lerch, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & Lamontpaul

OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE

Last NIght of the LTB Showrooms
OUTSIDELEFT Night Out
weekend

outsideleft content is not for everyone