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review by Bill Binkelman Magnanimous Records is a fledgling ambient label but is already displaying an uncommon knack for releasing excellent albums. While it's too early to anoint them "the next big thing," I'm confident that they are heading in the right direction. This faith in their eventual success was cemented when I heard the recording Aquarium of the Deep Sea from artist Hidemasa Kondo (recording as Brain Ballet). Aquarium…is an excellent excursion into ambient minimalism that is warmer and more accessible than the usual soundscape inhabited by minimalists. That doesn't mean this is new agey or too "pretty" but it is a caveat for those who favor dark cold drones or music that is edgy or dramatic. Using an assortment of synthesizers and keyboards, Kondo fashions a series of short (only one track is over six minutes long) minimal sketches that are united by a sense of floating liquidity, yet all songs differ in ways that stand out under examination. Opening with the title track, Kondo brings together undulating washes, sonar-like reverberations, and twinkling/shimmering bell tones. "ambient ring" blends plucked-strings (koto-like in sound) with endlessly repeating/echoing synthetic tones, both on top of a gentle wash, and later joined by sparkling piano. "universe" feature just the blissful sound of synth chorales, soft as gently lapping waves, and varying from warm and inviting to slightly sad in tone. Some of the other songs on the CD are "gravity" (shimmery high-pitched synth flutes and strings and some quirky and playful squiggling noises that carry a fluid squishiness to them), "i.s.s" (one of my favorites here, combining light bells, soprano and alto chorales, clanging reverberations resembling metal being struck by a hammer, and a neat dialogue sample announcing a flight departure and other related minutiae), "ancient sea" (whistling synth undercurrents, a repeating note refrain, assorted whooshing effects, and those clanging metal-on-metal sounds again), and "brain ring" which twinkles with all manner of SF-oriented synth notes and tones, counterpointed by rainstick and beautiful synth chorales. Aquarium of the Deep Sea is a delightful recording, one that can be savored and explored or enjoyed casually on the first playing, suited for direct listening or as Eno-like sonic wallpaper. Kondo's assorted synthesizers are always high quality (his bell tones and chorale work, in particular, are without fault). The minimalism of the compositions serves to reinforce the "feel" of water throughout the recording, although I can't articulate why I make that statement, but I believe it to be true. While I hesitate to use the term "pretty" or "sweet" when describing an ambient album, Aquarium…is so much more "positive" in feel than so many ambient recordings that it's one you will reach for when you want to be cheered up, but not to the point of resorting to sugar and spice and everything nice. I guess in that way it's like taking a walk on an empty beach on a warm day; it's refreshing yet not overwhelming to your senses, instead gently drawing you in, and putting you under its spell of calm and respite from worry and care. Highly recommended. |
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