I utterly love Lunar Monograph by Beta Cloud. In fact, after listening to it I invited him to release on Relaxed Machinery and I’m listening to a preview of that new album now (and I’m utterly blown away). It will come out sometime this year.
In the meantime – here’s a review of Lunar Monograph by Phil Derby. Go get this album, you really won’t be disapointed!
Beta Cloud “Lunar Monograph”
(www.betacloud.com, 2010)
5 tracks, 67.37 minsTwo tracks in to Beta Cloud’s latest release Lunar Monograph I already find myself totally captivated, particularly by the 22-minute masterpiece of piano, rain, and occasional found sounds like sirens that make up “Sea of Rains,” a deceptively simple yet elegant piece. This is one of the best mood pieces ever. The track preceding it, “Marsh of Sleep”, is equally relaxing and soporific, a skillful blend of ambient textures and field recordings of people milling about in the background. After being lulled into a relaxed state, “Marsh of Epidemics” transforms the atmosphere with a wall of sound and slow heavy beats, reminding me of My Bloody Valentine or early Cocteau Twins. It is a bold move, and one could argue that it belongs on a different album, but it is a quality track nonetheless. “Sea of Tranquility” goes back to ambience, a companion piece of sorts to “Sea of Rains.” It sets a darker tone but likewise finds a very comfortable space and explores every nuance of it for 20 wonderful minutes. An organ-like drone floats into infinity as shimmering higher choir-like tones balance it off nicely. More city sounds emerge toward the end. If the disc only contained these two tracks it would still be worth every penny. “Bay of Billows” is a soft sound collage of field recordings and processed guitar sounds that finish off this excellent disc in fine form. Carl Pace, the man behind Beta Cloud, has already set the bar high for 2010 ambient recordings.
Review by Phil Derby
http://www.electroambientspace.com