Ballads

Abstract electronic experimental. Avant, jazz-inflected (features double bass and clarinet as well as jazz rhythms) ambient music by electronic heavyweight Ekkehard Ehlers and percussionist Paul Wirkus. On the whole, the record is nuanced, unobtrusive, and quite intellectual. This is a limited edition LP from SMTG, who has sent us some great stuff of late. Fans of Fennesz, “new music,” and Majmua Music will like this. All instrumental. 33RPM

Side A:

1. Tense, shimmering electro organ drone, 2nd half is ambient and spacey. (3:48)
2. Squeaky abstract woodwinds, layered complex electronics, disjointed time, sounds like some sort of manipulated harpsichord. (3:12)
*3. Pretty, dreamy hum, richly layered, mellow, droning ambient that is easy to like and could almost pass for Eluvium. (5:08)
4. Reversed, near-loop feel, slower and less chaotic, ends with high-pitched ringing. (3:07)
5. Sucked into an information black hole, eerie, swirly. (3:04)
*6. Cool post/math/jazz percussion with ADD electronic noise. (2:41)

Side B:

1. Creaking, droning strings, slithering precision on percussion, sounds a lot like Quintana Jacobsma to be extremely specific. (5:47)
*2. Harsher electronic noise climax, lots of feedback. (2:39)
3. Rumbling persistent bass, cluttery. (3:40)
4. Formless clarinet and bent string warbling, jazzy bass/percussion with some noodly electronics, sad and ominous feel. (4:24)
5. Twirling electronics and meticulous layers and samples play off of each other. (4:41)