Pete Namlook-Air I & II

Pete Namlook-Air I & II
Year Of Release-1993 & 1994

Pete Namlook needs no introduction in the world of ambient music. His output over the last 15+ years is simply staggering. I have almost 200 releases from his Fax label and I don't even have close to all of them. Although prices for much of the older albums are through the roof there are still some great releases that can be had on the cheap. The sub-label Ambient World represses classic titles and these can be found for a fraction of the what the original sells for.

The Air series is my favorite of Namlook's. This is very much in the ethno-ambient style with the occasional meandering spacey synth. If you dig artists like Dead Can Dance, Klaus Schulze, Rubycon and Phaedra era Tangerine Dream or even more contemporary artists like Enigma and Enya I strongly suggest you find the 2cd set that packages the first two releases from this series. They were released in the US by Instinct in the mid-90's and can usually be found for about $20.

The audio quality is top-notch. The soundstage depth is just breathtaking! Super-wide holographic sounds that just wrap around the room. If you're a headphone listener then this one should put a smile on your face. There is so much going on at points that it'll make your head spin. Just mix with whatever psychedelic you have for a true meltdown. This used to be my go to disc when it started to kick in.

If anyone wants some recommendations for affordable but great Fax releases please give me an email. The catalog is pretty daunting and there are some extremely experimental titles so check with me before buy.

Global Communication-76:14

Global Communication-76:14
Year Of Release-1994

Not really sure what I can say about this landmark album that hasn't been said many times over. I've probably listened to this album more than any other I own. There aren't any gimmicks to date this giving it a lasting, timeless quality. The fact that there aren't even any song titles but just track times is sort of an anti-gimmick. It sounds just as fresh now as it did over fifteen years ago.

I'm sure the duo of Mark Pritchard and Tom Middleton never thought their creation would grow to be one of the most beloved electronic albums of all time. I'm continually seeing this at the top of many "best of ambient music" lists to this day. It holds a special place for me and I continue to turn people onto it on a regular basis.

If you're a Tangerine Dream fan and you've never heard this you're in for a pleasant surprise. There is a section of the album that is an obvious tribute to Love On A Real Train. I urge you to track this down and give it a spin. The album is a varied affair with many spots of beatless ambience to full-on breakbeats while always maintaining a very relaxed/chilled vibe.

For fans of:
Tangerine Dream
Klaus Schulze
Jean Michel Jarre
Biosphere
Future Sound Of London
Higher Intelligence Agency
Warp Records circa 1993-1996
Mixmaster Morris aka The Irresistible Force
Pete Namlook

Introduction

Welcome to my world of music. I have no real goal here except to expose lovers of music to some great stuff and to help any interested folks start their venture into the audiophile world.

My taste in music runs the gamut. My emphasis will most likely be electronic music leaning heavily towards the ambient end of the spectrum. Keep an eye out though because I have no problem switching things up. A typical hour of music in a listening session might include bands/artists such as Steve Roach, Eric Dolphy, The Frogs, Panda Bear, John Fahey, Venom, Bill Frisell, Ash Ra Tempel, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Sleater-Kinney, Basic Channel, Jandek, Dokken, Coldcut, Lustmord, Depeche Mode, Ennio Morricone and Pete Namlook. I'm all over the place! I have been in the music business(in one way or another) since the late 80's so I have amassed a pretty decent collection to talk about and review.

If you're one of those listeners who latched onto Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Jean Michel Jarre, etc. and never heard the newer generation of electronic artists this is the blog for you. I guarantee that you will discover some new artists here.

I'm also very interested in spreading the word on budget audiophile equipment. There is an abundance of fantastic gear out there to choose from and it can be a bit daunting at first. PLEASE don't go out and buy some Bose garbage before you do a bit of research. There are alternatives for half the price that will simply smoke those overrated hunks of junk. I'd like to do some tutorials on setting up a low-cost music server, getting started with vinyl and perhaps an intro to vacuum tubes.

Any suggestions are welcome...feel free to ask for some music recommendations. Just include your top 10 albums and I'll suggest some in that style.