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Sometimes, the hardest thing about writing a review is finding an opening paragraph. Usually I write a bit about the style of music before I dig into the album itself. On other occasions, I write about the weather, a story behind the album or just some random nonsense that has nothing to do with the music itself. However, sometimes the introduction just won't come and I'm left in my sofa, facing an almost completely blank notepad. Today is one of those days. So let's just skip that part, shall we?
Drawing Virtual Gardens is a solo-project by David Gutman. Gutman is half-Italian, half-American but currently resides in Brussels (Belgium). He is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who makes some incredible ambient music. His latest effort 'Six Weeks Were Too Long To Wait' is recorded while he was waiting for the birth of his daughter. The mastering and mixing was done in the three weeks that she was kept in the hospital. I can imagine that waiting for six weeks to hold your own child in your arms is a very long time and what better way to express this by recording a brilliant album.
The album opens with 'Is The Luggage Ready'. Now, this might be a bit of a strange title but I think this is a very normal question regarding the situation Gutman was in a the time of writing and recording. The track itself is a deep ambient song, at times nudging towards dark jazz. As with most of the songs on this album, this is a beautiful collection of soundscapes, far away percussion and hints of melody. '5th Of August, my favourite track on the album, contains the same odd elements and is a pretty stunning ambient track with some deep drones.
In fact, the entire album constists of these beautiful, relaxing soundscapes, floating gently through my speakers. 'The Floating Hand That Waves And Sleeps', drives on a mild, melodic strum and a vague sense of rhythm. This way the music perfectly combines with the sounds inside and outside of our appartment, brightening the day and giving it a dreamlike atmosphere. On 'Build Up Fat In The Deep Cell', Gutman shows his experimental side with soundscapes and some rather incoherent sounds.
In all, I can honestly say this 'Six Weeks Were Too Long To Wait', is a splendid ambient album with enough variation to keep the listener interested but also with a perfect sense of minimalism, making this a very relaxing experience. It often nugdes towards experimental electronics, industrial and the weird jazz of Dale Cooper and company. Yet, most of all, this is a prima example of modern day electronic ambient. This album will appear in my playlist a lot, that's for sure.
Serge
Drawing Virtual Gardens is a solo-project by David Gutman. Gutman is half-Italian, half-American but currently resides in Brussels (Belgium). He is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who makes some incredible ambient music. His latest effort 'Six Weeks Were Too Long To Wait' is recorded while he was waiting for the birth of his daughter. The mastering and mixing was done in the three weeks that she was kept in the hospital. I can imagine that waiting for six weeks to hold your own child in your arms is a very long time and what better way to express this by recording a brilliant album.
The album opens with 'Is The Luggage Ready'. Now, this might be a bit of a strange title but I think this is a very normal question regarding the situation Gutman was in a the time of writing and recording. The track itself is a deep ambient song, at times nudging towards dark jazz. As with most of the songs on this album, this is a beautiful collection of soundscapes, far away percussion and hints of melody. '5th Of August, my favourite track on the album, contains the same odd elements and is a pretty stunning ambient track with some deep drones.
In fact, the entire album constists of these beautiful, relaxing soundscapes, floating gently through my speakers. 'The Floating Hand That Waves And Sleeps', drives on a mild, melodic strum and a vague sense of rhythm. This way the music perfectly combines with the sounds inside and outside of our appartment, brightening the day and giving it a dreamlike atmosphere. On 'Build Up Fat In The Deep Cell', Gutman shows his experimental side with soundscapes and some rather incoherent sounds.
In all, I can honestly say this 'Six Weeks Were Too Long To Wait', is a splendid ambient album with enough variation to keep the listener interested but also with a perfect sense of minimalism, making this a very relaxing experience. It often nugdes towards experimental electronics, industrial and the weird jazz of Dale Cooper and company. Yet, most of all, this is a prima example of modern day electronic ambient. This album will appear in my playlist a lot, that's for sure.
Serge