US composer and musician Michael PADILLA ([email protected]) is probably most renowned for being a member of now defunct psychedelic rock band Dora Flood, as well as being the band leader in the still ongoing psychedelic rock band The Soft Bombs, the latter which grew out of what was initially planned as a solo project. A few years down the line Padilla decided to have another go at releasing a solo album, successfully this time around, and the end result was released at the start of 2016 as “Atmospheres (Ambient Works Vol. 1)” by UK label Fruits de Mer Records, through their imprint Strange Fish. It should be noted that this is a combination package. This review covers the material on the vinyl picture disc part of the package. Also included is a CD with all four of those tracks, one of them extended, plus an additional bonus track.
While Fruits de Mer Records is a label first and foremost known for their release of psychedelic rock, at times also progressive rock, they have set up their Strange Fish imprint to cater for music that on some level or other is out of bounds from their main ones. Padilla’s solo album fits quite nicely into this category, as the music here doesn’t have too many ties with either psychedelic rock nor progressive rock, but at the same time this is music of a kind that fans of both these genres often has an interest in.
Ambient, electronic music is the name of the game here, instrumental, dream-laden and at times with at least half a foot inside what some might describe as new age oriented material at that. Not as soft, smooth and featureless as the kind of ambient music that has given that moniker a band name, not as intangible and unobtrusive as the bland new age music music lovers tend to loathe with a certain passion, but still material that is undeniable ambient, and at times with aspects and traits shared with music generally sorted under the new age description.
Opening cut Northern Lights is a perfect example of those attachments, with it’s layered, soft, dark and light toned textures slowly moving in a fluctuating landscape ebbing and flowing in intensity, evoking the feeling of a cold night up in the northern hemispheres somewhere, with mainly the light toned textures used to create tension in this majestic, dream-laden and cold slow moving sound pattern. The following piece Crossing East features layers of fairly delicate textures that sound like they are based on flutes and recorders, delicate and slightly nervous, where multiple mid-toned and light toned textures again combines in fluctuating patterns ebbing and flowing in intensity and prominence.
The next two compositions are of a somewhat different character. Third track Ecstagony is a rather more dramatic affair, using textures with a stronger similarity to cellos and violins of various kinds with both drone like, surging and fluctuating tendencies. A rather more brooding and vibrant creation this one, more dramatic and with something of an urgent spirit brought to the table. Concluding track The Waiting also has a darker mood and spirit to it, with an ominous, dark toned majestic surging texture the dominant aspect, surging in upwards and downwards trajectories, supplemented by a distanced, careful mid-toned sound that adds a mournful presence to the brooding darkness. The Waiting, presumably, not for something all that positive.
As such productions go this is an intriguing one, and while the cold and tranquil landscapes of the opening cut comes across as the most accomplished one to my ears, the final two creations with their stronger emphasis on dark, nervous and haunting atmospheres will perhaps be those found most interesting by listeners with a stronger affection for challenging material in this particular context. All in all a quality production that merits a check by those fond of ambient music, especially those that treasure music of this kind that does have a bit more of an edge.
My rating: 75/100
