My mind is like an attic. There are lots of dusty boxes that have not been touched in years, stacked all over the place. Lately I’ve been doing some reflecting. It’s probably a symptom of the writing… or maybe the writing is a symptom of the reflection… hmmm. Anyway, I’ve been getting into a lot of ambient electronic music as of late. I’ve always enjoyed it but in the recent past I have gone out of my way to find some quality stuff to transport me to times and to places. Ambient music allows me to think, to focus and to work things out. I could fall back on some of the old stuff that I have, but I wanted to turn a page and find something new.Â
Lucky me, I stumbled across Ulrich Schnauss on Youtube. He’s a German producer/musician and his music is very ethereal and melodic. My dad had a Kawai organ when I was a kid and when nobody was around I would put the headphones on, turn that sucker up and mess around with the appregio and the various beats doing one finger chord changes just to play with the sound. When I listen to Schnauss I can’t help but think that had I had that organ to mess around with when I got a little older, I might have headed into music making like this (or some horrendous facsimile thereof).
It’s nice to go back in time and to blow the dust off of some of those old boxes in my head and to have such a melodic backdrop. Sure some people hate this kind of stuff, the repetition and all… but me, it suits me just fine. Here are a couple of samples of his stuff. It is the kind of music that builds up and grows over time. I like that kind of music, where it takes two and a half minutes before you have a clear idea of where the tune is going. That’s what gives it that transportive quality I enjoy.
 Goodbye - a nice track with some vocals that have been run through a voice machine. Builds up over time until somewhere around minute 4 when all elements are finally incorporated.
Between Us and Them - probably the most traditional sounding of the tracks I put up here. Really nice beat, that strays just far enough to keep it interesting. Lots of pieces coming together to make one song… it’s fun discerning the various elements. Hits the stride around 4:30.Â
Clear Day - just the kind of trippy electronic track that the doctor ordered. Grab your Lithium and come ride the weirdo train… come on you know you want to!
Note to brother Paul… this guy is a big shoegazing fan… could you tell?
Happy listening.
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BUAHAHAH! Is there anything better than seeing Tiki Barber eat crow? How badly do you think he wanted the Patriots to win last night? Sure he comes off like he’s happy for the Giants, but I’m not buying it. Watching him interview Eli was priceless. The look on his face. The forced smile. Eli saying, “I knew I had it in me, but I needed to do it in my own time.” JUST FREAKIN’ BEAUTIFUL! After slamming the coaches, the quarterback and anybody else he could toss under the bus, Tiki Barber misses a ring by ONE SEASON! Absolutely wonderful stuff to behold. The comment by Eli was so subtle, yet such a slap to the face of that overrated runt.  Â
I was also happy to see a shot or two of Shockey, another divisive complainer, when Boss made his sweet, sweet, play! Seems when you take the whiners out of the locker room and off the television screen, great things can happen. Â
