Ambiq: Ambiq 2 (Vinyl LP)
Arjuna Electronic
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"ambiq, the Berliner instrumental trio of Max Loderbauer, Claudio Puntin, and Samuel Rohrer, emerged onto the scene in 2014 with their self-titled debut album (AM 703CD/LP) of impressive sonic distinctiveness and technical ability. Drinking from a deep pool of influences that includes free improv, early electronic music, and spaced-out dub, the trio does what any great ensemble should set out to do; it becomes more than the sum of its parts, a single organism with its own unique expressive vocabulary and perspective. Proving that their debut was no fluke, the ambiq trio has already reconvened for a second full-length bubbling over with new timbral combinations, and with a sophisticated interpretation of the ancient art of tension and release. From the opener ""The Spur,"" they bring the listener to a world where strange new tonalities seem to breathe freely; the nimble percussive shuffle, set in relief against a cascade of detuning electronic tones, is a fascinating intro, followed by ""Introspective Kitchen,"" which expands the mood of the preceding track with cleverly delay-effected woodwind, remote organ swells, and yet more shivering percussion. The band then embarks on a more motoring, danceable journey titled ""The Mother""; Rohrer's drumming, as always, is taut and confident, while Puntin's clarinet evocatively hovers with a kosmische feel that is all too absent from most realms of ""post-rock"" and electronics-aided improv. The interplay between Puntin and Rohrer eventually develops into the main dialogue of the album, though the sound events surrounding it change continuously enough to keep this a fully memorable and downright cinematic experience. The miniature piece ""Naked George"" is as full of humorous melody as the other pieces are of investigative curiosity; another short piece, ""Mytoprill,"" is guided by queasy modular synth strains that impart a delirious kind of funhouse ambience. On ""Parton's Double Vision,"" the lush space-violin-quavers familiar to vintage sci-fi fans play the supporting role, and the closing ""Consolation"" features a lulling bed of electronics that elusively shift in character the more attention one pays to them. Plenty of music exists for the open-minded, but not all of it has the ability to initiate the process of opening minds in the first place. ambiq does have that ability, and have come up with a musical formula that will melt away the defenses of the most hardened techno fanatic or avant-gardist, seeding new ideas not beholden to any one genre or lifestyle." 01. the Spur (3:26), 02. Introspective Kitchen (4:08), 03. the Mother (5:02), 04. Meta (7:07), 05. Parton's Double Vision (3:04), 06. Dots (3:21), 07. Mytoprill (2:21), 08. Naked George (2:26), 09. Ephemera (1:07), 10. the Sedge (1:47), 11. Consolation (5:56)
"ambiq, the Berliner instrumental trio of Max Loderbauer, Claudio Puntin, and Samuel Rohrer, emerged onto the scene in 2014 with their self-titled debut album (AM 703CD/LP) of impressive sonic distinctiveness and technical ability. Drinking from a deep pool of influences that includes free improv, early electronic music, and spaced-out dub, the trio does what any great ensemble should set out to do; it becomes more than the sum of its parts, a single organism with its own unique expressive vocabulary and perspective. Proving that their debut was no fluke, the ambiq trio has already reconvened for a second full-length bubbling over with new timbral combinations, and with a sophisticated interpretation of the ancient art of tension and release. From the opener ""The Spur,"" they bring the listener to a world where strange new tonalities seem to breathe freely; the nimble percussive shuffle, set in relief against a cascade of detuning electronic tones, is a fascinating intro, followed by ""Introspective Kitchen,"" which expands the mood of the preceding track with cleverly delay-effected woodwind, remote organ swells, and yet more shivering percussion. The band then embarks on a more motoring, danceable journey titled ""The Mother""; Rohrer's drumming, as always, is taut and confident, while Puntin's clarinet evocatively hovers with a kosmische feel that is all too absent from most realms of ""post-rock"" and electronics-aided improv. The interplay between Puntin and Rohrer eventually develops into the main dialogue of the album, though the sound events surrounding it change continuously enough to keep this a fully memorable and downright cinematic experience. The miniature piece ""Naked George"" is as full of humorous melody as the other pieces are of investigative curiosity; another short piece, ""Mytoprill,"" is guided by queasy modular synth strains that impart a delirious kind of funhouse ambience. On ""Parton's Double Vision,"" the lush space-violin-quavers familiar to vintage sci-fi fans play the supporting role, and the closing ""Consolation"" features a lulling bed of electronics that elusively shift in character the more attention one pays to them. Plenty of music exists for the open-minded, but not all of it has the ability to initiate the process of opening minds in the first place. ambiq does have that ability, and have come up with a musical formula that will melt away the defenses of the most hardened techno fanatic or avant-gardist, seeding new ideas not beholden to any one genre or lifestyle." 01. the Spur (3:26), 02. Introspective Kitchen (4:08), 03. the Mother (5:02), 04. Meta (7:07), 05. Parton's Double Vision (3:04), 06. Dots (3:21), 07. Mytoprill (2:21), 08. Naked George (2:26), 09. Ephemera (1:07), 10. the Sedge (1:47), 11. Consolation (5:56)