mtk161-wavespan audio monotonik Definitely one of the classiest Monotonik releases in a while, we're happy to slip sideways from our normal Scandinavian/European-influenced idm sound into a more ambient, sonorous, consciousness-expanded universe, thanks to Santa Cruz, California duo Wavespan, aka Phil Garrison and Alex Lumb, and their great self-titled debut LP. Garrison started producing electronic music in 1998, and he founded Complex Logic Recordings, a small record label, in 2001. His production credits include Organic Resonance Project's Lucid EP and several remixes as ind01e; in 2005, he designed patches for H.G. Fortune's (VSTi) STS-21 Transition Synthesizer. Alex Lumb has been drumming for over 20 years, in addition to producing electronic music under various names. Most interestingly as a touchpoint, perhaps, this LP has been mastered by noted ambient musician Robert Rich, helping add to the carefully positioned ethereal drift. Over the entire 49-minute LP, there are a plethora of high points, but many may be initially fascinated by a rare Monotonik-released dub track up front, in the form of the sparse 'Concentration Dub', before the epic 11-minute long 'On The Nature Of Consciousness' takes us away with almost Orb-like spoken word samples and some beautifully placed ambience. Other highlights include the mild paranoia of the JFK assassination-sampling 'Single Bullet Theory', the straight-ahead groove of 'Origin Of Species', and the marvellously placed groove of 'Momentary Bliss'. Overall, this is a startlingly professional album which, honestly, almost feels too good for Monotonik, but we're delighted to release it nonetheless. If you like it, you can visit <a href="http://www.complexlogicrecordings.com/wavespan.htm">Wavespan's page on the Complex Logic site</a> and order a copy of the CD, or simply donate funds of your choice via PayPal to compensate for the more than pleasant listening experience. Hurrah. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ 2006-02-19 17:44:22 2006-02-20 01:43:52 simon@archive.org simon c 2006-02-19 17:45:25 "quite simply one of the best ambient releases on any netlabel to date." -Alex Young, Milieu "You step into it where you may and find something different each time. Fabulous stuff." -Mark Teppo, Igloo Magazine 2006-09-09 18:27:41 simon c