Faex Optim - Look Around You - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The mysterious entity known as Faex Optim is a relative newcomer on the scene, his representation made visible by net-only releases courtesy of the U.K.'s Kahvi Collective and via the artist's requisite Soundcloud page. As usual, the braintrust here at Carpe Sonum are rescuing the good Faex Optim from his relative 'obscurity' and given him their aural blessing, as it were, in hard-media (neé CD) with this quite beguiling debut. Tris·kai·dek·a·pho·bi·a breaks a bit somewhat from the established tag 'house' style, although truth be told, Carpe Sonum embraces eclectic sounds and myriad approaches to electronic music across the breadth of it's catalog. But Faex Optim does exalt in being something of the anomaly regardless. Throughout the album, clever track titles illustrate a charmingly deceptive streak full of winsome IDM traceries that sport wide, cheshire-grinned palettes-classic ambient workouts this sure as heck isn't. Faex Optim is apparently happy to let his gregarious ideas announce their intent within rather economical timeframes; these fifteen tracks don't outstay their welcome, which makes for concentrated listening and more gratifying rewards. InchHollywood Dream BubbleInch, for instance, recalls the sprightly historical footprints of Plaid, As One, Ochre, and any number of early provocative electronica storytellers. Across the five minute spread of the ironically-titled InchPost RockInch, Faex Optim let's a faintly motorik beat anchor a nest of placid angles, widescreen whoosh, and timeless flutter, as the last breath of early electronic 'rock' music is extinguished in a five minute grand gesture.

Selandia Ensemble - Wind Chamber Music [COMPACT DISCS] date 12/07/1993

2010 , the long-awaited follow-up to the acclaimed Copia, Eluvium takes a courageous creative leap with Similes, an album featuring key elements previously uncharted by Eluvium percussion, a verse-chorus song structure, and singing. For a celebrated experimental musician, it was just about the bravest and scariest direction to go. In this way, Similes is the most truly experimental Eluvium album yet, and the most accessible.