Aidan Baker & Tim Hecker - Fantasma Parastasie (2008)

When I heard about a collaboration between Aidan Baker and Tim Hecker, two of my favourite ambient/drone (or whatever genre you think they are) artists, I could barely contain my excitement. In a way, I feel I am a little let down by Fantasma Parastasie, maybe due to my high expectation of this album. Yes, you get the signature guitar drone of Baker and the electronic synth, hiss and cackle of Hecker. Separately, these two artists create phenomenal music, but it seems like something is missing on this collaboration. Anyways, this is still a good album if you are a fan of these artists but in my opinion, a little underwhelming effort.

Track Listing

1. Phantom On A Pedestal - 5:50
2. Hymn To The Idea Of Night - 5:19
3. Auditory Spirits - 3:44
4. Skeleton Dance - 3:02
5. Gallery Of The Invisible Woman - 7:18
6. Dream Of The Nightmare - 4:20
7. Fantasma-Parastasie - 4:50

Download: Rapidshare
Discogs: Link
Purchase: Alien8

Tim Hecker - An Imaginary Country (2009)

The seventh album by Tim Hecker, like 2006's Harmony in Ultraviolet, features layers of melody hidden among layers of electronics. This album will be released on March 10, 2009. This album is very similar to Harmony but does not seem to be as tumultuous and is generally quite peaceful. Although not a far departure from Harmony, it is still an excellent album by Tim Hecker.

Note: This version is a 190kbps VBR version, not the 320kbps transcode version widely available on the net.

Track Listing

1. 100 Years Ago - 3:28
2. Sea of Pulses - 4:41
3. The Inner Shore - 4:17
4. Pond Life - 1:24
5. Borderlands - 4:46
6. A Stop at the Chord Cascades - 4:43
7. Utropics - 1:05
8. Paragon Point - 5:04
9. Her Black Horizon - 1:27
10. Currents of Electrostasy - 3:43
11. Where Shadows Make Shadows - 8:37
12. 200 Years Ago - 4:45

Download: Rapidshare
Purchase: Kranky (not available yet)

Tim Hecker - Harmony in Ultraviolet (2006)

Tim Hecker is an electronic musician from Montreal, Canada. His work is similar to Fennesz and Belong. In this record. you can find a thin layer of melody is hidden beneath layers of crackles, reverb and electronic distortion. This album is a must for fans of ambient.

Track Listing

1. Rainbow Blood - 1:52
   
2. Stags, Aircraft, Kings and Secretaries - 4:30
   
3. Palimpsest I - 0:35
   
4. Chimeras - 3:13
   
5. Dungeoneering - 5:24
   
6. Palimpsest II - 0:38
   
7. Spring Heeled Jack Flies Tonight - 3:11
   
8. Harmony in Blue I - 1:31
   
9. Harmony in Blue II - 1:52
   
10. Harmony in Blue III - 2:41
    
11. Harmony in Blue IV - 2:02
    
12. Radio Spiricom - 4:52
    
13. Whitecaps of White Noise I - 7:29
    
14. Whitecaps of White Noise II - 5:57
    
15. Blood Rainbow - 4:06
    

Download: Rapidshare
Discogs: Link
Purchase: Kranky - KRANK 102

Fennesz - Black Sea (2008)

Black Sea is Christian Fennesz's follow-up to 2004's Venice. Black Sea continues Fennesz signature sound of blending melody, guitar, noise, glitch, ambient, and electronics into one amazing album. The LP version was released on November 25 and the CD version was released on December 9, 2008.

Track Listing:

1. Black Sea - 10:11
2. The Colour of Three - 8:06
3. Perfume For Winter - 4:35
4. Grey Scale - 4:09
5. Glide - 9:22
6. Vacuum - 3:58
7. Glass Ceiling - 5:49
8. Saffron Revolution - 5:52

Download: Rapidshare
Discogs: Link
Purchase: Touch