Following releases on Where To Now?, Reckno, Indole Records, Slumdiscs, and BAROC, Morkebla's latest record is a 5-track EP titled "A Field Of Secondary Craters". The record opens with "The Ground Under My Feet Became Water", an obscure and incantatory looped segment made entirely with found sounds and field recordings (a plaintive horn, metallic sounds, water).
The next tracks from "A Field Of Secondary Craters" pull away from the vaporous introductory loop-based process (that sits not so far from Lee Gamble's "Diversions 1994-1996") and reveal a more luminous facet of his work. Utilizing some analog drum machines (Alesis SR-16 and MFB-522), tape echoes, delay effects and a Roland Juno-106, Morkebla's new EP is a twenty minute long journey throughout synth-laden textures with moments of pure reverie.
While "Snow Canvas" is an ode to minimal composition, a celestial held chord accompanied with chugging beats, third track Infrared Ice Image is a one-minute synth bass loop in slow-motion, reminiscent of an early Boards of Canada interlude.
Disrupting the peacefulness that the ambience suggests, Astro:Dynamics’ signee and Posh Isolation’s remix contributor Quiltland delivers a remix for "Snow Canvas" emphasizing on the ambient chord intro with a progression that stirs the listener up from quietude through an incursion of more assertive snares and hi-hats, finishing up with gradually built Autechre-esque synth harmonies.
To conclude Morkebla's "A Field Of Secondary Craters", elegant eleven-minute long synth arpeggios entwine on "Submerged Dunes" with a simple hi-hat and strangled bell as rhythmic elements, leaving an unsettling feeling as the synth slides across cut-off and filtered sounds. We are now literally sunk and submerged into another world. As we let go of the fear of uncertainty, "A Field Of Secondary Craters" plays a second time, starting all over again from the shamanistic introduction. The dunes, the ground, the water…
Words by Phoene Somsavath
All tracks recorded and mixed by Alberto Rosso.
“Snow Canvas” Remix by Quiltland.
Mastered by Philippe Durocher.
supported by 13 fans who also own “A Field of Secondary Craters”
Self-proclaimed 'Arpeggio Merchant' QE would like to approve of this long album full of interesting motifs and meters. Intriguing and inspiring for me, the aesthetic it conjures is nostalgic. Reminds me of late vaporwave artist 2004アメリカンイーグルポロ. Quantum Echo
supported by 12 fans who also own “A Field of Secondary Craters”
one of the most beautiful ambient collection i've heard in years. It has great transition between the mixes and sets the right mood four our current global situation. Definitely gives us hope to go on. Stay safe everyone ! filipgudovic
Official debut of French solo artist Richard Francés. Sci-fi influenced synth work, recalling pioneers like Tangerine Dream and Terry Riley. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 7, 2017
Japanese composer Syusaku Deguchi builds unexpectedly hooky experimental ambient from glistening electronic samples and field recordings. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 25, 2021