Back catalogue: All genres

Review: During the later stages of 2020, Damien Duque (City of Dawn) and M Cody McPhail (ATOP) decided to begin writing a collaborative album together. Their styles, although different, compliment each other extremely well and it became apparent that this project would end up flowing out of them with ease. They shared wav files and recording parts individually at each other homes over a few months. City of Dawn's smooth reverbed tonal compositions mixed with ATOP's rougher and meandering synth lines gives the Starwind lp its expansive and cosmic qualities.

Review: Damien Duque aka. City Of Dawn delivers his next ambient record, Invincible Summer, adding to the recent trend of ambient titles fashioned after philosophical quotations. The reference in this case is Albert Camus, who penned the aphorism - "in the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer" - in his lesser-spotted memento Return To Tipasa. It's clear that existentialism is a school that resonates with Duque most relevantly; the Texan artist is known for his atmospheric works dealing in themes of embattled anxiety, overcoming, self-reflection, and autism advocacy. Evoking a space of tranquility reachable only via the hard wins of deep inner work, City Of Dawn's texturized, fluting, bell-laden incantations are a striking match to the crux of Camus' philosophy: that even in the hardest of times, there always exists an inner realm of strength and resilience.

Review: Heart Dance Recordings is a genuinely unique proposition: a new age, ambient and spiritual music label run by, and for, women, offering up decidedly calming music from an ever-growing roster of artists. The Phoenix-based imprint's latest full-length excursion was created by a trio of musicians: flautist Sherry Finzer, percussionist and vocalist Karasvana (real name Ella Hunt) and synthesizer enthusiast-come-guitarist City of Dawn (Damian Duque). There's much to admire about The Journeying Sun, from the daybreak beauty of 'Memory of Awakening' and the immersive, enveloping bliss of 'On Seashores of Endless Worlds', with its haunting chimes and drifting vocal refrains, to wide-eyed aural wonder of 'Resident Wandering' and the simultaneously pastoral and ethereal 'Indefiniteness'.

Review: Regular collaborator with label boss zake, City of Dawn teams up with From Overseas, an aptly named producer based on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. The result is classic Past Inside The Present - quivering, celestial ambient music that would fit into the drone category if it weren't for the fact it's constantly, subtly changing and evolving almost imperceptibly. Utterly horizontal in attitude, utterly heavenly in realisation, this is a corker even by PITP's very high standards, with this edition arriving in limited transparent sepia vinyl LP (+ download code) form.

Review: A new double cassette box from Past Inside The Present, which sees its co-founder zake in relatively rare solo mode mixing soothing ambient sensibilities with orchestral, classical influences. 'Dernier Souffle (Pt 1)' is a great example of how the two can meld very easily and comfortably, a sense of slowly retreating heartache creeping over its open, slabs of floating sounds, whereas the three parts of 'La Paix Eternelle (Pt 1), on the other hand, evoke heavenly choirs of angels. An album with its head in the clouds, for sure, but once you join it there you won't want to come down.

Review: Zake and City of Dawn are the aliases of Zach Frizzell and Damien Duque respectively, two Texan ambient explorers with plenty of sizeable lineage in the field. Frizzell in particular runs the highly regarded Past Inside The Present label, and he also has a staggering amount of recorded work to his name. The pair have worked together a lot over the past two years, and now they make the move to Danish label Azure Vista for this blissed out excursion into purest drone abandon, with all the soothing harmonic tones your restless mind could ever wish for.

Review: It's not just a clever name. Zake and City Dawn have come up with a record that genuinely sounds like the reflective moods that so often follow great loss, realised on record. Sweeping synth-strings on 'We Once Believed We Owned The Sky' only serving to reiterate the sense of lamentation that seems to pervade every corner of this album.

Sometimes looking back on what was but will never be again is the only real way of making ourselves feel better - by connecting to intensely emotional memories we can trigger an outpouring that's truly cathartic. As if following that pattern, Frizzell & Duque: A Sorry Unrequited is a strangely uplifting experience by the time we're listening to the closing bars of 'The Sparrow's Flight', even if that's only because of the sense that others have the capacity to feel the same as we do.

Review: Certain Path is a serene, piano-driven album by collaborators zake (aka label head Zach Frizzell), From Overseas which is Kevin Sery and City of Dawn aka Damien Duque. This reflective collection of seven pieces invites deep contemplation with tender piano motifs and subtle drones creating a meditative atmosphere. Opening with 'Where Time Slows Down,' the album blends delicate melodies with layered guitar textures. Inspired by Frizzell's wife, the title track offers heartfelt emotion, while 'Avec l'aide de Vincent' honours a close mentor. Throughout, the artists employ nocturnal recording sessions, field recordings and analogue treatments to craft an introspective, evocative listening experience.