Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Jessica Ackerley (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Patrick Shiroishi (Los Angeles, California) are both members of the newly announced super-family-group SSWAN (along with trumpeter Chris Williams, drummer Jason Nazary, and bassist Luke Stewart). Both have prolific outputs and work diligently to push the boundaries of their respective instruments and previous musical ideas.

'Across Water' sees Ackerley and Shiroishi contributing their own unique takes on the ambient sound. Jessica contributes 'I Am Here' and 'The Crevices Between My Heart', each following the collection's theme of water while the guitar and synth work on the second composition gives way to visuals of deep-sea life that can only sustain itself away from the hustle and bustle of crowdedness. Similarly, Patrick is no stranger to straddling the fine lines between subtle and overt emotionality. 'Because You Went There' and 'Leaving It All Behind' are his offerings, seemingly looking up to the sky rather than down ay the ocean, infused by the sweet and smoggy California air.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Having similarly impressed us this month with Pepo Galan & Sita Ostheimer's powerful opus Contact, Zach Frizzell's Indianapolis-based imprint Past Inside The Present returns with enigmatic producer Pallatte, on an impressive debut entitled the Pathways. Said to be produced by the artist during an introspective period of his life, these four uncanny yet contemplative loops evoke emotions and themes best described so succinctly by the label itself as "a universal desperation and yearning for hope in a dispirited civilization." Features additional production by Texan musician Damien Duque, who also appeared on PITP earlier this year as part of Dawn Chorus And The Infallible Sea.

Review: Having similarly impressed us this month with Pepo Galan & Sita Ostheimer's powerful opus Contact, Zach Frizzell's Indianapolis-based imprint Past Inside The Present returns with enigmatic producer Pallatte, on an impressive debut entitled the Pathways. Said to be produced by the artist during an introspective period of his life, these four uncanny yet contemplative loops evoke emotions and themes best described so succinctly by the label itself as "a universal desperation and yearning for hope in a dispirited civilization." Features additional production by Texan musician Damien Duque, who also appeared on PITP earlier this year as part of Dawn Chorus And The Infallible Sea.

Review: "The Best Driving Music in the World Ever" was written and recorded during a 48 hour lock-in session, having never left the studio until completion. The artist stated, "This all came together due to a bout of loneliness and depression that swept over me one Friday evening. Being lonely sometimes can render positive results, something I am learning. I decided to go and make a guitar-based record and not leave the house until it was done. I succeeded and this is what was made." The tracks were then sent over to be mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri at his incredible studio, Black Knoll in New York, US.

Review: "The Best Driving Music in the World Ever" was written and recorded during a 48 hour lock-in session, having never left the studio until completion. The artist stated, "This all came together due to a bout of loneliness and depression that swept over me one Friday evening. Being lonely sometimes can render positive results, something I am learning. I decided to go and make a guitar-based record and not leave the house until it was done. I succeeded and this is what was made." The tracks were then sent over to be mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri at his incredible studio, Black Knoll in New York, US.

Review: 'Melatonia' is the seventh album from drone duo Pausal, known for their releases on labels such as Barge Recordings, Students of Decay, Own Records, Dronarivm and Infraction. Individually, Alex has released numerous works under his Olan Mill alias and Simon has released on Hibernate Records.

Review: 'Melatonia' is the seventh album from drone duo Pausal, known for their releases on labels such as Barge Recordings, Students of Decay, Own Records, Dronarivm and Infraction. Individually, Alex has released numerous works under his Olan Mill alias and Simon has released on Hibernate Records.

Review: Ambient label and blog Past Inside The Present here present their first album from Benoit Pioulard, an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and photographer who has long been making his own field recordings and lo-fi compositions. His past tapes have become hugely sought after and albums on Kranky and Moodgadget are not far behind. "May/Atra" is beautiful and cathartic, a place for lost souls to drift amongst dusty soundscapes that evoke nostalgic memories. It's music for day dreamers and those happy to get lost in their own thoughts while being nudged along by these emotional aural cues.

Review: Benoît Pioulard, Hotel Neon and Viul were given the original version of this CD sampler to sell while on a tour of the US's West Coast in Autumn 2022. Past Inside The Present has now secured the rights to issue it themselves on a new CD. The tracks are exclusive contributions from each of the artists and have never been available anywhere before with 'Rasping Descend' by Pioulard, 'The Quiet Road' from Hotel Neon and 'January 18' by Viul. The rest of the tunes that feature on it have all been on vinyl, digital or cassette tape before now so this is the first time they are all together on one CD.

Review: This new one from our favourite US ambient outlet takes the form of a selection of long-form compositions from artists who are close to the label. As such it's a perfect reflection of its signature sound - deeply immersive soundscapes, slowly shifting synths and meditative moods made with a mix of hardware tools, guitars, pedals and even baritone vocals. It's named after a Norwegian term for warmth and intimacy, which certainly plays out from the evolving loops of 'A Whisper' to the textured melancholy of 'Canaan' and the reverberant drift of 'Coronation Ring'.

Review: From the opening notes of "As Above, So Below" the listener can't help but feel like everything is going to be ok. With his PITP debut, Jonny Radtke aka Polar Moon displays his talent for composing comforting, cinematic, and thoughtful piano based tracks.

Though brief in duration, each of these 13 compositions draw you in and remind you that not everything is broken and that there is hope for a better future.

Review: Polar Moon (aka Jonny Radtke) is back with a new album Where Have All The Wolves Gone on Past Inside The Present, a true world to get lost in and that leaves an indelible emotional impression. It's a delightful mix of overlapping piano lines and organic rhythms that range from curious to dread-fulled and are never less than intriguing. Radtke finds real art in crescendo and release throughout this record which ebbs and flows with real intensity. Standout track 'Sky People' has a mellow piano line peppered with pizzicato strings that give the effect of a twinkling star way off in the distance. Sublime.

Review: The following collection of songs is an attempt at expressing something from which much of our generation seems to be suffering: exhaustion. It is difficult to keep up with current events and, at the same time, keep your sanity intact, and each one of these songs was written at a time during which I felt absolutely overwhelmed; however, in writing them, I found a deep sense of comfort, too.

Review: Past Inside The Present marks the end of The Sky Trilogy by Purl with Holographic Prism. This triptych of works has sought to explore collective dreams of celestial origin. The ambient sounds are all deeply involving and here come remixed by SVLBRD, Lav, Slow Dancing Society, Coppice Halifax, Warmth, Deflektion, Innesti, & Svartholtet. There is lots to love, with the icy shimmers and late night chill of the opener to the more dark, dank and dubbed out version of 'Merope' by Lav. 'Celestial Entropy' gets two different but equally fascinating versions turned out to close this absorbing EP in style.

Review: 'Holographic Prism' is the final chapter of The Sky Trilogy by Purl - a three chapter volume of works, exploring collective dreams of celestial origin. features mixes from SVLBRD, Lav, Slow Dancing Society, Coppice Halifax, Warmth, Deflektion, Innesti, & Svartholtet.

Review: Purl's The Sky Triology comes to a one conclusion with a third and final volume, 'Holographic Prism.' This 12" features five of the ten tunes on the album of the same name on 160g transparent blue smoke vinyl, all housed in a semi-gloss jacket. It is made up of beautifully lush yet dense tones, compelling rhythms that roll deep and supple, and with meditative qualities that really take you to another place. The music is inspired by "the infinite vastness above every day," says the artist, and that sense of never-ending beauty and ongoing mystery really does define the record.

Review: Daljit Kundi and Ludvig Cimbrelius have Indian and Swedish backgrounds but actually came together in the UK music scene and specifically ambient jungle. They set off to explore that world totters and did so with aplomb across several great albums and EPs. This new album was actually nearly done many years ago but was shelved owing to struggles with record labels. When Past Inside The Present heard it though they encouraged the album to be finished and so here it is. It's an emotional work which "attempts to represent a psychic darkness that is as deeply restful as it is ripe with creative potential." It's absorbing, beautiful ambient from a pair of real dons.