Abstrakce Spain Vinilo y CD

Review: For the fifth volume of The Encyclopedia of Civilizations, Abstrakce's collection of split LPs - in which selected artists offer insight into fascinating ancient cultures - hears them focus this time on the enigmatic Babylon, visited by two of the label's favourite electronic bands currently active. Berlin-based duo Driftmachine take us on a journey between the ancient cities of Akkad, Uruk and Ashur. Bringing together astonishing electronics with a superb and precise sound - floating somewhere between modular ambient, leftfield, abstract dub - every detail has been carefully crafted to produce a complex architecture. Unconventional tribal rhythms recall obscure rituals, while warm, dynamic pulses contract and expand, interacting on their journey along the sandy roads of the Mesopotamian basin. Afterwards, Glasgow-based project Komodo Kolektif delves into the Babylonian vision of magic through the figures of the Kassaptu (witches and wizards), and the use of Mandragora. A blend of both tribal primitivism and a futuristic vision is provided by their vast arsenal of vintage synths and effects units, Eastern metallophones and traditional hand percussion. This is deep, psychedelic electronics that capture the spirit of ancient Babylonian sacred ceremonies and their vision of the cosmos.

Review: Never heard of Zoroastrianism? Nothing to do with Zorro, this ancient religion is still practiced by a comparatively small number of people today, and has its roots on the Iranian plateau. Hugely overlooked in the modern world, not least given its incredible influence over may of the tropes we associate with recognisable creeds - heaven, hell, good, evil - here M Geddes Gengras and Psychic Reality pay homage to the history of what might be Western Asia's most mythologised and yet misunderstood nation, while also introducing modern sonic elements and effects.

The result is something that's unarguably original. Ambient work that is vivid and transportive, it's highly rhythmic stuff from start to finish, with tracks like 'The Incremental Spirit' taking that format to the nth degree, while the likes of 'Wilde Pastures' break with a more abstract idea of what these sounds can be.

Review: While American ambient pioneers and electronic experimentalists Kerry Leimer and Marc Barreca have collaborated before, "Chains Of Being" is not a collection of studio hook-ups but rather a split album where they handle a side each. Leimer offers up a triptych of tracks on side A, drifting between droning, meditative collages and the kind of gently unfurling ambience that has long been his trademark. Barreca's tracks were apparently inspired by the "peaceful interior ambience of Spanish cathedrals" and are a little more contemplative, mixing intergalactic electronics with evocative cello and violin movements. Both sides are superb.

Review: Mecanica Clasica draw on the rich history and culture of the ancient Mediterranean on their stunning new album Mar Interior, which roughly translates as Inland Sea. Kosmische and fourth world music are the main references as the group distill the history and legacy of ancient civilizations into eight cinematic tracks that sound both futuristic yet mythological. The work of Craig Leon, Brian Eno and Cluster is a clear influence here, while environmental recordings add to the spaced out ambient synths and gently pulsing rhythms. Shimmering, hypnotic and mystic, this is as immersive and expressive as worldy ambient sounds get.

Review: Fallen Gods is the third studio album by Rapoon, who some will recognise more as Robin Storey, part of the Zoviet France industrial group. First unveiled in 1994, it was a busy time for Rapoon as a project, with debut album Dream Circle arriving late-1992, and its follow up, Raising Earthly Spirits, then landing in 1993. Talk about keeping up the work rate.

Those expecting this outing, or indeed anything Rapoon, to sound much like Zoviet, should note that's not really the case. However, both undertakings are heavily concerned with musical textures, and this record is absolutely full of them. Hard to pinpoint, at times it's ambient, in other moments a strange minimal dance sound, layers of sound are used to create commanding rhythms that refuse to shout to get your attention.

Review: If you dig the kind of mid-1980s instrumental music that couldn't quite decide whether it was new-age ambient, deep synth-pop or horizontal, synthesizer-fired jazz-funk, you may well already be aware of Erik Wollo's 1987 album Silver Beach, an Andreas Wollenwieder style affair that's loved by many Balearic selectors. At the time of release, the album was described as "synthetic walkabout music" and that's a fairly accurate description; it's all gentle rhythms, bubbly melodies, colourful synthesizer textures and smile-inducing arrangements. This expanded reissue not only boasts the entire album in freshly remastered form, but also a second record featuring similarly attractive cuts recorded in the same period, some of which have only ever been available on CD.