Report: Seetyca releases new Sleep States album on Mbira

We've also just learnt that our darkscape friend Seetyca has released the fourth installment in his Sleep States series. The new album "Parasomnia" (Sleep States IV) is released on the artist's own label Mbira where you will also find the previous three parts. Longform seductive dark dronescapes are the name of the game here. Visit the artist's website and drop him an email if you are interested in acquiring these titles, as they can be hard to find through the usual outlets, hidden treasures at their finest.

parasomnia | sleep states IV (excerpt). by seetyca

Report: Enh releases new EP on Bandcamp

Our "Japanese" friend Ian Handsley has just released a three track name-your-price EP called "Five Men Stand Under" on Bandcamp (where might I add, you will also find his recent gterma album "Body of Blue" as well as the previous mini-album which it was based upon). These three new Enh-scapes are collated from Soundcloud and feature more beat-orientation and speech samples yet still come with that typical zoned-out and drifting feeling about them. Well done, Ian.

Notification of absence: August expedition

Yep, it is time for the little red-helmeted postman to take a break in August. gterma will continue to ship out orders throughout July, and then we will be catching our breath in August to muster up some strength for the autumn season. There are already a couple of albums in progress as well as advance work into some new titles, so keep an eye out on this page from time to time if you'd like to know more. Meanwhile, a good holiday to those of you who enjoy summer in the northern hemisphere and to those still slugging it out in the south, hang in there.

Two for the seemingly eternal summer nights

Having passed Midsummer a mere week ago we've now begun the slow descent back into the dark season. Before the chilly embrace of the dark umbra though, we will experience a short but graceful time period which lends itself well to those late night contemplative journeys when you can leave the window open and breathe in the life and light from outside. The latest gterma offerings will also fit like hand in glove in this environment.

[gterma031] : VelgeNaturlig - Húmus (out now)

Portuguese soundscaper VelgeNaturlig has a penchant for creating dramatic soundworlds where the elements interact freely with more complex constructs. His magical album Húmus, originally self-released some nine years ago, is a true gterma favourite and we are delighted to bring it once more into the spotlight where its regal stature can inspire a new generation of listeners. Album comes in jewelcase with 16-page booklet.

[gterma032] : Ashtoreth's Gate - Ashtoreth's Gate (out now)

gterma follows in the wake of Ashtoreth, goddess of love and war, known by many names and cultures. Experienced sonic excavators Lee Norris and Craig Murphy have backtracked her steps through the blue tileworks of the Ishtar Gate and beyond the Temple of Marduk, only to enter a state of inbetween, a possible portal to the very realm of the gods. Journey with us into the unknown. Comes in a jewelcase with 16-page booklet.

Report: New album by Mathias Grassow on Practising Nature

And so here is also the latest Practising Nature-album "Tara" by Mathias Grassow, a three part suite running for about 70 minutes. One must say that it has that evergreen minimalistic Mathias Grassow/Klaus Wiese sound with lots of singing bowls. "Tara" is dedicated to the two recently departed ambient community profiles Gianluigi Gasparetti and Nextera label mastermind Kristian Kotarac. The album is obtainable primarily through Practising Nature's distributor Databloem whose shop is currently in holiday mode, orders are planned to be shipped out by mid July.

Report: New albums by Oöphoi on Practising Nature

Following the departure of Gianluigi works of his are beginning to appear posthumously on labels and with artists whom he worked with. Earlier this spring a collaborative album together with Ran Kirlian surfaced on  Spanish label Altera Orbe titled "The Physics of Heaven". And as we enter the summer month of June the Dutch label Practising Nature, with a history of reissuing many of Gigis past Umbra releases now also sees two new and hitherto unreleased albums. Click the album covers to reach their respective pages with som samples attached.

Here is what the label says about the two releases: "Not long before his passing Oophoi gave us the recordings of two, previously unreleased parts from the "I Hear" trilogy. Part one "I Hear The Water Dreaming" was a collaboration with Louisa John-Krol and released in 2005. The other parts "I Hear The Wind Singing" and "I Hear The Woods Whispering" were initially meant for further collaboration but for some reason this never came off the ground. On Gigi's request we edited and released the basic tracks, with artwork from his beloved wife Alessandra. Both albums showcase, in retrospect, Oophoi's talents for creating aural paintings of nature in a pure and soothing way."

Stay tuned also for a new album by Mathias to surface on Practising Nature soon, called "Tara".

Report: New EP by As If on Biorecordings

Our Danish friend Kenneth has been busy lately, and out a few days ago is a new digital EP published on the Italian Biorecordings label. The release features both delicate and lush ambience as well as the more pulsating dubtech-sound, both which were found on last year's "Faraway Trees..." album. The digital release is available through some digital distributors such as Beatport and Juno. If you are considering a purchase, remember to keep an eye on the various file formats offered on each platform. AS IF - Lines From The Past Ep by Biorecordings

And since we are on the topic of Biorecordings... the label has several interesting artists in its catalogue, mostly sitting somewhere in the dubtech/ambient range. It feels only natural to remind Urenga fans to check out Andras' compilation appearance "Warming Ocean" on the label's first compilation EP released in 2011. If you enjoyed the sound on "After Rain" this should be right up your alley as well; the hypnotic, dreamy draw of the ocean. Urenga - Warming Ocean [VA Biology 001] (Biorecordings) | Out now on Beatport! by Urenga