(04.16.07) Not many compilations actually feel like their title. This one actually does. Especially on the opening track with the sounds of the sea, birds and the creak of boats giving that feeling of relaxed desolation what being in the middle of the ocean with nothing but water in sight must feel like.
Let me give you a bit of history first, so you can get a feel for where this is coming from. The Lagunamuch Community are an Eastern European (primarily Russian) collective of artists formed in 2004 to release experimental electronica, and the music they produce does manage to have a very Eastern European feel to it. Deep Sea Shipping showcases this very well.
So how does it sound?
Generally very relaxing drenched ambient with found sounds, M2 style bilps/squirts and nicely reverbed electronic drums. Each artist does contribute their own feel but the Lagunamuch Community very clearly has forged its own sound. The music is very minimal with as many nods to the early days of electronic music as there are to the more modern sides of electronica. For example the Abstract Avenue track on this compilation keeps the ambient mood while having an almost Kraftwerk-esque drum pattern and bass line. In addition to that we are also treated to some interesting little bent guitar melodies from Batiskaf and female vocals on the Kriipis Tulo offering.
Due to the nature of the music on this release, the tracks can (and do) nicely fade into each other to make one whole piece and this works very well to turn the whole album into a tasty listening experience which takes you on a journey through the lighter and more open side of electronica.
It’s not all roses though unfortunately, sometimes the mastering appears to over-saturate. For example on the Holden track you can hear the compressor running at full trying to cope with the bass. It’s not fair to blame the artist for this but the constant saturation becomes a bit much for me by the end, but in all fairness not everybody’s ears will pick this up. However as this is the only criticism I can give this rather delicious slice of ambient experimental music you’re probably starting to get the picture that the rest of it is really rather good.
This is a rewarding listening experience that I recommend to anyone who has the feeling that their ears need something new and different to keep their faith in the world of electronic music.
Deep Sea Shipping is out now on Lagunamuch. [Release page]
