Centered on extended drones and relaxed, repetitive acoustic motifs that gracefully interact within a consonant sonic space, inviting the listener to reconnect with a deep sense of awareness and spiritual freedom.
A kaleidoscope of tonal colors and uplifting spiritual moods
The adventurous indie label laaps and its deliciously evocative textural ambient musical journeys is back with a new release by experimental folk-modern classical musician Ben McElroy from Notthingham, UK. I discovered the distinctive timbral and processed semi-acoustic soundscapes of McElroy with his album released on eilean rec. titled The Word Cricket Made Her Happy. I’ve been quite moved by how this sound artist genuinely found his own stylistic way in the overcrowded ambient music community.
McElroy‘s musical signature is uniquely personal and distinctive, characterized by string drone chords and folk-inspired minimal melodies, with traces of medieval accents, Eastern influences, and elements drawn from the European ethno-musical tradition. The use of voice is also atypical and punctuates the tranquil sound tapestry and vibrant musical mantras. Elkwort follows his diverse techniques and multiple uses of instruments to introduce us in a kaleidoscope of tonal colors and uplifting spiritual moods. Once again, his music uncovers hidden connections to the founding artists of early minimalism and microtonalism, creating lush soundscapes. These influences are primarily drawn from Pauline Oliveros for her spacious acoustic resonances and use of voice, but also from John Hassell and Ernst Höd for their fusion of styles, blending folk, Americana, and traditional music with sonic manipulations.
The music itself centers on extended drones and relaxed, repetitive acoustic motifs that gracefully interact within a consonant sonic space, inviting the listener to reconnect with a deep sense of awareness and spiritual freedom. All in all a luminous, shimmering, meditative album of immaculate harmonic beauty, a refined, subtle and intuitive ambient-folk release that will appeal to fans of Terry Riley, Pauline Oliveros, Third Ear Band, and Padang Food Tigers. Elkwort is composed of vibrant, colorful soundscapes that push the boundaries of music. Highly recommended for long walks in lush nature or when revisiting meaningful places.
Elkwort is available on laaps. [Bandcamp]
