Each track is a quiet nocturnal storm, swirling hypnotically across the stereo landscape, immersing it in lush luminous colors.
Weightless (Ambient Transmissions Vol. 2) was originally released in 2012 as a digital-only free bonus album that came with all pre-orders of Marconi Union‘s sixth studio album, Different Colours. In 2011 MU were commissioned to write a piece of music that people would find relaxing. They worked with a sound therapist, “who advised them on some of the technical issues relating to how the human body responds to sound.” As a result the track “Weightless” was born. Scientists crowned it “the most relaxing song ever created” and of course newspapers, radio stations and television shows soon came out with similar statements.
Inspired by the sound of “Weightless” and eager to explore it further, MU decided to make more music using the same approach. The result: five more tracks in the same vein. The minimal and very subtle characteristics of the six tracks simply presented as parts 1 to 6, made MU feel this album should be Vol. number 2 in their Ambient Transmissions series which started in 2011 with Beautifully Falling Apart (Ambient Transmissions Vol. 1). Now, finally, Weightless (Ambient Transmissions Vol. 2) is available for the masses to explore, thanks to the Just Music imprint which gave the album a proper physical release in CD format with beautiful new artwork in addition to the digital re-release. As opposed to many people, “relaxing” is the last word I would use to describe MU’s music. It’s not music to chill with. It’s evocative, dynamic and full of nuance. Sure, the combination of slow pace, gradual evolvement and hypnotic repetition in their tunes is quite capable of loosening up the muscles, but it’s the interaction of that sedative charm with the emotional depth and stirring fluid movements that makes MU’s music so special.
Over the years, MU have developed their own unique, powerful and effervescent mixture of melancholic glow, sense of isolation and uplifting sparks of hope. They incorporate elements of ambient, electronica, jazz, post-rock and dub techno, in a way that makes it impossible to label them as one of these genres. This signature mixture which captured the hearts of many across the globe is there on Weightless (Ambient Transmissions Vol. 2), but the shades are brighter and more polished, and the sedative charm is slightly more effective. Each track is a quiet nocturnal storm, swirling hypnotically across the stereo landscape, immersing it in lush luminous colors. I truly believe MU never have intentions to force particular stories on the listener. They don’t tell you how their music should make you feel. Even if they have a concept, it’s always a concept that leaves enough open space for the listener to form a pure one of a kind relationship with the album. This latest release from them is no exception. An excellent sequel to the wonderful first part of the series.
Weightless (Ambient Transmissions Vol. 2) is available on Just Music.
