Boundary transcending neo-classical from Hideyuki Hashimoto

The Japanese artist brings forth unfiltered emotion, as his newest EP surfaces

Hideyuki Hashimoto of Kagawa Japan, excels within the genre of neo-classical. A skilled pianist Hashimoto uses light touches of electronica to elevate the soft, physical texture of his solo piano compositions. The normally silent background tones of shifting mechanisms within the piano are embraced, rather than highlighted and dug out from the final release. This ambient sound is drifted into his work, adding layers of organic warmth to his tracks and bringing down boundaries between the minimalist percussion and audience. Particularly during this time of isolation from live music, it’s an artistic choice which carries with it an emotional resonance.

Hashimoto has just made public his newest EP ‘Fragment’, a compact trio of songs which demonstrate the artist’s patient appreciation for the impact simple beauty can have. All three tracks were improvised at the time of recording, an approach which has allowed the pianist to capture a moments from the past two years with a raw and personal intensity.  Winter 2020, summer 2020, and winter 2021 have all been times of turmoil and unavoidable personal reflection. In the Fragment EP Hashimoto works to encapsulate memories, effectively creating a diary of sound; it’s warm, intimate, and evaporates distance that seems insurmountable.

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Sun Rain returns with a new journey: Moonwalk

Lending his skills in ambient and drone to a higher plane, Sun Rain provides a glimpse of his upcoming EP

This isn’t the first time we’ve had the pleasure of listening to the ambient works of Sun Rain. When Chad Skinner first started work on the solo project back in 2019, he made a strong impression with debut album ‘Sheets’,  introducing us to his personal style of ambient and drone. Since then his discography has been steadily growing, which each new addition bringing a different shade of peaceful downtempo.

The atmospheres conjured up by the Toronto producer and composer manage to expand to the very edges of consciousness, allowing space for meditation, self-reflection, and quiet. Skinner’s talents have been honed throughout his collaborative work, sharing time with groups such as ‘Snowday’ and ‘BisonBison’. Skinner has also found development in his experiences performing DJ sets under the name of ‘Legs Florentine’.

The newest release from the Sun Rain project is ‘Moonwalk’, a precursor to a fresh EP titled ‘Ma’. Moonwalk takes inspiration from the journey taken by astronauts to breach the divide between our planet and the space beyond. Neo-classical strikes of piano create a very gradual build towards a more cosmic ambience, in a track which takes the listener to a higher vantage point; from the everyday to the infinite.

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Instrumental landscapes from Nick Schofield; ‘Ambient Architect’

♫ LISTEN: https://smarturl.it/z5pykb📼 ORDER: https://nickschofield.bandcamp.com/album/glass-galleryVideo by Christopher HoneywellTitles by Pascal HuotSpecia...

On the brink of a new collection, Schofield draws on experienced ambience for a sweeping, experimental performance

The foundations of Nick Schofield’s new album took shape during the producer’s visits to Canada’s National Gallery in Ottawa. The interlacing of physical structure with the more ethereal aspects of the exhibitions left an impact, creating ripples which found formation within the soon to be released 11 track LP ‘Glass Gallery’.

Ambience influenced music is the sphere in which Schofield most commonly creates, though his discography has also had movements into drone and neo-classical. His solo career has seen Schofield develop music which falls back into the environment, utilising gentle sweeps of synth and melody which settle alongside found samples which bring to life natural elements. In a wider sense, his presence in the electronica community extends beyond his own work. Schofield hosts a radio show, actively collaborates with other artists, and has been involved with projects for organisations such as Red Bull Music Academy and CBC.

His latest collection arrives with the support of the Backward Music label, listening to the composition of these songs hints at the range of experimentation in ‘Glass Gallery’. While ‘Mirror Image’ plays with weightless melody, ‘Ambient Architect’ evolves patiently until the listener is encompassed.

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