Pete Namlook Air 2

This is a re-issue on Ambient World of the very highly thought of FAX label limited edition. The album basically consists of one hour long track split up into eleven 'trips'. The first section begins with soft ethereal pads wafting above gentle rhythms and percussion. Its all very relaxing and meditative. Vocal samples can occasionally be heard - rather mysterious and thought provoking. The background sounds and effects get spookier and more cosmic as we progress. It has a very dreamy, on the edge of consciousness feel to it.

The rhythms in the second section are more 'ethnic' and tribal sounding than in the first but the pace is still very laid back as we continue on our restful journey. More ethnic sounding wind and string instruments are brought in though we remain chilled. The very short chanting third trip I could have done without, though the various flute sounds were rather good. The following section takes us back into deep space on the back of bass drones- very nice. Now on to 'Trip 5', what a surprise! What we basically have is a rather stonking slab of Berlin School sequencing backed by a great rhythm. This certainly isn't laid back- its thunderous and awesome! Turn that volume up as high as it will go! We still aren't three minutes into the section and another brilliant sequence is added making a track I am already running of superlatives for sound even better! This would be bound to be on any retro nuts 'best of' CD-R. The short sixth trip provides yet another twist this time the rhythm is rather quirky with metallic sounding chimes and faint (Indian?) chanting for accompaniment.

The next trip is even shorter lasting less than a minute and is rather like listening to a ticking clock. Trip eight takes off with tabla rhythms then some great sinister deep pads. There are some interesting vocal samples then a didgeridoo loop. A more conventional rhythm strikes up and mixes very well with the didg, an instrument I usually dislike in EM but it works well here because of the rhythmic rather than dronal way it is used.- excellent and inventive. This CD just serves up surprise after surprise as the next trip is dominated by a Spanish (?) style acoustic guitar. It's a beautiful delicate number mainly devoid of electronics but where they are used they add just the right 'colour'.