Zephyr

Electro-acoustic ambient music from France: subtle compositions made from sampled and manipulated wind instruments. This feels almost proto-New-Age or like it could have been made in the ‘70s, a little grainy and a little psychedelic, with a constrained set of sounds and a narrow range of frequencies and dynamics. It moves toward a desolate and neutral space, amplifying silence, framing the intense weight of true calm. It feels like ideal New Age music while avoiding all the pitfalls of New Age kitsch: it’s consoling but not sappy, it suggests ritual and meditation but isn’t cheaply or offensively “exotic,” it sounds old but not dated. This is a standout record, understatedly powerful, and the music rewards increased attention. All pieces are similar, so very brief descriptions below. Play alone or on continuous. No words, no FCCs.

1. (3:05)–Trippy start. Thin, quivering sounds.
2. (1:53)—Soft, subtle, playful tones.
3. *(6:50)—Peaceful, dreamy harmonies. Like a chant without voices.
4. (2:04)–Bells, droning background.
5. (4:18)—A little more shadowy.
6. (3:32)—The thin flute sounds from the start, but more sedate.
7. *(4:25)—Everything sounds distant, like it’s disappearing.
8. (5:08)—Trippier again. The sounds flicker and forbode.
9. *(5:13)—High whistling, a requiem. The flutes say farewell and leave you alone.