Altus – The Sidereal Cycle 4

Available to download in 320kb MP3, and FLAC for those who prefer the higher fidelity it provides.

The spring equinox brings The Sidereal Cycle series to its conclusion.

Part 4 offers something extra in the first 25 minutes, providing motifs and variations of “Spem In Alium” by Thomas Tallis (1505-1585). If the beginning of this release seems oddly familiar, this is by design.

My thanks go to Brad at Free Floating for being a superb curator to this series. I’d also like to thank you, the fans of my work. When I started making music so many years ago, I never could’ve imagine receiving such positive feedback. I’m always humbled to know people around the world are enjoying my music.

Thanks for being awesome!

The following words are from Brad:

Brad Ross-MacLeod
Vancouver, WA
March 2013

For years now, I’ve felt I walk a fine line when creating music. Part of my problem is the amount of music I’ll produce in a year. It’s far from the more prolific artists out there, but three to four albums a year isn’t exactly “normal”. My concern is losing my audience due to my output. I imagine it’s hard enough to keep on top of my back catalogue, let alone what I release in a given year.

I also want to create a compelling experience with each new release, and sometimes I feel some of my stuff can sound a little same-y. Yet then again, it’s another fine line to walk. If someone likes something I create, I don’t want to stray too far from that. Otherwise, if it’s so different, they may not enjoy it.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I know many of you enjoy what I create, and I’ve been in contact with a number of people who surprise me by their knowledge of my output. A few are familiar with all my work, and that blows me away. Others have kindly spread the word of my music, either through forums or by keeping external databases up to date (such as Discogs). The many e-mails and donations I’ve received over the years is extremely humbling, so I’d like to thank all of you for your kind words, generosity, and time.

Here are my plans for 2013

The Sidereal Cycle – Part 4 // March 20, 2013
The final part of the Sidereal Cycle welcomes the vernal equinox. At this time, I’m still mentally compiling ideas, but will likely start working on it in a few weeks. As with the other three parts, this will be released through the Free Floating netlabel.

Sleep Theory – Volume 2 // Late 2013
The first volume has been a definite hit with listeners, and I will be continuing in similar form with three more sessions. A rule I’d made for myself when creating the first volume was to only use synths, no “real world” instruments. So you’ll continue to find gentle and smooth electronics permeating this upcoming release.

If you find this line-up disappointing, don’t forget you could always explore my back catalogue that spans more than a decade. If you’ve been meaning to catch up with my older works, now’s the best opportunity.

I wish all of my fans, fellow artists, and friends a great 2013.

Altus – The Sidereal Cycle 3

I felt a fair bit of pressure working on this, as it’s the spiritual successor to the Winter Embrace series, and certainly didn’t want to disappoint. However I feel I’ve managed to pull the essence of the series, and refine it into something smoother.

It goes nowhere in a hurry–letting you sink in, and drift away. The minor shifts throughout are subtle, and finally ebbs away without bringing attention to itself. This is, by far, some of the most ‘ambient’ work I’ve ever produced (ambient in the Eno sense of the word).

It may sound strange, but this is something I find very difficult to do. I always feel a need to “add more” instead of simply let the music hold still, and I feel I’ve finally managed it.

Words from Brad Ross-Macleod at Free Floating

I have to say that I think there is something about winter that brings out the best in Mike’s compositional and performance abilities.

I encourage you to listen to each of the releases in his Winter Embrace Series as well as his Black Trees Among Amber Skies. I think these are some of his best works, certainly some of my favorites.

This release ranks among his best and I think is probably his greatest long-form work. It is probably, as he mentioned to me, his most ‘ambient’ work in that it is more minimal than some of his orchestrally inspired pieces. I think it’s true. There is such a beautiful and delicate simplicity that he captures here.

It is a gorgeous wintery landscape that he has captured in sound for all of us to enjoy.

Available to download in 320kb MP3, and FLAC for those who prefer the higher fidelity it provides.

Altus – The Sidereal Cycle 2

Words from Brad Ross-Macleod at Free Floating

The plans for what would become The Sidereal Cycle took place without any input from me. I first found out about the concept from a post on the Altus blog. As soon as I read it I reached out to Mike (Carss, AKA Altus) with a resounding, “Yes, please!” Fans of Free Floating and ambient I’m sure will understand my enthusiasm.

Simply put, Mike Carss is a master of ambient music, there can be no doubt about that. Of the ambient artists that I listen to and love, I feel that Altus music is the most ‘composed’. While much of it is decidedly cinematic in structure, even the more minimal and abstract pieces seem to have deeper structures and themes that resonate throughout.

With its focus on thematic elements, the music of Altus is also decidedly painterly in that the melodies and structures help to draw mental images, especially since each release usually contains a specific topical reference (time, sleep, fire, water, etc.).

And so it is fitting that Altus turns his hand once again to the grand theme of time and the seasons with The Sidereal Cycle.

In this collection, Mike reflects on the transformation of the verdant summer into the dormant browns, oranges, and golds of autumn. Andromeda is really a two-part suite, I would say. The first part explores the gradual changes in color while the second part reflects leaves falling to the ground and the eventually dormant landscape of the impending winter.

The music is at once placid and dramatic, a perfect reflection of the changing season of autumn itself.

Please enjoy this second installation in The Sidereal Cycle and come back in a few months to hibernate with part 3.

Available to download in 320kb MP3, and FLAC for those who prefer the higher fidelity it provides.

I’m proud to announce “Shadow District”, created by the ambient guitarist, Har, and myself.

If you’re familiar with Har’s work, then you know you can expect something dark and mysterious. If not, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the sounds this guy can create with stringed instruments and many effects pedals. It may not be obvious on all the tracks, but believe me, he’s playing guitar on all of them.

Our sounds melded beautifully, and I had a blast working with him, so I hope you all enjoy it!

Har & Altus – Shadow District

The following was written by Darrell Burgan, curator of the Earth Mantra netlabel

What a great joy it is to release an album by two old friends, one a long-standing Earth Mantra artist, and the other with his first album on our humble netlabel. This is precisely the pleasure we have today, as we introduce Shadow District, the brand new collaboration by ambient masters Har and Altus.

An album by either one of these artists would be cause for celebration, but together the results simply astonish. A full seventy minutes of transcendent music await the listener, somewhere in the netherworld between dark ambience, melodic ambience, and pure electronic space music. As one would expect, the compositions themselves are near peerless, with point, counterpoint, interlude, and response all easily identifiable to those listening closely. And, also as expected, the sound design is lush and three dimensional, the performance inspirational, and the production immaculate. Attention to detail is certainly among the many strengths these artists possess.

What really does it for us, though, is the raw emotion barely held at bay in this powerful music, the palpable sense of despair and determination, of pain and hope, of disastrous loss and hard-won victory. One can picture the grit and grime of this dark underworld, of this merciless street that punishes so many and allows so few to escape to the light of day. And yet one can also sense the moments of triumph amid the ruins, when the human spirit rises above its miserable surroundings to fly free despite all odds. The duality in this music both inspires and awes the listener, with something for fans of nearly all ambient traditions to love. Truly magnificent work.

So it is our distinct honor to announce the availability of Shadow District, an album that we think is destined to be a classic of the genre, surely one of the top ambient releases of 2012. And nothing less than music for the ages.

Available to download in 320kb MP3, and FLAC for those who prefer the higher fidelity it provides.

Download Now
http://earthmantra.com/shadowdistrict

Altus – The Sidereal Cycle 1

This series is a long time coming, but I never pursued it because the concept has been done so many times. Regardless, many people (friends and fans alike) suggested I do it. My thanks to Brad Ross-MacLeod for coming up with the original name for the series. It’s a different way of looking at the four seasons.

Those who follow my work know that I enjoy creating multi-part releases. I believe that releasing a series over a period of time can create familiarity and excitement within listeners. If they enjoy one album of a series, it’s a good bet they’ll enjoy the rest.

Those with a sensitive ear may detect the music is slightly out of key. This is by design. Rather than using the standard chromatic tuning (440 Hz), I’ve lowered it to 432 Hz, which is said to be more harmonically pleasing to the ear. There’s a fair bit of “new-age healing” attachment to it, but I’ve also read articles with a more scientific/mathematical angle that enticed me to try it.

* * *

When I first met Brad in the StillStream chatroom, I quickly discovered that we have very similar tastes in ambient music. When he revealed his plans of launching his own netlabel, I knew I had to be a part of it. For as long as I’ve known him, Brad has always been a great promoter, and now, a curator to the ambient community, and I’m honoured to be chosen to be a part of it. Not just by Brad, but the community at large. The enthusiastic messages I’ve received from my fellow artists and fans around the world are beyond encouraging.

To be part of a group of people who simply enjoy the act of creating music that is beyond the norm brings a smile to my face, and I hope that my contributions to the genre add to ever-growing library of excellent (yet obscure) music.

Thank you!

Available to download in 320kb MP3, and FLAC for those who prefer the higher fidelity it provides.

Complex Silence 22

Phillip Wilkerson, fellow artist and curator for the Complex Silence series, shared his thoughts on this release created for his on-going project. I’m humbled. Thank you, Phillip. It’s an honour to be part of it.

I’ll admit to being dismayed when Mike Carss told me he didn’t have any self-written liner notes for his Complex Silence 22 release. But he did add, “the track titles pretty much cover what I want to say.”

The first thought that flashed through my mind was, “What could I possibly write, by way of introduction, to do sincere justice to his CS contribution?” I considered writing nothing; just letting the music and the track titles speak for themselves (which happily they accomplish perfectly and poetically).

But as the CS curator, I feared my silence might be taken as disrespectful of Mike’s effort and his gift to the Series. So, as I was listening to his release again, searching for appropriate words and phrases, the music itself presented the solution. There was only one word I had to write:

Altus

Without doubt, Altus is among the elite best artists working in the ambient music genre. Indeed, his music, with every new release, helps further define the genre. The proof? His music inspires fellow ambient artists and listeners alike. Merely say “Altus” and we all rush to download his latest release, confident it will provide sublime listening and fresh inspiration. Music worth keeping and hearing again and again. Anyone who is a serious ambient music artist, curator, reviewer, or listener knows I am not overstating the case. And it’s exactly that listener confidence and artistic consistency that defines Altus as a master of ambient music.

For Complex Silence 22 the Series is pleased and proud to present: Altus

~ PW

Available to download in 320kb MP3, and FLAC for those who prefer the higher fidelity it provides.

Here’s the planned line-up. I won’t bother with release dates because there’s too many variables in play to give reliable dates at this time.

COMPLEX SILENCE
Phillip Wilkerson invited me to be a part of this series over a year ago, and I’m happy to say that I’ve finally started working on it over the past month. Right now, it has the musical structure of Sleep Theory mixed with darker sounds of Rapid Eye Movements.

UNTITLED SEASONS PROJECT
This is something that I should’ve done years ago, and has been suggested by a number of listeners. This will be a four “disc” project that will be on-going into 2013, and will include a spiritual successor to Winter Embrace (since you guys keep asking for Winter Embrace IV).
Although nothing has been confirmed yet, I hope to release this through the Free Floating netlabel.

UNTITLED SECRET COLLABORATION PROJECT
I’ve been working with a fellow artist since last April on a collaborative effort, and while we still have much to work on, I’m really happy with what we’ve produced so far. This one will delve into dark/melancholy territory. We hope to release in 2012, so fingers crossed.

Happy holidays!