The press release from Suilven Recordings regarding the DAC Crowell & Kurt Doles debut states that the label feels it's the best ambient recording of the last twenty years. A weighty claim from a relatively new CDR label, but I must admit it made me curious about the release in question. A new album from a label I'd only vaguely heard about, by two artists I hadn't heard of before in ten years of listening to ambient? Uh oh.

The disc begins with "Yankee Ridge," a nine-minute tone poem with some very deep and natural sounding synth vibrations. Various spiraling, analog-sounding drones build and build to a vibrant, revelatory drone styled similarly to Thom Brennan's recent Satori and some of the synthwork of Michael Stearns from the 1980s. This is marvelous, understated material--the kind of stuff I wouldn't mind listening to for an entire album length track of slowly shifting synth harmonics. The track recedes as gently as it began, leaving the listener with quite a first impression. Next is the mammoth forty-five minute "Rain Temple Garden" which features bin shaking bass vibrations, startling my wife downstairs the first time I listened. A metronomic ticking accompanies very synthetic drip-drop noises with a psychedelic synth drone backing. Processed gongs or bells occasionally sound here and there, creating the soundtrack to a Buddhist meditative trance where time slows and the world explodes into microscopic vibrancy. The track does not vary appreciably over the forty-five minutes, which is both to its benefit and detriment. I found that it was an effective background environment, but did not shift (subtly or otherwise) enough to grasp my attention, considering the extreme length of the piece. While it is not nearly as wispy and ignorable as John Broaddus's 4 at 18, the track does tend to wear upon the senses after twenty or so minutes of active listening. This one's perfect for tranced-out sessions of reading or meditation--but does not quite cut the mustard during active listening. A good piece, if not absolutely memorable. Finally, we reach "In Midsummer," another nine-minute piece. This one begins with a sound that resembles the quiet motion of electricity through wires accompanied by Eno's On Land playing faintly in the distance. A treated piano punctuates the ambience (even more minimally than Budd or James Johnson might). A little synth melody is formed at the core of this piece, gently moving the track forward and building quite nicely toward the end. The sound is a bit murky on this track, making the different elements blend into sonic smears a little too readily. The overall effect, though, is of peace and warm splendor; a bittersweet atmosphere of knowing the vacation that seemed endless in the beginning is now half-over. At the end, the treated piano stands alone; an emotional coda enhanced by the disappearance of electronic atmospheres. A fine finish to an equally fine effort by these new artists.

DAC Crowell and Kurt Doles have fashioned an album that's not even close to the best in the last twenty years of ambient. It is, however, an excellent environmental ambient disc worthy of attention and at least an hour's worth of listening--and that's no hyperbole. This untitled collection of tracks dating from 1994 to 1997 is a professional, fascinating listen from start to finish (though the sound quality on some of the pieces is distinctly lo-fi--stereophiles beware). Fans of James Johnson's drift-work and the vibrant atmospheres of Thom Brennan will feel right at home with this disc. DAC Crowell and Kurt Doles are in good company with the before mentioned, and I look forward to hearing future work from the duo.

Released on CDR by Suilven Recordings.

since July 15, 2003