Billow Observatory Calque / Soliton Whirlpool Blue Vinyl Edition

Billow Observatory's second Extended Play in less than a year,Soliton maximizes the compact format by further illuminatinglesser-traveled paths. Contemplation and exploration weaveharmoniously through five mysterious tracks. Influenced by awide range of styles and sounds, such as Japanese ambient,the muted dissonance of Pharoah Sanders, and the chilly dubof the Scape catalog, Soliton evokes visions of lonely nightdrives punctuated by bright moments of bliss.The Calque EP from January 2023 saw them pursuing theminimal electronic side of their work even further. The openingtrack, "Kottbusser Tor," showcases a conspicuous absence ofthe processed guitars that characterize most of their work, andinstead explores sequenced filters, tape delays and analogsynth patterns for eight minutes. On "Ammosel", they divedirectly into dubby soundscapes, with crackling electronics anddeep basslines, while "Kiyosumi" and "Fade Into Air" pay a visitto more familiar ambient territory. A darker undercurrentpervades on this EP, but one that goes particularly well with thecoldest of seasons and its frosty air.The duo, consisting of Jason Kolb (Michigan, US) and JonasMunk (Denmark) started working together in 2006, sendingeach other tracks across the Atlantic, eventually resulting in afull-length release on Felte in 2012. What started out as a sideproject to their respective main projects (Auburn Lull andManual) have slowly become the main activity for both artists,now with a total of four full-lengths under their belt. Their musichas also evolved and matured over the years, reaching a levelof perfection that's only granted producers who've been in thegame for decades. Billow Observatory have by now establishedthemselves as purveyors of highly refined ambient music andthe Soliton EP sees them elegantly blend new and old,electronic and organic, into a gently drifting, enveloping whole.