Electro-acoustic downtempo instrumentals. This is an album of inspiring digital delight – the collaborating artists have worked under harmonious vision to produce music of Hope. Here smooth drones and light washes interact with environmental recordings; melodies ebb and flow in understated restraint, moved by glitchy structures entwining ‘found’ percussive sounds and delicate beats. The melodic content often has a classical beauty about it – overtly through the use of wistful strings and elegant pianos – also through a recurring tone reminiscent of the grace and pensive nature of the nocturne. Introspective voices hang in the mix in places, musing in the misty headspace of the music. Static flecks and sleeting noise enliven the textural content. Acoustic and electric guitar meanderings thicken the synthetic elements and bring additional colour to a number of tracks.

MOOD

The title well describes the mood here – ‘Hope’. The artists involved were asked to create compositions that reflected their interpretation of the term – the results, uplifting and optimistic. The attractive fragility of the music, imbued with frequent warm currents capturing something of the positivity and aspirational nature of our imperfect species. There is also a thread of pensive melancholy running through much of the music – a reminder that this album has a serious back story and deals with disturbing issues that should rightly not go unnoticed.

ARTWORK

The delivery of the CD is strictly in keeping with the visionary theme of Hope, all the artwork and packaging having been crafted with exceptional care. The disc manufacturing is eco-conscious: ISO 14000 & 14001 compliant CD manufacturing with 100% re-use of scrap polycarbonate salvaged from CD & DVD replication. Printing too is responsible: sourcing of papernic Compound (VOC) emissions from inks or coatings, and use of quick dry glues with ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) being eliminated. Collection and recycling of paperboard, inks, coatings and other waste from printing processes. 60,000 tons of pa stock from FSC Compliant (Forestry Stewardship Council) mills and printers. Wood fibre procured within the Sustainable Forest Initiative guidelines: every acre harvested is reforested – 400 Million tree seedlings planted each year. Paper products are typically recyclable, compost-able, and under the right conditions biodegradable. No wood from old-growth or endangered forests. Vegetable based inks. 100% alcohol-free printing. The premise used to create the CD/Packaging is also 100% carbon neutral and powered with green electricity, and business travel emissions are also offset.
The cover imagery itself is handcrafted – a green boat afloat on the curling waves of an indigo sea, each breaker tipped in sparkling gold. The bright sky holds a sun of glitter and runs from the front cover across to the rear where a cooler glitter moon disc sits centrally. Here is a tracklist and a web address for each artist. Inside the boat and waves are seen in close up – turbulent, dark and unnerving – yet brightened by the twinkle of golden edges and semi-submerged stars. Slipped discreetly into the sleeve is an eight page booklet that contains a series of slightly sepia toned chiaroscuro photographs of children. Accompanying information draws attention to the plight of some of this world’s unfortunate young ones. Information is also here regarding the charitable nature of the project along with relevant thanks and credits.

OVERALL

Hope is the debut album from the new Fluid Audio label – an impressive introduction with an admirable mission and honestly awe-inspiring content. The thirteen tracks here present established artists such as Ishq, Digitonal, James Murray, Hol Baumann and Bersarin Quartet alongside rising stars Field Rotation, Iambic, Snakestyle, Playb, Halogen and Ben Beiny. But this is not just a collection of music from genre sharing musicians; Hope is a tightly themed concept album of exquisitely complementary compositions. Promotional material gives some insight into the artists’ motivations: Iambic explained “My two tracks were intended to give the listener a blank canvass to paint their emotions of Hope on”. Playb commented “Children who are born in disadvantaged situations stir up so much admiration within me. I see sadness in their eyes but at the same time a passion to live.” Snakestyle put it this way, “With the music I make, I try to create something that gently catches your attention, hypnotises you, helps you think, and takes you to a place where you feel reassured”. The resultant music has an evocative depth and maturity about it that you don’t often hear. Mastering by Vincent Villuis at Ultimae provides the stamp of guaranteed sound quality. In addition fifty percent of all sales from this release will be donated to Toybox Charity committed to providing hope for the most disadvantaged children, young people and their families, principally in Latin America.

WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM

If you enjoy classical beauty and ambient downtempo you will be hard pressed to find a stronger collaborative album than Hope this year. This is an album for anyone that loves intelligent, transportational, dreamy electronica. This is an album for anyone into deeply chilled soundscapes looking to support a good cause. If you still aren’t convinced that you need to buy this album now – have a listen to the samples at the Fluid Audio website.

www.electronicmusicmall.com
www.fluidaudio.co.uk

‘Hope’ is the opening release of new electronic, electroacoustic and ambient label Fluid Audio. A rather pleasing affair it is too with a collection of thirteen tracks from a variety of known commodities (especially if you have followed some of my Ultimae reviews). The album is conceptual in nature with each artist asked to create a piece that to them embodies the concept of positivity and alleviation of strife.

As a collection the material on offer here drift back and forth from what you would classify as more traditional ambient into electroacoustic territory with its found sound association. Melodies drift and disperse and give way to tones and washes, often there is a deepening sense of drama to the pieces and while in many cases they burn slowly there is a relentless nature to them (have a listen to Field Rotation’s Regenezit for example).

In places the pace and intensity are notched up a gear starting with James Murray and his contribution ‘Fingersand’. Agitated snippets of voice float in the background while the foreground is given over to a melancholy rhythmic melody and something of a gentle loping stride of a beat. Elsewhere the collection takes on a greater organic feel with piano led tracks from the likes of Bersarin Quartett, PlayB and a particularly beautiful piece from Ben Beiny.

Other highlights include offerings from Digitonal and Hol Baumann both bringing dry skittish pieces to the collection. There’s almost a sense of agitation to their pieces, as if they were reporting back from a place of unrest or disturbance (which I suppose isn’t a million miles unrelated to the theme of hope).

In conclusion this is a really good start for Fluid Audio, a well rounded mature collection of tracks that work alongside a central theme and while many in this genre proclaim to deliver some form of message in this instance you do get a feel for what they are doing. Overrall highly enjoyable and well recommended. The digipak is out now and it will be followed with a digital release on the 29th June.

If that wasn’t enough it should also be noted that 50% of the profits are donated to Toybox. A charity that provides shelter, aid and support for homeless children in Latin America The release is also carbon neutral so what you have is a worthy release supporting a worthy cause.
www.020magazine.com

Parallelwelten is the first Remix EP of Field Rotation. Including remixes by Adamned.Age and Das OMIKron two outstanding artists from Germany are involved.

Download here

Credits:
Released 16 June 2009
Music and artwork by Field Rotation
Remixes by Adamned.Age and Das OMIKron

www.fieldrotation.de
www.adamned-age.com

The Etchical Vision Behind The Album:

The CD is ISO14001 certified, all paper & card used is FSC certified, all produced by a Carbon Zero CD
manufacturing company, via the award-winning CO2 Balance. The scientific data to calculate the
embedded carbon emissions of the CD/Packaging, and offset an equivalent amount of CO2 by investing
in 100% additional carbon-offsetting schemes with immediate & many secondary benefits to
communities that simply would not happen unless we paid for them. The premises used to create the
CD/Packaging is also 100% carbon neutral and powered with green electricity, and business travel
emissions are also offset.

Eco-conscious disc manufacturing:

ISO 14000 & 14001 compliant CD manufacturing
100% Re-use of scrap polycarbonate salvaged from CD & DVD replication

Eco-conscious printing:

Sourcing of paper stock from FSC Compliant (Forestry Stewardship Council) mills and printers.
Wood fibre procured within the Sustainable Forest Initiative guidelines: every acre harvested is
reforested – 400 Million tree seedlings planted each year.
Paper products are typically recyclable, compost-able, and under the right conditions biodegradable.
No wood from old-growth or endangered forests.
Vegetable based inks.
100% alcohol-free printing.
No Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions from inks or coatings, and use of quick dry glues with
Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) being eliminated.
Collection and recycling of paperboard, inks, coatings and other waste from printing processes.
60,000 tons of paper and board shipped from one supplier alone to recycler in one year.

Treat This CD With Care!

More info and purchase options here

We are pleased to announce that ‘Hope’ is now available in Digipak format from the Fluid Audio web site.
www.fluidaudio.co.uk

Digital release will follow on 29th June available in all formats from the Fluid Audio digital store.

Below is a link that will allow you to download a full press release which includes comments from the artists involved in the project, samples of all the tracks from the album, artwork and an unreleased exclusive remix of ‘Forever’ by Ishq.

Press Kit Download:
www.box.net/shared/rl39lt97s4

We thank you for your patience and support and hope that you will enjoy the album.
A big thanks goes out to all the artists involved in the project, and to those that helped make the dream come alive x

Genre: Electroacoustic, Electronic, Ambient
Label: Fluid Audio
Format: CD Digipak/Booklet, Digital
Reference Number: FluidAudio 001
EAN Code: 3760180500178
Mastering: Vincent Villuis – Ultimae Studios
Release Date:
Digipak – 8th June 2009
Digital – 29th June 2009

Fluid Audio kick starts it’s catalogue with ‘Hope’, a compilation sprawling across 13 tracks from established artists, Digitonal, Hol Baumann, Ishq, Bersarin Quartet and James Murray, as well as up and coming producers, Field Rotation, Iambic, Snakestyle, Playb, Halogen and Ben Beiny.

As suggested by its title, ‘Hope’, embodies a concept of positivity and the alleviation of strife “through the creative translation of emotion into sounds sent to soothe [and] images formed to inspire”. Artists were asked to create compositions that reflected their interpretation of the term Hope, producing varied yet cohesive results with a profound resonance. 50% of the profits are donated to Toybox, a charity providing aid, shelter and support for homeless children in Latin America, the majority of which are estimated a life expectancy of around four years on the street.

Coupling all of this with the CD’s bespoke artwork and carbon neutral manufacture provides a consumable and tangible product that serves to aid a constructive cause through the medium of music.

Although we are living in a world of injustice – where the rich get richer, while those in need get left behind – there is often an inherent hope in those who suffer the most. Where people have the least they value more, the simple things that others take for granted. While some are disconnected from the true meaning of life, there are others who appreciate the beauty and awe of the world and what is has to offer. In these souls is a spark of light that no corrupt power can extinguish. Despite the negativity that we are all faced with in life, the human spirit can always overcome. Whether this is in the innocent laughter of a child, the compassion shown from one suffering human being to another, or through the creative translation of emotion into sound, the joy of life is communicated all around us – we need only be willing to open our hearts to it.

Track List:

1.Forever – Ishq
2.Hopeful – Snakestyle
3.Regenzeit – Field Rotation
4.Fingersand – James Murray
5.Turn The Seasons – Iambic
6.Was uns Bleibt – Bersarin Quartett
7.Acoustics Of The Piano – Playb
8.Sunriser – Halogen
9.Start Again – Ben Beiny
10.Flags – Iambic
11.We Three – Digitonal
12.Time To Change – Hol Baumann
13.A Part Of You – Ben Beiny (Digipak bonus track)

What The Artists Say:

Iambic:

My two tracks, Flags and Turn the Seasons, were intended to give the listener a blank canvass to paint their emotions of Hope on. It occurred to me before writing the tunes that each individual lives in hope for some thing or other, hope is what prevents many peoples lives from becoming mundane, or keeps them hanging on when times are tough. So my two tunes – both being quite different – represent each aspect of Hope.

Playb:

When I was asked to contribute to this compilation it quickly came to my mind to remix ‘Acoustics Of The Piano’ because of the special circumstances with which it was created. I was experiencing hard times, the kind when you feel that there is no way out though you cling to some kind of hope regardless of how difficult things get. Children who are born in disadvantaged situations stir up so much admiration within me. I see sadness in their eyes but at the same time a passion to live. I am proud to be associated with this project, and proves that music is a tool to make people aware of social injustice.

Field Rotation:

Regenzeit (German for rainy season) describes the meaning of rain from different points of view. In the temperate zone of the earth rain is part of the daily weather, nothing special. For millions of people in tropical and subtropical regions rain gives hope – the hope for a better life after the aridity, an efficient harvest and the end of starvation, the hope for enough rain to refill the fountains and riverbeds to survive the following dry season. Regenzeit is about all the people who pray and hope for rain.

Ishq:

Hope for me rests in a belief and remembrance that we are all eternal beings and live forever. When we die we do not – we awake into a new world and all we take with us is the love and essence of ourselves whether positive or negative. The false prophecy we call death is simply that – one of the root causes of mankind’s drive toward destructive selfish materialism and consumption. To ‘take’, ‘have’, ‘be’, ‘want’ NOW…..at the expense of others with no consideration for the whole or the future or the planet is the result of a hopeless belief in death which motivates many to build castles made of sand and seek unnecessary levels of wealth and power so in turn they may feel ‘protected’ from death. Fear fundamentally of death make humans greedy. Greed – the opposite from sharing is a result of a hopeless belief in death deep within us and breed into us and taught to us. We are told and taught a lie from birth….Fear creates greed which results in many living lives of hopelessness as others live like kings.

My hope is people will remember more ‘before’ this life and remember the eternal self which lives forever
as this will help free us from the slavery of materialism and the selfishness which misleads us. We can build a world of equality where we all share and we all profit and all rise as one.
Its very simple – Share and we create HOPE and love. HOPE and faith in eternity leads to us to want for nothing more than to help others and so we may all evolve.
I hope we eventually realise this on earth and share and remember who we really are when the body is left behind.

Snakestyle:

With the music I make, I try to create something that gently catches your attention, hypnotises you, helps you think, and takes you to a place where you feel reassured. It’s great that there are people out there who genuinely believe in music and its ability to give people hope and make a difference. It inspires me to keep going, to keep doing what i do, and I hope that people find a sense of hope while listening to this project. Best wishes. Snakestyle

Some Facts:

An estimated 40 million children live on the streets of Latin America’s densely populated cities (unicef).

Observers from our partner in Guatemala say that street children there have a life expectancy of around four years on the street.

Unicef reported in 2004 that in Guatemala in the first 10 months of 2002, gangs or security forces killed 408 children and youths, but most street children were killed by drive by shootings.

THINK ABOUT IT!

More about Toybox Charity here

wwww.fluidaudio.co.uk

The talented UK artists Halogen and Iambic recently got together to perform an exclusive live improvised set for Fluid Audio. The outcome is very special indeed and has to be heard to sum up what they managed to achieve.
Crossing over into new uncharted territroy, the guys are pushing electroacoustic frequencies to the next level in futuristic sounds and I have a feeling this is the start of a special relationship between the two artists.

We are offering up the performance as a free download as a way of saying thanks to all who have supported Fluid Audio over the last few months.

Big love goes out to Adam and Guy for making this happen

Download the set here

More information on the artists below….

Halogen:
Blending live guitars and vocals with intricate, subtle melodies and rhythms, Halogen’s music is best described as organic electronica. Multi-instrumentalist Adam Janota-Bzowski draws on his diverse musical background which encompasses post-rock, jazz, glitch, blues, idm and experimental to create a sonically rich listening experience and cites the work of minimalist composer Steve Reich as a main influence on his work.
Currently studying a digital music and sound art course at Brighton University he releases his material through his own imprint; ‘Maternity’ and ‘Blood Tribe Records’, co run with Zak Norman and dubstep producer David Rzepa aka Sick Rebel.
www.myspace.com/halogenbulbs
www.maternitymedia.com

Iambic:
At the age of 21, with two full albums already released, another in progress and other songs appearing on various compilations, the London based producer Guy Andrews (aka iambic) is already making his mark in the electronic music scene.
The iambic project is loosely based around the ambient genre but takes influences from genres such as jazz, idm, post-rock, hip hop and more. The music is aimed at capturing the vibe that was present at the time of recording, whether it be evocative, relaxed or melancholic; the listener should be able to either pick up on these emotions or interpret it in their own way.
www.iambicmusic.com

We are offering you the chance to obtain a free copy of the ‘Forever’ remix that Ishq recently did for Fluid Audio.
The track will not be available on the album and is an exclusive version never to be released!
For your chance to grab a copy of the track all you have to do is simply subscribe to the Fluid Audio mailing list and we will send out the link for you to download straight away.
The track is at high quality 320 bit rate mp3.
Visit the Fluid Audio web site and click on the mailing list link.

26th June 2009 at 20:00
inSpiral Lounge
250 Camden High Street, Camden Lock, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 02074285875
Email: fluidaudio@me.com

The Line Up:

James Murray live
Iambic Live
Halogen Live
Ben Beiny dj set

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

The Evening:

Fluid Audio artists will be performing at the beautifully chilled inSpiral Lounge, Camden, London for a fund raiser evening with 50% of proceeds for the event going to Toybox Charity in conjuction with the ‘Hope’ album on Fluid Audio.

(Donations on the door will be the theme of the evening)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

inSpiral Lounge:

The inSpiral concept is a unique approach to healthy living, creativity and the world of tomorrow.
We have set out to inspire you with some of the finest of what the universe of nutritious food has to offer, uplift you with delicate and cutting edge music, intrigue you with multi-media visual art, thought-provoke you with conscious films and books and send you off with some innovative ideas for your future, which is ultimately all of our future…

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

The Artists Involved:

James Murray

James Murray will be performing his first live set in the UK with tracks being performed from the groundbreaking album ‘Where Edges Meet’ on Ultimae Records.

About James:

James Murray is a London-based electroacoustic sound artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist. His productions weave together elements of electronica, downtempo, jazz and dub in emotive explorations of how the organic and electronic interact. All at once the city and the middle of nowhere, jm’s recursive themes draw hi-tech sound design, live instrumentation and lush pastoralism together in a sonic world where nothing is ever quite as it seems.

www.jamesmurray.info
www.ultimae.com
www.fluidaudio.co.uk

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Iambic

Iambic will be playing live with his band bringing together a collection of new and unreleased material from the upcoming ep ‘Dials’ on Fluid Audio and the soon to be released third album on Somnia Records.

About Iambic:

The Iambic project is loosely based around the ambient genre but takes influences from genres such as jazz, idm, post-rock, hip hop and more. The music is aimed at capturing the vibe that was present at the time of recording, whether it be evocative, relaxed or melancholic; the listener should be able to either pick up on these emotions or interpret it in their own way.

www.iambicmusic.com
www.fluidaudio.co.uk

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Halogen

Halogen will be performing a live laptop set bringing together sonic experimentations from his upcoming album ‘Baked’ on Maternity Records.

About Halogen:

Blending live guitars and vocals with intricate, subtle melodies and rhythms, Halogen’s music is best described as organic electronica. Multi-instrumentalist Adam Janota-Bzowski draws on his diverse musical background which encompasses post-rock, jazz, glitch, blues, idm and experimental to create a sonically rich listening experience.

www.myspace.com/halogenbulbs
www.maternitymedia.com
www.fluidaudio.co.uk

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Ben Beiny

Ben will be creating a dj set focusing on deeply moving filmscape structures.

About Ben:

Ben Beiny is a composer who lives and works in London, writing music for film and documentary. At age 4 he took his first violin lesson, before going on to study piano, percussion and guitar.
Now 24, and influenced by modern composers like Cliff Martinez and Craig Armstrong, he produces an atmospheric mix of instrumentals, making use of subtle rhythms and the delicate vocals of his collaborators.

www.benbeiny.com
www.fluidaudio.co.uk

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The Label:

Fluid Audio is an independent record label that focuses on limited edition and varied format releases from a growing roster of artists, composers, and producers seeking to bring positive change into the world we live.

Every release from the label will be focusing on selected themes with the emphasis on pushing the artists to their creative limits, raising the standards in experimental sounds.

Creating new and diverse styles, never standing still, and making sure that the listener is given access to frequencies that push boundaries within the creative process of electroacoustic manipulation.

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Hope Album:

‘Hope’ is a project consisting of eleven artists: James Murray, Iambic, Ishq, Ben Beiny, Halogen, Hol Baumann, Digitonal, Snakestyle, Bersarin Quartett, Field Rotation and Playb. Each artist has been asked to compose a piece that represents the following:

‘Although we are living in a world of injustice – where the rich get richer, while those in need get left behind – there is often an inherent hope in those who suffer the most. Where people have the least they value more, the simple things that others take for granted. While some are disconnected from the true meaning of life, there are others who appreciate the beauty and awe of the world and what is has to offer. In these souls is a spark of light that no corrupt power can extinguish. Despite the negativity that we are all faced with in life, the human spirit can always overcome. Whether this is in the innocent laughter of a child, the compassion shown from one suffering human being to another, or through the creative translation of emotion into sound, the joy of life is communicated all around us – we need only be willing to open our hearts to it.’

Release Date: 20th May 2009

Purchase from www.fluidaudio.co.uk

50% of all sales will be donated to toybox charity

www.toyboxcharity.org.uk

Track List:

1.Forever by Ishq
2.Hopeful by Snakestyle
3.Regenzeit by Field Rotation
4.Fingersand by James Murray
5.Turn The Seasons by Iambic
6.Was Uns Bleibt by Bersarin Quartett
7.Acoustics Of The Piano (plucked) by Playb
8.Sunriser by Halogen
9.Start Again by Ben Beiny
10.Flags by Iambic
11.We Three by Digitonal
12.Time To Change by Hol Baumann
13.A Part Of You by Ben Beiny (bonus digipak track)

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Toybox Charity:

Registered in 1992, Toybox is a Christian charity committed to providing hope for the most disadvantaged children, young people and their families, principally in Latin America.

Our vision is of a world where there are no street children, where families are restored and those who are disadvantaged have choices and hope.

Our mission is to work in partnership with indigenous organisations supporting front line work with street children and their communities, being a facilitator and advocate for this work.

www.fluidaudio.co.uk
www.toybox.org.uk
www.toybox.org.uk