Ideas for this album actually started about ten years ago, when I was in the midst of studying indigenous percussion and trance drumming. A percussionist friend and I were playing in a small cafe. About ten minutes into the first set, we both started improvising using loop pedals (not a new concept, obviously) -- him on drums and percussion, and myself on flutes. Twenty minutes later, we blew off the rest of the set lists for the night and from that point, every gig we played became completely improvised.
We went our separate ways, musically speaking, and I began toying with the idea of creating percussion loops with my own fledgling drumming skills to set up meditative beds over which to layer extended improvisations. As is often the case, the pieces took on lives of their own and there were times where the melodic improvisations seemed a distraction as I became more interested in how the different layers of percussion and static pads moved and swirled around each other.
One early morning, I was out with my wife, an extremely gifted landscape photographer. She was intently focused on capturing a cliff face reflection in a large pool of water in an Arizona canyon. While she stood motionless in very cold water, waiting for any ripples to subside, I daydreamed and watched the colors of the clouds and the slowly brightening sky swirl around in the gentle waves of the water.
While this album is clearly more rhythmically and groove-oriented than the last few releases, it hopefully still maintains an ambient flavor as the percussion sequences create their own feeling of suspension. I should point out as well...all of the improvisations were one-take, "live" in the studio...
I hope you enjoy it...it was a lot of fun to create...thanks for listening
credits
released January 1, 2017
Composed, performed and produced by William Hoshal
Percussion, percussion loops, mallets, Hang Drum, Moyo Drum, guitars, EWI, piano, and synthesizers - William Hoshal
Balafon samples and loop originally produced by Robert Rich; edited for Kontakt by William Hoshal
Rich, warm, soothing ambient music from the Japanese label White Paddy Mountain perfect for drifting to sleep, or starting the day. Bandcamp New & Notable May 17, 2016
supported by 5 fans who also own “River Of Clouds”
Upon departing Mother Earth on a mental space pod, one would be wise to pack this release as a must-have item. It's a dream that these titans of ambient soundtracks have teamed up to grace the world with this release. Within this sonic universe unfolds a journey into the cosmic ocean, welcoming its listeners and rewarding them with a transcending stroll through the Milky Way. This music SHOULD be the official soundtrack for departing the I.S.S., no question about it. Flawless. 10/10. tonepoet