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Rise

by Stratosphere

supported by
unikyrn
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unikyrn Given the stories I've written and I'm editing to publish, this album hits so damn many memories
Favorite track: Duality.
pf22
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pf22 An album of beautifully melodic looping ambience, with the opening track, Melancholy, having an epic, cinematic grandeur, and the basslines will give your speakers / sub a great workout! Favorite track: Melancholy.
Witherwillow Sounds
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Witherwillow Sounds This is what pedalboard/loop guitar music sounds like when it's executed flawlessly, and it's been hugely influential my own approach as a musician. One of my top 5 Bandcamp discoveries, ever.
rikm
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rikm Stunning melodic ambience from Stratosphere, a beautiful release that is both emotionally powerful and cinematic in scope.

Highly recommended...
Sandra Barnes
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Sandra Barnes beautiful music my favorite track is desolation Favorite track: Melancholy.
more...
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1.
Melancholy 09:25
2.
Dream 08:13
3.
Hypnotic 08:48
4.
Enmity 08:43
5.
Desolation 08:20
6.
Duality 08:27
7.
Explore 08:06

about

Genres: post-rock, post-rock instrumental, post-rock shoegaze, post rock experimental ambient,

RISE, the third Projekt release from Belgian soundsculptor Stratosphere (a.k.a. Ronald Mariën), is a world of shimmering drones, engaging post-rock, and quiet passionate ambient. Traveling further on the same road as Stratosphere’s previous release, Aftermath, the guitars emerge in big layered clouds rising into the glowing sky through intricate applications of distortion and texture. Created with one electric guitar, a bass guitar and tons of pedals, RISE sounds clearer and more harmonic than its predecessor. RISE displays an expansive emotional palette; the darker sounds are less harsh and, dare we say, optimistic. The difficult period of Mariën’s life now behind him, a new dawn has risen and is audible in his music.

From AMBIENT MUSIC TUIDE: One of the Best albums of 2016
Belgian artist Stratosphere takes guitar-based ambient to new heights on the epic Rise, one of the the most rapturous, emotional, haunting things I’ve heard for some time. I quote the release notes thus: “The guitars emerge in big layered clouds rising into the glowing sky through intricate applications of distortion and texture… a world of shimmering drones, engaging post-rock, and quiet passionate ambient.” These are beatless songs without words, haunting yet hopeful, melancholy in the best possible way. The album is less drone-based and more defined than its excellent predecessor Aftermath (2015), but still swimming in a sea of sound. The melodies somehow rest in the sweet spot between straight guitar compositions and pure drone music. Astonishingly, the whole thing was created with just an electric guitar, a bass guitar and a range of pedals. Whatever kind of ambient you like – or think you like – don’t miss this.



From HYPNAGOGUE: Apparently, all it takes to make misty, thoughtful post-rock that skews more to the ambient side is one guitar, one bass guitar, and some effects. That’s the gear list at play on RISE from Stratosphere (Ronald Mariën). The seven tracks here feature spiraling loops that build and thicken, almost but not quite hiding their melodies behind walls of sound. What distinctly comes through that wall is feeling, pure and human and touching. The title-perfect “Melancholy” sets the tone, and also delivers the message that you need to throw on those headphones to take this all in. Mariën’s layers run deep, and it’s a pleasure to hear each one being smoothly slotted into place. “Hypnotic” wafts up slowly, grabbing long chords as it comes. Single notes ring out, opening the way for the more distinct melody line to come through. “Enmity” follows with long drones led along by sliding bass notes before breaking into a post-rock line. After the melody’s had its say, Mariën folds it back down into wavering pads and one final bass note. “Duality” seems like the first track to let its post-rock side take the forefront over the pads and mist. Late in the track, a big, potent wall of chords lifts up, its insistent buzz leading a shift in intensity. The last couple of minutes hit hard, and I like it. The album closes with “Explore.” This is eight blissful minutes of a long, layered drone peppered with small, almost chiming pings. (Again, get those headphones on!) It’s one of those tracks that doesn’t appear to have a lot going on, but its ambient voice and mind-massaging texture are super effective, and they bring the album to a meditative close. There is some degree of sameness to RISE, as everything’s built on drones and loops, but Mariën so effortlessly folds one track into the next, it feels more like a singular journey that shifts its look. Every piece has its own distinct flavor, and as I will say for the third time, getting up close with this in headphone is imperative. Falling between minimalism and post-rock, RISE is well worth a listen.
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Textura.org’s comment on Mariën’s previous release applies here as well: “Melody is more pronounced on the Stratosphere set, plus the music is less retiring and more assertive. There’s an ambient-drone dimension in play for sure, but Mariën also works into the release elements of prog and post-rock. (…covering a lot of ground) the variety on display only makes the result more appealing.”

Creating music is an emotional release for Mariën with each track developed spur of the moment. Not knowing how each track will evolve — even for the composer himself — allows a discovery of the subconscious.

RISE is seven tracks within the post-rock sound Mariën has traversed his entire career. Mysterious and mournful, the guitar-based moods of RISE have a sense of hopefulness — a calm sky opening after dark, difficult storms.

credits

released March 17, 2016

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Projekt Records Portland, Oregon

$7.99 CD Sale: www.projekt.com/store/projekt-label-giant-warehouse-sale/

Projekt is America's premier independent label specializing in passionately intense introspective music in the ambient, electronic, ethereal & darkwave genres. 40-year-old Projekt continues to nurture the careers of its select roster of artists. ... more

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