Biosphere – Dropsonde

Missing all the best songs... :(
(Dissolving Clouds,
Warmed by the Drift,
In Triple Time,
From a Solid to a Liquid)

Shame that on vinyl doesnt exist track arafura from CD version... total s#i#..

Subtle jazz percussion timings matched with sensitive sound design greet the listener at first encounter. Being impatient I thought this was an updated and un-house St Germain in some places but with a less obvious driving force - Biosphere's ability to create compelling ambience. Listening properly though, there are tracks that hang pensively to create a 'solid' ambience allowing foreground crackle to excite while layers of half played keys dwindle into the background. I can see this record being misunderstood by some of Biosphere's ambient drone following who might have preferred a follow up to "Autour De La Lune" on vinyl. It is a very well executed recording - and an 'upbeat' one too. The less percussion, more drone oriented tracks are deep and light with plenty of texture but there is nothing minimal going on here - plenty of layers to engage timbral listening, if a little melodically laden.

Here we go! Now this is some beautiful stuff, if you didn't like the insane minimal sound of "Autour De La Lune" (I really did actually, but not as much as his other releases) and would like to hear Jenssen back in full force, THIS is the album to do it with!

A lot of the drones and electronic sounds are VERY reminiscent of "Cirque", which is basically my favourite Biosphere album (tied with "Substrata" actually.) Jenssen is in full form here as a songwriter, creating some extremely gorgeous atmospheres and melodies, blending all the sounds in his own unique way, definitely at the top of his game.

A new addition to his arsenal are quiet, smooth, jazzy sounding drums (mainly hi hats.) And in combination with the drones and sublime basslines, the results are... fucking gorgeous ("Birds Fly By Flapping Their Wings")

"Sherbrooke" is another favourite, and it along with "In The Shape Of A Flute" close the album perfectly... "Sherbrooke" is 100% ambient and makes a very good use of repeating guitar samples... incredible.

Anyways, I will surely pick up the full length, everybody get your hands on this as soon as you can. Biosphere is back! :)

Geir Jenssen is back with yet another great album and guess what? This one surprises with hypnotising drums similar to those heard on Cirque. The paradiddles are back and so is my good mood! Looking forward hearing the forthcoming cd issue.