LF58 - RADIALS


Astral Industries' releases are easy to recognize by their album covers, all created by Theo Ellsworth. But not just that - all of the (now 38) releases seem to share their artistic vision. There may of course be different aspects from different artists - the music may vary from Fourth-World-like sounds to rather psychedelic soundscapes - but still it seems that if you like one, you'll probably like them all. Also, none of their titles are released as CD - they are only available on vinyl or digitally.


LF58, the ambient duo of Giuseppe Tillieci and Filippo Scorcucchi now released their third album on this label. Radials, named after the Roman artist group Sbagliato's contribution to the 2023 Venice Biennale Architettura. Sbagliato proposed Radials, 'a spatial transformation of the renovations of the historic sixteenth-century building [the Fondaco dei Tedeschi] that would blur the lines between fiction and the real'. 
LF58 translated this visual concept into sound in a (quadraphonic!) concert at the Fondaco in October 2023. This album is the recording of that liveset.


'The opening scene of running waters and the cacophony of the bustling city streets quickly dissolves under the chiming of nearby bells, as hidden liminal spaces become revealed. It’s not long before all remnants of the ordinary are left behind, as the listener is submerged into the shimmering frequencies of parallel dimensions.' 


AI-38: Radials by LF58








SON OF CHI - SEVEN YEARS AT THE CHI FACTORY


With no less than nine releases on the label, Son of Chi (also: Chi or Chi Factory) is also one of the Astral Industries regulars. Seven Years At The Chi Factory, however, is not released on this label, but is self-released by Hanyo van Oosterom (Son of Chi's principal artist) to help finance new recordings and releases.


Apart from four previously unreleased tracks, the 84-minute album is a continuous compilation of music from all their Astral Industries releases. The unreleased tracks include a remix of the Ryuichi Sakamoto live tribute at the Mostra Festival Barcelona 2023, and the last acoustic session with Jacobus Derwort, one of the original Chi members who passed away in 2018. This was recorded in Derwort's garden: "We played some old bells that were still up in the trees. The birds join us as we also recorded some random flutes for the overdubs. The last recorded original Chi track.'


If you are familiar with their previous albums you'll recognize some of the music now re-organised in a different context. If you are nót yet familiar with Son Of Chi/Chi Factory's lush mix of fourth-world music, ambient jazz, and immersive soundscapes, this is a great introduction to their music.


Seven Years At The Chi Factory is available digitally and on CD, but a limited vinyl 'on demand' edition is in preparation.


Seven Years At The Chi Factory by Son Of Chi

--- originally published on Ambientblog ---

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