With her fourth album, Penelope Trappes, most probably the best ambient pop artist out there, continues with her ultimately ethereal way of creating music. Surprisingly NOT titled "Penelope Four", Heavenly Spheres
The artist is a queen of combining extremely dark, gothic and post-industrial ambient soundscapes with extremely airy vocals. There melodies here are almost non-existent, but it's on purpose: vocals are yet another way of creating the unbelievably eerie atmosphere of the compositions. And it's a vital part as the album is kept in a very minimalist way: it was created with "only [the artist's] voice, an upright piano and an old German reel to reel tape deck". The result are even more unnerving then typically with her music. Even if there are field recordings of spring-inspired bird chirping, Penelope Trappes can still transform the ultimate symbol of life into moody darkness.
The album was created during two-week residency for Britten Pears Arts that made it possible for the artist to embrace a particular way of creating her music. As she stated: "I immersed myself in solitude and often deafening silence, and coexisted with an enormous amount of history and books" and I feel like you can really hear it on this album.
The album was created during two-week residency for Britten Pears Arts that made it possible for the artist to embrace a particular way of creating her music. As she stated: "I immersed myself in solitude and often deafening silence, and coexisted with an enormous amount of history and books" and I feel like you can really hear it on this album.
Heavenly Spheres costs 8 EUR (7 GBP).
Check: A Seagull Learns to Sleep Alone
Country: Australia/UK
Genre: ambient pop
Label: Nite Hive
