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Ambient Musician Jeff Greinke believes that his work is something more substantial than the mere shuffling of synthesized sounds. Perhaps listening for some whispers in the resistors, his Land of Ice and Fog (41:37) remains a deeply human activity. But Greinke's style, which seems effortless, requires much unseen effort. The seven sonically beguiling tracks each possess a quiet, distinctive, restorative power. Yet, such a perfectly conjured up realm remains a place only of the mind. In this invitation to understanding, Greinke again proves assured and satisfying. Wrapped in these quiet moments listeners abide within a transforming electro-acoustic imagination. Each piece drifts aimlessly into the listening area - somehow converting the silence into a detailed, cerebral locale. A free fantasy of tone and mood, we encounter Land of Ice and Fog more as an atmosphere than as an ordered vibration of notes. This wondrous album fills rather than defines space - the subject matter dissolving into transparent layers and planes of harmony and melody. Its realizations unfold as amorphous blurs of musical blush, yet are artfully linear in their construction. Certain timbres present in a sustaining echo, while others are felt rising from a supporting foundation. With the ringing tone of a perfectly placed piano chord, or a grounding rumble of bass, thoughts and fading facts are momentarily brought into focus. Further in, an ethereal choir bestows a mythical essence beneath a universal resonance. Once fully settled in this Land of Ice and Fog time becomes a malleable dimension - expanding, contracting, even stopping as each piece trails off into its silence. From a feel of dim disquiet, on up to confirming light, textures and moods are held and skillfully moved, penetrating our thoughts, touching our dreams - to ultimately bring resolve to a beautiful interlude of honest expression.
- Chuck van Zyl/STAR'S END 1 October 2026 |
