The Ambient Ping presents PiNG AMBiENCE 2 - Live

["Scott M2" <scott@dreamstate.to>]

THE AMBiENT PiNG   http://www.theambientping.com
Free - Every Tuesday Night - doors open at 9pm - 1st set at 9:30
  @ club nia / C'est What - 19 Church St. at Front St. - Toronto
         3 blocks east of the Union Station subway.
         map - http://www.cestwhat.com/map.html
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This Tuesday April 20th - PiNG AMBiENCE 2 - Live
        with General Chaos Visuals

Celebrating the release of the second compilation of music by
Ambient Ping performers, this night will present a banquet of
live ambient and chillout music by most of the artists featured
on the CD: Eric Hopper (Sylken), Joe G (Styrohead),
Jamie Todd (URM), Paul Royes (Delta Forces), Aidan Baker
(ARC), Scott M2 (dreamSTATE), Steven Sauve (karmafarm),
Matthew Poulakakis (Solipsystem) and from Vancouver,
Terry O'Brien (Anomalous Disturbances).

Three mini-sets are planned, with artists performing solo and
in various combinations, followed by a mega-jam featuring
all performers. Illuminating the event will be Ping faves
General Chaos Visuals, whose projected imagery also
provides the art for the CD cover package. Not to be missed...

Between Sets CD - "PiNG AMBiENCE 2" by Various Artists
We'll be featuring (of course) the new PiNG AMBiENCE 2
compilation which, besides all the artists performing tonight,
also features Susanna Hood (with dreamSTATE), earotica
(rik maclean + Scott M2) and some of our American visitors:
James Johnson, Sara Ayers and Alpha Wave Movement.
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Coming Tuesday April 27th - ARC, Alan Bloor (Pholde)
    and Anne Sulikowski with General Chaos Visuals
http://fade.to/arc   http://www.generalchaosvisuals.com 
http://www.pholde.com   http://www.worthyrecords.com
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rik maclean's *ping things* CD Reviews

"Out of the System" by karmafarm

Fans of the Toronto ambient scene will no doubt be familiar
with the name of Steven Sauve, one of Eric Hopper's frequent
collaborators in the Sylken project & a member of quasiMODAL.
One may not, however, be as familiar with his solo work as
karmafarm, a systems based ambient project Steven has
performed under for a number of years. "Out of the System"
is the first CD release by karmafarm and it fully captures the
charm and dark wonder of Steven's work.

"Roads into Ruins" is a rather ominous opening track, a lonely
trip into the heart of darkness. Deep drones play against the
noises of industry, the sounds of ancient machinery revived
from dormancy to transport us to another place. A marvelous
piece to introduce the disc, simply stunning.

"Opulent Revision" treads a similar dark path, tones rising and
falling against a constantly shifting backdrop of sounds.

"Land of Sleep" plays with the soundfield, alien whirring and
buzzing sounds flying around the listener, an almost insectile
grace about them. Quite beguiling this one.

"Leipzig Unseen" presents an arctic wind blowing through
the frozen Tundra. Pads sweep throughout the track alternately
growing and shrinking in volume, the progress of movement
measured in slowly oscilating tones. Brilliant.

"Bamboo Shift" takes a complete one eighty and brings us
out of the darkness for a few moments with some lovely
echoing keyboard work over a number of rather exotic
percussive tones. Charming.

"Procession" returns to the darker tones of the earlier tracks,
creating a sense of majesty and ritual with pulsing tones
keeping time with a series of ascending melodies. Very
theatrical this one, something very regal about it.

"Psyko:logik" continues the journey through the dark with
the sound of the abyss portrayed by the slow pulse of
processed sound. Chilling & enigmatic tones pass throughout
adding to the atmosphere. Truly inspired dark ambience.

"Out of the Blue" closes the disc with an oscilating drone
blended with found melodies and distorted sounds. A sense
of departure is apparent in this work, a feeling of night's
gradual ebb and the dawning of a new day.

I'm most impressed with "Out of the System", the sense
of movement and atmosphere capture herein stand with
some of my favorite pieces in the genre. I wholeheartedly
recommend this release and eagerly look forward to 
future work from Karmafarm.

rik maclean - rik@pingthings.com

ping things' newly expanded "features" section currently
includes an exclusive interview with Arms Full Of Sound
(Paul Needler), a spotlight on the works of eclectic and
prolific artist Aidan Baker and a review of "Seed" by
James Johnson and Ma Ja Le.
http://www.pingthings.com/PTfeaturesNF.htm

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http://www.pingthings.com = ambient + electronic + chill things
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The Ambient Ping presents free live performances by Toronto's
finest ambient, chillout and experimental music artists plus
performers from across the continent, every Tuesday at club nia
(aka C'est What) featuring a comfortable lower stage area, perfect
for attentive listening, plus a higher level with a bar, back room
and more seating that's great for conversation, good food and the
club's impressive beer, wine and whiskey selection. Musical treats
are on offer at the *ping things* ambient/experimental CD boutique.
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Please forward this e-mail to any friends who may be interested
in live ambient, chillout and experimental music performances