Customer Reviews

Gongland

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Forrest Fang is one of the unsung heroes of world fusion; he's been creating his unique music for well over a decade. He's collaborated on a few occasions with the better known Robert Rich, adding his distinctive eastern sounds on violin to Rich's ambient soundscapes.

On this, Fang's latest work, he continues his forays into ethno-ambient, here with his usual plethora of world music influences, including balalaika, Japanese palm harp, and Indonesian gamelan music, among others. These are all fused with keyboard electronics, which themselves span a wide range of sounds that fully complement the native instruments. Fang is particularly interested in how algorithms can be derived in electronic music--patterns that can be used to generate new patterns.

This is a strong release, and should be heard by anyone interested in where world fusion is going these days.

Easily one of the best drone based ambient works ever produced. Gongland is an incredibly layered, complex, hauntingly beautiful album. A must have for every ambient afficianado. Move over, Eno!