#R_R_

[thesunlounge]

Reviews 361: R_R_ (Reinis Ramans)

Very few things in music make me happier than when Growing Bin goes ambient, and the newest exploration of horizontal stylings released on the label–the Train of Thought LP by R_R_–is truly something special. R_R_, short for Reinis Ramans, is an alias of Reinis Semēvics, a multi-faceted artist, composer, and lecturer based in Riga, Latvia and working in music, soundtrack, and radio. As described by Patrick Ryder in the press note for the LP, and as suggested by the soothing liquid visage on the front cover, Train of Thought is “inspired by the rhythmic movement of water and how its rippled reflections bend our perception”–and the album sees a wide range of field recordings, samples, acoustic instruments, and synthesizers combining for a sonic experience that is as meditative as it is beguiling. Water, as a thematic centerpiece, is heard in many forms...sometimes cleansing and pure, other times corrosive and blended with noxious chemicals…and birds and insects sing while the sounds of seaside cities filter into the stereo field. Synthesizers, orchestral samples, and otherworldly electronics morph and mutate between billowing clouds of subsonic smoke, spaceage cascades of radiant tropicalia, progressive electronic and new age sequencer studies, and droning choral incantations while pianos and digitized mallet instruments alight on polychromatic dream explorations. Elsewhere, bouncing basslines, IDM drum fx, and hand percussions coalesce to sweep the body towards alien island paradises and at certain crucial moments, four-four kick drums emerge to lead muted and vaporous expanses of oceanic deep house. As well, the entire album is artfully arranged and segued, with the individual compositions seamlessly flowing into and out of one another, creating the effect of a delirium hallucination.

R_R_ - Train of Thought (Growing Bin Records, 2020) Synthesized dream sonics descend over effected wave crashes at the start of “Entering,” with the sonics evoking mirage-like visions of leaves falling from trees. The melodic temperament of the track soon changes however, as the feathery pad descents are replaced by pooling clouds of black smoke and boat engine drones, with a vibe not unlike the murky ambiance of II by Wilson & Tanner. The immersive and softly caustic waves of sound grow ever denser as smoldering bass currents swirl slowly…their sounds evoking the mutated arias of an extra-terrestrial druid choir while scraped metals and abstracted clacks fill the air. As the track progresses, the mind wanders along desolate beaches adjacent to abandoned industrial factories, as sea-horns blow from unseen sources and air brakes releasing at nearby bustops. The inky hazes of unsettled ambiance hovering above the horizon eventually fade away and at some point, all sense of melody or tonality disappears, leaving behind the sounds of a decaying seaside city and a thick, soul-swallowing buzz. And as the track ends, post-classical angel breaths are carried on fluttering echowaves, crickets sing their chirping serenades, and the field recordings of lapping water return, only this time free of fx, with a sound clean and pure. The heavenly organ-esque tones of “Opposite” are birthed from this liquid soundworld. Chiming pads intertwine with sleepy-eyed keyboard phrases to bring atmospheres of a cosmic lullaby and hypnagogic bass pulsations float the body and spirit while treble frequencies shimmer at the edges of the mix...like myriad insect wings vibrating in anticipation. Dreamscape synth leads mimic the refractions of sunlight on a rippling ocean surface and after a sudden fade to silence, phased and flanged reveries of post-classical romance swim around each other, resulting in a glorious sunrise ritual blurred by layers of alien filtering, wherein shadowy formations reference previously heard progressions.

Field recordings of water and insects are slowly brought into focus at the end of “Opposite,” from which emerge the lulling arps of “Luminosity”…like fantasy sequences of kankyō-ongaku-inspired innocence. Cymbals tap out breezy rhythms and FM-synth star clusters descend from the night sky as gently physical tom tom rhythms give the horizontal groove a soft tribal pulse. Bleary synth arpeggiations continue their sleep-inducing dance and at some point, the rhythms cut away, leaving bass notes to pound like currents of heavy air. Wailing streaks of muted brass synthesis work into the mix alongside vaporous rhythmic accents and as further melodic cascades fall onto the mix, they bring with them drunken dream energies and whooshing celestial winds. The barely-there rhythms are given further hypnotic momentum by soft shaker murmurations and certain drum hits fly out through liquid dub fx chains. Phase-shifting wisps of fragile keyboard magic blow in from the edge of the mix, chill-out tracers and minimalist synth cycles dance joyously overhead, and galactic chimes swim through star oceans as rimshots work against the rhythmic flow, though the effect is brief and the track eventually breaks apart. Segueing into “Opening Up (Improv Take),” echo fx comprised of either birdsong or drum detritus move backwards in time, with manic repetitions obscuring Ramans’ REM-cycle piano explorations. Eventually, the clicking delay tracers recede, leaving glowing piano incantations to work through clouds of sustain pedal resonance, which overlap to create slowly moving vortices of ivory ambiance. And increasingly these tales of piano sustain and decay are caught through delay and reverb machines, which morph the sounds towards aquaeous fogbanks and deep sea cloudforms even as the playing grows ever more intense and accelerated, with runs of joyous abandon struggling to be heard within a droning maelstrom.

A fade to near silence introduces “Deleting Doubts,” wherein the pianos of the preceding track briefly re-emerge, with clustered notes generating clouds of deep sea ambiance. A Berlin school sequence diffuses in while asymmetrical delay fx move in counterpoint, resulting in a dance of psychoacoustic splendor. A four-four kick enters alongside emotional bass slides and the whole thing evokes into a sort of hyperventilating slice of Yume Bitsu-style post rock, with dub fx ricocheting across the mix and further sequential synth patterns entering to harmonize with the percolating kosmische electronics. Gentle hisses and glitches intermingle with birdsong and isolated three note piano melodies beam in from an entirely different song while woodblocks and rimshots bounce around the mix. And as sequences fade through echo chambers while sonars ping across the sky, huge roaring swells wash the mix clean, until all the remains is birdsong. “Melodic Harmony” begins the B-side, with further birdsong samples being quickly disturbed by unsettling liquid gurgles and extra-terrestrial laser whistles. White noise atmospheres flow over emotional basslines while IDM electronics flash cross the mind and as the track progresses, the vibe grows increasingly tropical even as it pushes towards alien landscapes, with a sound not unlike the work of X.Y.R, especially on Big Chill. At some point, equatorial chords drop, bringing with them soothing balearic vibrations and a sense of seaside warmth, which is only enhanced as metalloid taps form into a hypnotizing horizontal groove…the effect like watching a cinematic sunset on some faraway exo-planet, where the horizon explodes in colors never before imagined. During an ambient breakdown, birds sing again over hovering solar wavefronts and braindance cymbal FX, out of which emerges a completely transcendent passage, wherein instruments evoking a marimbas made of human breath executes minimalist fairy dream dances in the style of The Swan and The Lake. And effortlessly, the strangely swaying island life groove resumes around the angelic idiophones and now features muted brass fanfares reaching towards a sunburst sky.

In “New Wind,” a choir sitting at the center of existence blows out waves of blackened radiance, through which swim psychotropic laser clusters. Angelic hazes diffuse through the darkness, bird chirps echo, and cooing brass synths bring rays of warming light as a four-four beat and bassline pulse through the shadows. Further beings from celestial skies breath wordless melodies and echoing toms beat in tribal anticipation while hi-hats shimmer before resolving into focus, with everything coming together like the lunar ocean new age and rainforest club experiments of Sign Libra. Imagine a dance party on the seafloor, only as if heard thousands of feet away on the water’s surface, with throbbing and blurry rhythms causing the heady and body to fully zone out. We move from open water to the seashore in “Step by Step,” as effected waves crash and crystalline keyboards dance in a spirit of tropical effervescence. Blurred piano chords land like gemstones as they anchor a developing groove, which is constructed from the ritualist pitter patter of hand drums and tom toms. Leads awash in vibes of new age and coastal jazz sparkle like diamonds in the sunlight, alternately descending down infinite scales or alighting on understated solo explorations. Melodic bubble cascades glow in hues of ruby, sapphire, and emerald and are given further shape by a smacked snare, which imbues the track with a sort of dubwise riddim flow, one bringing evocations of Gaussian Curve’s balearic bliss outs and the Growing Bin classic Overworld by A.r.t. Wilson. Synthesized FM sequences join the island sway as the melodic and rhythmic begin to blur, with additional ceremonial drum layers joining in and seagulls crying overhead. And the track seems to space out as it proceeds, growing airier and landing increasingly like a dream…like a tropical paradise only remembered, with the mental visage blurring around the edges as the mind flits between scenes both real and imagined. As for “Outro,” whooshing waves and descending dream energies are joined by swells of ethereal string synthesis…as if an eternal orchestra of ocean and sky is bidding the listen farewell.

(images from my personal copy)

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ふくろと金貨取扱店

2018年05月26日(土)以降順次、ゲームマーケット2018春で発売された新作「ふくろと金貨」を一部店舗限定にて2500円(税抜)で販売開始いたします。

お近くの店舗をご確認の上、ぜひお立ち寄りください！

なお、在庫につきましては直接各店舗へお問い合わせください。

以下は、「ふくろと金貨」を取り扱っている店舗一覧です。

北海道

イエローサブマリン 札幌RPGショップ

北海道札幌市中央区南3条西4丁目12アルシュ 4F (GoogleMap)

011-213-6005

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-053.htm

東北

CosmosWan

宮城県仙台市若林区清水小路8-2 ディーマークビルディング五橋駅前 1F (GoogleMap)

022-399-8357

https://www.cosmoswan.com/

おもちゃ屋Kimi

山形県長井市栄町1-6 (GoogleMap)

0238-87-0666

https://kimi.base.shop/

関東

イエローサブマリン プレイソフト宮原店

埼玉県さいたま市北区宮原町3-561 (GoogleMap)

048-652-3535

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-001.htm

イエローサブマリン 川越カードショップ

埼玉県川越市新富町2-11-4 マルキンビル 3Ｆ A-1 (GoogleMap)

049-229-6377

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-069.htm

イエローサブマリン 横浜ムービル店

神奈川県横浜市西区南幸2-1-22 相鉄ムービル2Ｆ (GoogleMap)

045-317-9690

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-048.htm

イエローサブマリン 横浜店

神奈川県横浜市西区南幸2-14-16 やまと屋ビル2F・3F・4F (GoogleMap)

045-311-2847

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-006.htm

イエローサブマリン 千葉ゲームショップ

千葉県千葉市中央区富士見2-3-1 塚本ビル 3F (GoogleMap)

043-227-5388

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-013.htm

イエローサブマリン 柏マルイ店

千葉県柏市柏1-1-11 丸井柏店VAT B1F (GoogleMap)

04-7162-1616

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イエローサブマリン 新宿ゲームショップ

東京都新宿区西新宿1-16-10 浅川ビル3F (GoogleMap)

03-3346-3839

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東京都千代田区外神田1-11-5 秋葉原スーパービル8F (GoogleMap)

03-5297-5402

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-059.htm

イエローサブマリン 秋葉原本店★ミント

東京都千代田区外神田1-15-16 ラジオ会館6F (GoogleMap)

03-3526-3828

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イエローサブマリン 町田カードショップ

東京都町田市原町田6-18-13 サニーサイドビル2F (GoogleMap)

042-739-6966

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-032.htm

イエローサブマリン 池袋RPGショップ

東京都豊島区東池袋1-15-1 真下ビル6F (GoogleMap)

03-5927-8799

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-074.htm

イエローサブマリン 立川店

東京都立川市柴崎町3-7-17 N2ビル 3F (GoogleMap)

042-548-1706

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-075.htm

イエローサブマリン 宇都宮GAMESHOP

栃木県宇都宮市曲師町2-8 宇都宮フェスタ3F (GoogleMap)

028-651-6966

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-038.htm

書泉グランデ

東京都千代田区神田神保町1-3-2 (GoogleMap)

03-3295-0011

https://www.shosen.co.jp/

すごろくや 高円寺店

東京都杉並区高円寺北2-3-8-2F (GoogleMap)

03-5327-4568

https://sugorokuya.jp/

すごろくや 神保町店

東京都千代田区神田神保町2-3-7F (GoogleMap)

03-6261-2122

https://sugorokuya.jp/

ロール＆ロールステーション秋葉原店

東京都千代田区外神田3-14-9 第26東ビル 6階 (GoogleMap)

03-5296-1090

http://www.arclight.co.jp/r_r_s/

中部

イエローサブマリン 名古屋ゲームショップ

愛知県名古屋市中区大須3-11-9 OAビル6F (GoogleMap)

052-238-3012

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-057.htm

Engames

富山県富山市五福1877 (GoogleMap)

090-7089-1131

http://engames-s.com

ゲームストア・バネスト

愛知県名古屋市北区西志賀町4-15 (GoogleMap)

052-910-0025

http://banesto.shop6.makeshop.jp/

関西

イエローサブマリン 京都店

京都府京都市中京区蛸薬師通り新京極東 入裏寺町598 河原町OKIビル4Ｆ (GoogleMap)

075-253-4300

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-049.htm

イエローサブマリン なんば3号店

大阪府大阪市浪速区難波中2丁目1-3 川合ビル1～2Ｆ (GoogleMap)

06-6635-2101

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-063.htm

イエローサブマリン なんば店

大阪府大阪市浪速区日本橋3-8-23 (GoogleMap)

06-6635-4662

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-028.htm

イエローサブマリン 三宮店

兵庫県神戸市中央区三宮町2-11-1 センタープラザ西館2F (GoogleMap)

078-327-5202

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-061.htm

イエローサブマリン 姫路店

兵庫県姫路市亀井町52 外川ビル3Ｆ (GoogleMap)

0792-21-8230

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-062.htm

ボードゲームショップDDT

大阪府大阪市中央区南船場1-13-1竹田ビル1階 (GoogleMap)

06-6484-6864

https://www.boardgameshop-ddt.com/

ディスカバリーゲームズ

大阪府大阪市天王寺区味原町11-1味原三光ビル5F (GoogleMap)

070-5664-6746

http://discoverygames.blog.fc2.com/

LITTLE FOREST

大阪府大阪市中央区北浜1-2-3豊島ビル305 (GoogleMap)

080-9605-7972

http://littleforest-aroma.jp/

キウイゲームズ

大阪���浪速区日本橋5丁目7-10山田ビル201 (GoogleMap)

06-6599-9792

http://kiwigames.jp/

キウイゲームズ京都マルイ店

京都市下京区四条通河原町東入真町68番地京都マルイ6F (GoogleMap)

075-708-6952

http://kiwigames.jp/kyoto/

中国

イエローサブマリン 広島GAMESHOP

広島県広島市中区大手町1-5-14 吉岡ビル (GoogleMap)

082-545-9030

http://www.yellowsubmarine.co.jp/shop/shop-072.htm

遊び場さんさ

広島県福山市北吉津町2丁目5-4 (GoogleMap)

084-959-6125

http://gamesunsa.blogspot.jp/

プレイスペース広島

広島県広島市中区大手町２-２-１０ 松岡ビル１０１ (GoogleMap)

082-246-0179

http://www.ps-hiroshima.com/

ボードウォーク岡山

岡山県岡山市北区幸町１-７大田ビル４Ｆ (GoogleMap)

086-224-4064

https://www.boardwalk.co.jp/