Biosphere "Shenzhou" Touch TO:55 2002 (56:30)
Shenzhou (5:04)
Spindrift (4:37)
Ancient Campfire (7:45)
Heat Leak (4:57)
Houses On the Hill (5:43)
Two Ocean Plateau (3:10)
Thermal Motion (4:27)
Path Leading To the High Grass (3:55)
Fast Atoms Escape (3:29)
Green Reflections (3:32)
Bose-Einstein Condensation (2:47)
Gravity Assist (7:04)
This is Geir Jenssen's third Biosphere album in as many years for the UK's two decade strong Touch label. At first glance there appears to be several unrelated elements at play: the title is the name of a Chinese unmanned spacecraft, the track titles reference miscellaneous things, the digipack artwork is seemingly random photos (though typical for Touch) and inside it says that the first ten of the dozen tracks are based on the orchestral works of late 20th Century French impressionist composer Claude Debussy. Playing those ten tracks doesn't clarify the contradictions, but it does reveal a tightly focused continuum. Here Jenssen's arctic ambience is quite minimal and possibly darker and deeper than ever before. Low end currents and pink noise vapor trails create melodies and mysteries. Meanwhile, rhythmic bumps and looped strains of what I presume is Debussy orchestra are occasionally weaved in. The final two tracks are indeed different but also complementary to the Debussy inspired suite. Altogether, 'Shenzou' is austere and simply another eerily beautiful ambient escape courtesy of Biosphere and Touch ...
Biosphere
Biosphere at Touch Records
Where did I get this CD? - Forced Exposure