Secret Garden

Secret Garden marks the first musical collaboration between Micro-ziq (Mike Paradinas) and Mrs Jynx (Hannah Davidson), whose previous two albums on Planet Mu remain underrated gems within the labels vast catalog. Both artists had lost a parent to cancer, and decided to make music together as part of the healing process. Comfortably falling under the category of ambient techno, the album places far more of an emphasis on atmospheric melodies than beat trickery. Early tracks like "Unheard Melodies" are soft and wistful, with glowing melodies resting atop gently skipping beats. "The Ballad of Darth Vader" ends up being the saddest, most emotionally displaced tune here, then the album begins to lighten up with the brisk thumps and delicate, harp-like melodies of "Afternoon Sunshine." Later tracks like "Philip Steak" have brighter melodies and light breakbeats, and the mostly drumless final cut "The Secret Garden" is both whimsical and pretty. While it isnt either artists most significant work, Secret Garden certainly has a timeless quality, as the feelings expressed arent bound to any era. ~ Paul Simpson

これはマイク・パラディナスとジンクスがお互いに作った音の断片を交換しつつ、それぞれが手を加える形で約10日間かけて生み出した10曲のコラボ集。全体を通して聴けばシンプルなビートに、流麗なシンセとピアノが夢の世界に導く心地良いアンビエント・テクノ。ベースラインやキックの音だけに注目すればガッツリとフロア指向な曲もあるものの、シンセのどこかぼんやりとした質感が意識をベッドルームへと向かわせる。
bounce (C)長谷川義和