Search - Death Ambient :: Drunken Forest

Spellbinding, abstracted, beautifully weird.

Lord Chimp | Monkey World | 06/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the eagerly-awaited third Death Ambient cd is stunning. it explores an even greater variety of bizarre musical worlds than their first two discs which are fantastic in their own right. The trio is Ikue Mori(laptop computer), Fred Frith (electric guitar), and Kato Hideki (bass), a group of musicians with such sophistication that despite the intensely abstract sound of the music, the musicianship and sophistication and atmosphere... the whole album is incredibly movie-like for lack of a better term -- full of eerie atonal shimmering and surging noise. Between the storms are quieter enigmatic moments of great beauty and imagination. Mori and Frith are of course utterly unique and do with their instruments what no other people can do. it must really be heard. but who really stands out here, more than before, is Kato Hideki. he plays many other instruments on this album, mostly acoustic (acoustic guitar, analog synth, violin, banjo, mandolin, accordion, ukelele, electric & lap steel guitar, vocals, soprano& alto recorder, vocals, glasses, ice and water) -- this adds a very different side to the previously all-electric group. despite its intense avant-garde nature, _Drunken Forest_ is very lucid and vital. you must have it."

Ambient? No. Avant-garde? The Best!

Jay Murphy | Landover Hills, Maryland United States | 04/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Death Ambient consists of Fred Frith, Ikue Mori and Kato Hideki. They are phenomenal. The sounds they make are simply incredible, seemingly not of this planet. While not in any respect ambient, this is avant-garde music you can sink your teeth into or, more likely, soak your mind with. It's alternately dreamy, chaotic, minimalist and dense but always very musical and a true sonic treat. If you're an adventurous listener, I think you'll find this a truly unique and rewarding experience."