Landru – Facets [AOR0025]

FacetsFacets is the new Chillout | Lounge double CD album released by Landru. With Facets, Landru shows his most intimate and serene side. It is definitely a delicate work, characterized by the coexistence of instruments, percussions and melodies from different cultures all around the world. An album that represents the consolidated maturity of Landru in the chillout music scene.

Facets consists of one CD including 15 new unreleased tracks and a second CD with remixed versions of the original tracks made by the most representative ambient and chillout artists from Spain.

All music were composed, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered by Landru at Atavachron Studios, Barcelona, during 2012. Fractals, layout and cover art were also provided by Landru.

Track list
Disc 1
1.-The Secret of Being You4:43
2.-The Chamber of the 47 Buddhas4:54
3.-Excuses 4:48
4.-Happy Diwali 3:52
5.-Autumn Leaves4:30
6.-Self-Inflicted Pain4:44
7.-Subliminal Scent5:59
8.-Eastern Winds5:23
9.-Free Flight4:19
10.-Breaking Rules5:31
11.-New Life 6:14
12.-Memories From the Ganges 5:40
13.-Deception3:32
14.-Is this Really the End?4:31
15.-The Last Score5:40
Disc 2
1.-Happy Diwali (Ran Kirlian Remix)5:58
2.-Excuses (Dave Mix)4:54
3.-Breaking Rules (Joxan Remix) 5:19
4.-The Chamber of the 47 Buddhas (Ran Kirlian remix) 7:18
5.-Memories From the Ganges (Daniel Muñox Mix)3:26
6.-Autumn Leaves (Antonio Tobajas Remix)4:43
7.-New Life (Daniel Muñoz Remix)5:56
8.-The Secret of Being You (Antonio Tobajas Remix)5:40



Total running time:117:57

Available at Bandcamp

Landru – Scotoma [AOR0013]

ScotomaScotoma is without any doubt, the darkest ambient album released by Landru so far. Scotoma is full of intriguing noises and background drones capable of creating an enigmatic and invisible atmosphere that surrounds the listener from the very beginning as an intense and dense fog that remains present throughout the whole album. During this journey to the dark side of the vision, you may also find some groovy percussions and rhythmical patterns which add some light into this otherwise impassable landscapes.

Among the sonic sources used during the composition, you may find all kind of digital and software synthesizers and also some experimental and organic sounds coming from innovative instruments and field recordings such as the Kurzweil K2000 VX, Access Virus Redback, Quasimidi The Raven & Polymorph, Korg Legacy Analog & Digital Edition, Absynth and Sonic Forest.

All music were composed, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered by Landru at Atavachron Studios, Barcelona, during 2012. Fractals, layout and cover art were also provided by Landru.

Track list
1.-Isotope Counter10:12
2.-Phosphene5:56
3.-Blue Moon 4:17
4.-Scotoma 4:56
5.-Dark Adaptation14:51
6.-Intron Loss6:06
7.-Binary Rain4:31
8.-Quantum Resonance15:02
Complete set: 67:24

Available at Bandcamp

Landru – Fimbria [AOR0007]

FimbriaFimbria is the latest exploration of Landru into ambient realms, a step forward into complex textures and vibrating grooves from a very personal perspective.

The tracks collected in this album presents a priscine production and a deep development on te creation of textures, loops and unique sounds, intrinsic factors in the music of Landru.

All tracks written, com posed and performed by Landru
Produced and m astered by Landru at Atavachron Studios, Barcelona
Cover artwork design and images by Landru
℗ © 2012 by landru

Track list
1.-Corrosion12:03
2.-Substantia Nigra5:19
3.-Echoes 4:05
4.-The Passage 2:02
5.-Cosmic Strings7:32
6.-Miñaco6:21
7.-Amalgam4:31
8.-Katabatic Wind6:07
9.-Fimbria6:59
10.-The Last Quelonid5:38
11.-Melted Stone7:06
Complete set: 67:43

Available at Bandcamp

Review by Richard Gürtler

Landru is Patxi Hernández, one of driving forces behind Altera Orbe label, and «Fimbria» is his second solo ambient installment, released during September 2012. «Fimbria» comes as CDr edition packaged in elegant digipak.

«Corrosion» unfolds the album and dives straightly into shadowy cavernous realms. Eerie, but richly organic-flavored ambience is melted with diverse distinguishing industrial and cybernetic fragments, some of them more harmonious while some others more discordant, with 12 minutes the longest composition on «Fimbria». «Substantia Nigra» keeps its synergetic path melting darkly spiraling pads, sparse future-tech elements with the sounds of flowing water. «Echoes» remain in subterranean domains, but comprise a quite hymnic drone. «The Passage», as its title suggests, is a shorter transitional number, where frightening zones are merged with otherworldly voice-like sounds and swirling effects, quite unique piece. «Cosmic Strings» bridge deep drones with various sharp dissonances and low primal rumbles. Again remaining rather sparse and weird, but strongly effective.

«Miñaco» attracts with its semi-rhythmed cyberscape, sculpted with razor sharp whip sound effects and distant rumbles and winds. It gets closer to cybernetic-flavored first album «Neurotransmitters». And this future-tech sound can be explored also through «Amalgam», a composition of hazed, but vibrant technoscape crossed with cyber noises. However, «Katabatic Wind» quickly soars to wondrous primordial worlds with graciously floating and pleasantly soothing dreamscapes. A truly immersing composition, which grows on me with every repeated listen. The title composition «Fimbria» unfolds with the interplay of denser, high-tech soundscapes and water sound effects, but later cascades into hypnotically coiling and mid-paced, pulsing grooves. Electrifying cyber-tech escapade!!!

«The Last Quelonid» integrates again various future-tech effects, rumbles and relaxing nature sounds, surrounded by immense sacral washes with ethereal choir-like essence. «Melted Stone» opens with deeply absorbing atmozones enriched sparkling noises, but the journey is soon stolen by spiraling, crystalline electro pulses, which transform this composition into steadily living and breathing trajectory, masterfully backed by mesmerizingly flowing water soundscapes. Absolutely brilliant finale!!! «Fimbria» is another freshly vital, adventurously sculpted and hauntingly distinctive work by this potential Spaniard, who is not afraid of searching his own pathway. And by the time I am completing these lines, a brand new album «Scotoma» has been released on Altera Orbe, so I really look forward to more exciting endeavors from Landru!!!

Richard Gürtler (Jan 20, 2013, Bratislava, Slovakia)

Landru – Neurotransmitters [AOR0002]

NeurotransmittersNeurotransmitters is the first ambient album published by Landru. This highly conceptual project is based on the endogenous chemical compounds that are released from a nerve cell which are capable of transmitting neurologic information from one cell to another. Neurotransmitters contains 10 different ambient tracks inspired in ten different neurotransmitters.

Track list
1. Serotonin05:57
2. Acetylcholine08:16
3. Histamine06:10
4. Glycine09:35
5. Dopamine07:19
6. Epinephrine09:00
7. GABA09:59
8. Aspartate06:23
9. Glutamate05:40
10. Melatonine06:25
Total running time: 75:05

Available at Bandcamp

Review by Richard Gürtler

Wow, this is a really nice surprise for me, discovered only few weeks ago through newly launched Altera Orbe website. Landru, based near Barcelona, Spain, is a solo project of Patxi Hernández. He is also one of the creative forces behind Altera Orbe, together with Ran Kirlian. Landru was before focusing more on dance or chillout oriented electronics, but when I entered into «Neurotransmitters» territory through introducing «Serotonin» composition, my eyebrows were raised right away and brand new sonic dimensions were awaiting to be explored.

Yes, «Neurotransmitters» is the first purely ambient-infused album of Landru, released in November, 2011. As mentioned above, this exciting excursion begins with «Serotonin», an icy cold dronescape colored with various, sharply hitting and erupting high-tech percussive sounds. Quite an electrifying performance I must say, introducing Landru’s ambient soundscapes at most scientific!!! Important to mention, this album is a strongly conceptual work based around various neurotransmitters, the chemicals which allow the transmission of signals from one neuron to the next across synapses. Now that’s a challenging theme to express through sonic visions by an artist who freshly ventures into ambient genre!!! «Acetylcholine» keeps on strongly futuristic route, but this time with more rhythmic approach, while the next piece, «Histamine» unites rather experimental, cacophonic sounds with atmospheric soundscapes. Low drone work, invading «Glycine», is soon joined by various razor-sharp effects and mechanized movements and shifts into coldly pulsing industrialized ambience, amazing!!! «Dopamine» immediately strikes with beautifully crystalline melody, crossed with harsher cybernetics, I really enjoy this catchy blend of nicely balanced softer and rawer passages, filling this journey with imagination and curiosity.

«Epinephrine» hits with ice cold spiraling drones, spiced by assorted bleeps and hums, all backed by cavernous sounds. A truly immersing cybernetic dreamscape!!! But «GABA» dives even deeper with sonar-like pings and few eerie high-tech effects, slowly submerging into more massive drone walls before few slightly tribal-spiced grooves are thrown in. Audible ecstasy is guaranteed!!! «Aspartate» evolves into the most upbeat sculpted piece on «Neurotransmitters» with cold, industrialized rhythms. Various noises, rumblings and signals are nicely bridged with deeper atmospheres, evocative melody and ethereal voice-like sounds on «Glutamate». «Melatonin» closes this amazingly adventurous ride with richly sculpted and sharply sounding texture, assembled with hazed factory-like breathings, harsher distortions, catchy metallic implements and warmer, nearly cinematic drifts. «Neurotransmitters» is a very impressive ambient debut by Landru!!! I definitely will keep en eye on this Spaniard, because his co-work with Ran Kirlian entitled «Waterfront» is in the pipeline and his next ambient album «Fimbria» is in the works too. Until then, «Neurotransmitters» album gets my highest recommendation!!!

Richard Gürtler (Apr 14, 2012, Bratislava, Slovakia)

Landru – Exobiology [AOR0001]

ExobiologyExobiology is the first published work by Landru which was released in 2007. It represents the consolidation of a musical project developed during more than a decade based on electronic landscapes, ethnic voices and vibrating grooves. Among the 12 included tracks, you may find all kind of electronic compositions, from Big Beat to Dance and Chillout themes.

Track list
1. Change of Attitude04:48
2. In the Middle of Our Existence04:46
3. I Hear Voices Inside My Head04:02
4. Surprises Are Never Expected05:36
5. Those Distant Creatures Are Begging for Help05:20
6. Dreaming of Someting That Could Never Happen05:48
7. It Is More That Just Rhythm03:42
8. Prototype 001: Ready To Accept Programming04:10
9. New Orbit Around Planet K-235705:42
10. Lie Down With Me04:17
11. Is There In Truth No Beauty?04:44
12. Static Subspace Bubbles04:40
Total running time: 57:30

Available at Bandcamp

Landru

Landru is an audiovisual concept developed by Patxi Hernández (Madrid, Spain 1974) based on computers & synthesizers and all kinds of electronic instruments as the main source for obtaining sounds and ambience textures capable of creating new sonic dimensions and atmospheric landscapes.

From an ambient perspective, field recordings and organic/ritual instruments such as singing bowls and experimental instruments are also key elements in his compositions.

In 2007 Landru released its first solo album, Exobiology, containing several tracks covering all kinds of electronic styles. In parallel, he has been collaborating as a producer/engineer with some of the main independent musician in the electronic arena with the Come Va? Trilogy as a final result (Come Va?, 2008; Come Va? 2, 2009; Come Va? Sunsets, 2010). In 2011, Landru released Neurotransmitters, a highly conceptual work that represented his first incursion into the ambient scene.

Besides these studio activities he has made several performances & live events and composed some music jingles for commercials, publicity campaigns and public events.

At the moment Landru is settled in the proximities of Barcelona where his new studio Atavachron is located. He is currently working in a new ambient project and a collaborative album with one of the most famous ambient artists in Spain: Ran Kirlian.

Influences

It is nearly impossible to summarize in a short list all the artists that have influenced Landru’s music during all this years. Moreover, the musical styles and the personal tendencies are not static and they are continuously evolving, as is the personal inclination towards one style or another or the improvement in technical knowledge. However, to name a few: Pet Shop Boys, Electronic, New Order, Faithless, The Future Sound of London, Aphex Twin, The Shamen, Orbital, Enigma, Kraftwerk, Nacho Sotomayor, The Crystal Method, Blank & Jones, Robert Rich, Steve Roach, Alio Die, Brian Eno…

Landru music on Bandcamp
Landru official website

Music released on Altera Orbe

  • OBSCVIRIA ( in collaboration with Ran Kirlian, Woomh – AOREP012, 2019)
  • Rust (Woomh – AOREP004 , 2014)
  • Facets ( AOR0025, 2014)
  • Scotoma ( AOR0013, 2013)
  • Fimbria ( AOR0007, 2012)
  • Waterfront (in collaboration with Ran Kirlian, AOR0006, 2012)

Other albums

  • Unda (Lepysma, 2019)
  • Boira (Lepysma, 2016)
  • Neurotransmitters (Ancient Psyque, 2011)
  • Come Va? Sunsets (various artists, 2010)
  • Come Va? 2 (various artists, 2009)
  • Come Va? (various artists, 2008)
  • Exobiology (Ancient Psyque, 2007)

OVSCVIRIA by Ran Kirlian & Landru

OSCVIRIAAfter 7 years from their previous collaborative project, Waterfront, Landru and Ran Kirlian join forces again for a new project, this time in minialbum format, entitled OVSCVIRIA.

While released in 2019, this project started back in 2014. While the initial bases and lines were totally clear since beginning and the first mix was ready in 2015, it took few years to complete it. It was taken and abandoned several times during months between other projects and priority commitments from both artists. After finding time to complete this inspirational work during the second half of 2018, it finally found a launch window during 2019.

OBSCVIRIA is essentially a dark-ambient minialbum that combines dark soundworlds, sequences and rhythms by Ran Kirlian and Landru.

Landru: analog and digital synthesizers, samplers & grooves
Ran Kirlian: analog and digital synthesizers, samplers & voices

Available at Ran Kirlian Bandcamp site

Landru | Unda

UndaUnda is the title of the lastest album by Landru. This work, strongly based on field recordings, goes far beyond his previous one, Undra, in terms of immersive soundscapes based on field recordings, drones and minimalistic melodies.

From release notes: «Unda, the latest Landru’s release, features evolving and minimalistic synthesized drone pads accompanied with background atmospheres based on field recordings that capture the essence of water. Consisting of 7 tracks, Unda explores some relaxing landscapes going through vibrating organic textures full of positive and recharging energies from one of the very basic naturals elements in nature: water (Unda: latin, Water). «

Unda has been writen, composed, produced and mastered by Landru at Atavachron Studios, Barcelona between 2017 and 2019. Field recordings were made in Valle del Jerte (Cáceres, Spain) and Torrelasal (Castellón, Spain).

Unda has been released under Landru’s own label Lepysma ( LEPYS002) and it is available only as downloadable format at Landru´s Bandcamp.

Landru’s Boira reviewed

Richard Gürtler has reviewed the newest Landru album, Boira, which had a very nice reception:

BoiraPatxi Hernández aka Landru has crossed my radar for the first time during the spring of 2012, not only as one of the driving forces behind Spanish label Altera Orbe, together with another fellow soundscaping countryman Ran Kirlian, but also as a creator of very impressive debut CDr «Neurotransmitters» (released in November 2011). In the meantime Landru has released several other notable solo albums available on CDr format like «Fimbria», «Scotoma», «Facets» and a collaborative project «Waterfront» with above mentioned labelmate Ran Kirlian. Some of them I have reviewed throughout 2012 and 2013. Although, I believe, Altera Orbe is on hiatus now, both artists still continue on releasing their own music, particularly Landru has a new album «Boira» out since June 2016 on his newly formed label Lepysma, even if the CDr edition was released as a limited edition few months later. «Boira», which means fog in Catalan language, comes in a standard jewel case with immersing black and white 4-page front insert.

Nearly 7-minute long «Dormant State», the shortest one on «Boira», ignites the venture with subterraneanly labyrinthine drone cascades, which are delicately reinforced by assorted, translucently cyber-tech swirls and smashes or ambiguously cavernous pulses and bleeps. Auxiliary warmer cinematic vignettes clandestinely permeate across engulfing hypogeal sceneries. A very strong opening! «The Water Cycle», stretching to 11 minutes, merges richly biotic and mesmerizingly transporting location recordings with constantly circling longing undulations, while intangibly noisier bangs are persistently guarding above. The next piece, «Hydroscopic Particles», only slightly shorter than its predecessor, straightly shifts into sonorously dronescaping Eden, where magnificently multi-dimensional monochromatic monoliths are meticulously coalesced with perpetually helixing primal rumbles and intriguingly traverse through awe-inspiringly panoptic vistas. A towering dronezones at its climax!!! «Evolving Landscape» delves into more future-tech-driven terrains highlighted by polished crystalline bleeps and oddities, and surrounded by balmily expanding and tranquilly nuanced cinematic horizons. Another big one!!! «From A Certain Height» masterfully blends nebulously engrossing choir-infused solitudes with subtly vibrating and intricately high-tech grooves. As much engrossing as electrifying, an aural elixir is served here! «Quiescense» reveals with soaring enigmatic drifts, roaming through perplexing altitudes and backed by remotely elusive throbs and eerily glancing groans and squeaks. The closing 20-plus minutes long title opus «Boira» dives deeply into grandiosely unfathomable depths, navigated by gracefully celestial and spellbindingly humming drone stratums and oracularly illuminated by extraterrestrial signals. And then inconspicuously crescendoing through jaw-droppingly transporting meridians. Massively mysterious finale fully reveals all its magic!!! Bravo, Landru!!!

Landru offers with «Boira» 75 minutes of prodigiously tenebrous atmozones exquisitely augmented by a diversity of cybernetic, futuristic or primordial-charged curiosities, no matter if shimmering, pellucid, granular or puzzling. Undoubtedly «Boira» is another very strong recording by Landru, so don’t hesitate to explore this crafted Spaniard, because he really deserves much more attention than he gets. Landru’s discography features several well hidden gems and your support would be greatly appreciated with many rewards awaiting!!! Patxi, muchas gracias and keep on creating!!!

Richard Gürtler (May 31, 2017, Bratislava, Slovakia)

Landru | Boira

BoiraLandru has released Boira, his new album since Facets, released in Altera Orbe 2 years ago. This one is not released under our record label, but we feel compelled to talk about it given its enormous sound quality.

Boria (fog in Catalan language), the latest release by Landru is inspired in the mist and mystic essence of the Catalan forests during the autumn sunrises. This new project consist of 7 new tracks that invite the listener to a calm and relaxing journey through minimalists and evolving sonic landscapes driven by synthesized textures and organical instruments that embellish the field recordings that serve as a background ambience in some of the tracks presents in this album.

After the awesome chill-out album Facets, Boira marks a new Landru exploration into the ambient realms, bringing us an awesome collection of pieces based on minimalistic compositions floating on deep and complex textures, out-of-this-world grooves and treated field recordings. The result is a brilliant sounding masterpiece where the soundworlds flow from darkness to light with a gorgeous sound quality.

Released under Lepysma label, this album has been produced and mastered by Landru on his studio, Atavachron Studios, in Barcelona. Boira has been written, composed, producer and mastered by Landru in 2016.

Boira is available at Landru’s Bandcamp site in both physical and downloadable formats. Please notice that the CDR edition is limited to 25 copies only, so run to grab yours!