Starts off sounding like rain then develops nicely with shifting dynamics and textures. A great work by the prolific Mr.Krebs. Recommended. Lovely zeromoon 2007-05-14 03:01:31 2007-05-14 03:01:31 5 Kevin Krebs assumes his 833-45 alias for this 19th release of the ongoing Webbed Hand Records “Rain” series Rain 1 is his first appearance as 833-45 for these long-form experiments in "bedtime music", but it’s his second contribution to the series with the first having been composed under his own name. The Rain releases are a continuing series of single track, long-form ambient compositions (most around 60-minutes in duration) produced under the patronage of Webbed Hand Records designed to be heard while “relaxing, working, or socializing.” Sometimes referred to as “bedtime music” most of the releases in the series are minimalist soundscapes designed with the purpose of encouraging a “relaxed state.” A comparison of this most recent release in the Rain series with the first release [Saluki Regicide] demonstrates just how diverse the series has become and how two individual artists can approach the same theme with divergent techniques and yet converge on the same end result. For example, the Saluki Regicide release contains lots of recognizable samples and organic sounds along with musical textures that give it a sense of familiarity which increases the listener’s sense of comfort. On the other hand, 833-45’s approach is clearly more abstract, abrasive, and of a more repetitive nature relying on layers of hazy static and hiss and a gently pulsating tonal drone to lull us into relaxation. In addition, there don’t appear to be any real rain samples or ocean waves or liquid sounds to serve as the catalyst for the ambience, however, there is an initial element of electric sizzle that could pass for the sound of a gentle rain shower. Whereas many of the previous Rain releases fit into the niche of atmospheric ambient having a cavernous/spacious quality, 833-45 doesn’t quite go this route. The ambience here is born of cyclic, contrasting episodes of minimal sparseness and dense drones created via multiple stratums of richly textured noises and samples. How should you listen to this ambient soundscape? Definitely listen to it as background music in the “Eno” sense - “Ambient Music must be able to accommodate many levels of listening attention without enforcing one in particular; it must be as ignorable as it is interesting (“Music for Airports” liner notes, September 1978)”, but, at least once, treat yourself by putting on the headphones and listen to it as if nothing else mattered. Bedtime Ambient the 833-45 Way LAJ 2007-05-17 04:28:27 2007-05-17 04:08:26 5 2 5.00