Kompakt’s ambient compilation is a staple feature of the electronic music year these days, and while ‘Pop Ambient 2011′ takes a trip to the darker side it does so without compromising the value of the series as a whole. As ever there is little in the way of definite drum beats, with textures and sounds drifting over the listener’s consciousness. Marsen Jules’ ‘Once In A Moment’ is a fine example of this, hanging suspended in space, while Thomas Fehlmann’s ‘Titan’, a take on some source material from the classical composer Gustav Mahler, shifts slowly over a central point. Perhaps most striking is Bhutan Tiger Rescue’s ‘Beginner’s Waltz’, the work of Ewan Pearson and October, which has wintry bells around the edge, like the chiming of an old clock.
4 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood
