En - Already Gone (Vinyl LP, CD)

This is lovely. En brought out an album a couple of years back on Root Strata (the label which band member Maxwell August Croy co-runs with the prolific Jefre Cantu-Ledesma) which impressed people with its rich, hazy drones, and now they're back with more relaxing atmospheres for you to savour. Sometimes it's a spiritual organic dronescape not unlike something you might expect from Windy & Carl, sometimes there's slooooow basslines over which layers of drone and hiss and gentle chiming have been constructed for an absorbing, mystical listen which is reminding Phil of Can's 'Future Days' in places. There's shades of Tim Hecker and Barn Owl showing in places here too. It's all very tastefully constructed, with field recordings and percussive textures scraping at the surface of the smooth silky layers of tone. It's a slow and steady listen but it's consistently listenable and soothing. If these kinds of therapeutic ambient records are your bag, you'll be all over this like it was made of oxycodone.