A gorgeous ambient album from Sioux City-based artist Tom Hunting, Ambient Works, vol. 2 casts a ghostly spell with its patiently unfolding soundscapes. A gently immersive quality resonates, from the hazy morning-sun setting of “Paris” to the eerie whisper-like processions within “Disassociate.” The release is a very personal one for Hunting, who captures “core emotions that have lingered since childhood.”
Recorded at home in solitude, the ambient works captivate with their introspective, atmospheric qualities. “Fragile” proves resonant in its brooding choir-like envelopment alongside lush whirring and sporadic swells; it’s exceptionally easy to get lost within. Elsewhere, the opening “Artifacts” struts a more effervescent allure, gripping with its hazier brightness and steady tonal delivery.
“Northern Bells” is my personal favorite — capturing a Lynchian soundscape in its fusing of haunting synth pads and nocturnal synth lines; it’s fit for a cinematic dream. Succeeding in its impactful sound, Ambient Works, vol. 2 is a beautiful showcase in emotive ambient exploration from Tom Hunting.
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“Northern Bells” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of November 2023’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
