Jonathan Kawchuk ~ North

Fans of Eilean Records know that the label assigns colors and seasons to all of its releases.  North is their first release of winter, synaesthetically described as white/grey.  The colors fit, as the album shifts gently into the bleached colors of

Ruhe ~ Patriarchs

Ruhe has been one of our favorite artists for a while, and Patriarchs proves that he can still surprise.  More piano-based than recent works (especially Chamber Loops, released earlier this year on Dauw), the new album seems like the work of an artist who

Dauw & Eilean Records ~ Dialog Tapes

Easily one of the finest ambient releases of the season, this inspired partnership brings together two labels and fifteen artists for a series of collaborative ventures.  Artists from Dauw and Eilean Records were matched up, as if on musical dates.

ACL 2014: Top Ten Ambient

This year, A Closer Listen continued to receive more ambient music than any other type, over 500 releases in all.  The ambient field is so competitive that only the most distinctive releases manage to break through and to form a lasting impression.