Makunouchi Bento – Balada unui creier mic, released on Arhiva7, is an ambient collection of cut up melodies with artfully applied effects processing and field recordings. There’s a darker edge to some of these tracks, such as Spanipig, but my favorite is Licure, which is ultimately uplifting, with subtly melancholic passages making it feel somehow inherently human.
As with most enjoyable ambient music, the overall structures of these tracks are quite simple, with overlying melodic themes and underlying complexities that you only notice over time. The first track, Circes is a good example of this, using a slow and languid chord progression underpinned with sonic metaphors derived from apparently diverse sources. I couldn’t get Circe out of my mind as I listened to this, comparing the sounds to the sorceress who imprisoned Odysseus.
If you like this, see Makunouchi Bento’s site for more information on who they are and what other work they’ve produced.