Broken Chip - A Distant Blur (Home Normal)

Broken Chip hails from the Blue Mountains in Australia and is into his second decade of improvisatory ambient endeavour, he’s also just outdone himself with this new LP for Home Normal.

A Distant Blur lives up to its name with the tracks shrouded in a gauzy, early morning veil of tape hiss that even the New South Wales sun can’t manage to lift. As I’m seemingly living in the cloud line today it’s a particularly pertinent, well timed release.

Loops come, go, repeat and retreat, but don’t be deterred by the word loop, the LP is a masterclass in the repetitive arts. The patient, fluid nature of the compositions makes it almost impossible to count the refrains as they melt into each other, before gradually reforming to go again

The sound sources are often vague but alongside the subtle synthscapery there is some traditional multi-instrumental tinkering apparent, although it sounds like everything was played outside the studio walls and well away from a microphone. Like many a good ambient album the sounds of nature come along for the ride as well, although their impact is carefully stage managed to give just the right amount of inside outside effect.

Broken Chip has really done the business on A Distant Blur, perhaps due to its Home Normal destination - surely one of the world’s finest ambient labels? I’ve had it on repeat today and can safely say it’s a grower. Don’t delay, hit play.

Playlist Companion:

Find a track from Broken Chip's LP & take a longer sound bath in the

Slow Ambient Playlist.