KapTep, Sebby Kowal - Switch (Ambient Cat)

You might well have noticed KapTep and Sebby Kowal in TSMM's pages and playlists over the years, if not then please pay attention at the back. Both hailing from the US where they both do their bit to Make Ambient Great Again, KapTep is a flat out ambient maestro and Kowal a touch more versatile, having had a dub techno awakening in recent years and who is more prone to throwing some beats and heavyweight bass into his atmospheric creations, although he still turns out a steady stream of ambient creations.

So it's the most natural thing in the world that they've decided to team up and combine forces for a four track EP on the reliable Ambient Cat Records. They kick things off with the shimmering, lower frequency quivering, field recording hinting, gently cascading tones of the well named, "404 Error Page Not Found" - something I'm sure we can all relate to, and which sets this ambient transmission adrift, free to float through speakers where it is most needed.

Keeping the ball rolling is the EP title track, that eases into existence with what sounds like gentle rain and a suitably melancholic drone that is stuck indoors and trying to make the best of things. Luckily some gentle, and gently restless synth pads come along and put an arm around it as the water features slowly morph into more alien aquatic forms. "Knowhere" ups the intensity with its more insistent but not at all abrasive drone and precipitation aping static, a fine bed for the alien electronics that intermittently pierce the soundscape. Last but not least, "Trace 4" sees the water rising and a padded oar stealthily propelling a vessel over the depths whilst gently undulating, somewhat greyscale, ambient pads unhurriedly soundtrack its crossing. If an easy, transportative ambient listen is the order of the day then don't delay, hit play.

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Playlist Companion

Find the duo in the Slowtronic Playlist: