Latest Releases
No Anchor
by Memorybell
Splinters, Vol. I: Tremor
by Battlestations
Fragments Vol. 1
by Willem Gator
Starlings & Crows
by Chloe March
Latest News & Features
New Memorybell Single and Music Video
Hidden Shoal is excited to present the first single lifted from Glass Garden, the fourth album by American neoclassical minimal ambient artist Memorybell. The single is available to stream via SoundCloud and is accompanied by a music video by Australian artist Cam Merton, available to stream via YouTube. The album sees release on the 10th September 2021 through Hidden Shoal. Created during lockdown and inspired by the science fiction narratives of The Stars My Destination and Silent Running, the new album confronts the ache of loneliness and isolation with a healthy dose of hope. As Outerbridge explains, “At the start of the lockdown, I existed in a state of unease… I revisited many of my old, unreleased recordings, searching for inspiration… I chose four songs that sit well together, tweaked and manipulated them, and created three new, complimentary tracks. Something new from something old. Not a revolutionary concept, but a comforting one, when faced with an existential threat.” True to the album’s title, the sound palette is organic, reflective and beautiful, as sustained tones bloom into clear space. Bookended by shorter tracks ‘Limbic Drift’ and ‘Here’, the album stretches out on the 17-minute ‘Distant Fire’ and the 11-minute ‘Broken Petals’. Generous in scope and open-hearted in timbre, Glass Garden zeroes in on intimate instrumental tones and expands them into environments to inhabit and explore. “Essential to anyone searching for an aural retreat from an over-compressed world of packaged sound… Highly recommended for fans of solo piano and intersected genres, where Brian Eno meets Satie.” – Headphone Commute on Obsolete Related Items:New Memorybell Single and Music VideoMemorybell - Sigh of FloesNew Single from Forthcoming Memorybell...Debut Otinget Single (Feat. Reine Fiske of Dungen)
On their debut release, The Greatest Thing That Never Happened… Yet, Swedish trio Otinget deliver a mesmerising suite of songs, blending delicate folk, strident post-rock, lilting Americana and brooding slowcore – plus a special guest appearance by Dungen lead guitarist Reine Fiske. The single is available for streaming via SoundCloud and the album will see release on the 17th of September 2021. The music of Otinget is available for licensing (film, tv, web etc) via Hidden Shoal. On title track and first single, Fiske helps build the song from its gentle rollicking intro to its feverish conclusion. Opener ‘The Sea’ weaves mesmerising, spidery guitar lines before the bassline references the Hendrix classic ‘Hey Joe’. ‘The Vagabond’ manages to seamlessly fuse math-rock guitar lines with a bluesy swagger, highlighting both the band’s songwriting smarts and their formidable ability as performers. ‘But Something Came Over Me’ is a brooding slice of atmospheric pop, building up and falling away in equal measures over its runtime. And the album closes with ‘Further’, a majestic re-working of a song by one of Otinget frontman Erik Nilsson’s other projects, The Slanted City. “delights at every turn… an unfailingly tuneful and entertaining whole that transcends its techniques through sheer musicality” – Music is Good on Otinget frontman Erik Nilsson’s album Recollage Otinget was born in an abandoned industrial building on the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden, where Victor Alneng (Infra) and Tomas Eriksson (Magnolia, My Brother the Wind) made music in various, shifting constellations. Erik Nilsson (The Slanted City), acquainted with Alneng from their university days, joined on guitar and later vocals, and together they discovered a...New Single from The World of Dust Forthcoming Album
Hidden Shoal is excited to announce the first single from True Sound, the new album from The World of Dust, the musical project of Stefan Breuer, featuring Todd Tobias (Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard, Circus Devils). The single is available to stream on SoundCloud and the album will see release on the 10th of September 2021 through Tiny Room Records and Hidden Shoal. The music of The World of Dust is available for licensing via Hidden Shoal (film, tv, web etc). In some ways a concept album, True Sound charts a very personal exploration of the life and death of Stefan Breuer’s grandparents. The unique overarching narrative that plays out with each song, and the warmth of the delivery, unites the album into a moving and consistent whole. As with The World of Dust’s acclaimed previous album, Samsara, the instrumental elements on True Sound were created by Todd Tobias, who sent them to Breuer to write and sing the lyrics. Tobias’s wonderfully melodic compositions call to mind his work with Robert Pollard, creating a haunting marriage when combined with Breuer’s pure vocal tones, reminiscent of The White Birch’s Ola Flottum. The mesmerising, drumless opening track ‘Sailing’ introduces Breuer’s grandfather, Jan (whose personal effects are on display in the Museum of Vlaardingen), over insistent, metallic guitar and burbling modulation. First single ‘Goodbye’ has a charming, wistful sway and gorgeous vocal harmonies, which belie its sobering story of Jan’s battle with cancer. Jan’s first wife, who passed away during childbirth, is commemorated on ‘Petronella’s Death’, with its elegant, descending guitar figures. And Breuer’s grandmother is touchingly memorialised on the elegant tempo...Liminal Drifter ‘Lured by the Lounge’ – New Single!
Following on from recent single ‘Child’s Play’ and his amazing run in the U.S. college radio charts (#1 chill record of 2020!), Liminal Drifter presents his new single, ‘Lured by the Lounge’. Blending the louche, sax-driven swagger of latter-day Roxy Music with the thick bass textures of The Orb, ‘Lured by the Lounge’ is a sophisticated, nocturnal slice of ‘90s-indebted electronica. The track is lifted from Liminal Drifter’s forthcoming EP, due out later in the year. “As the introspective electronica plays us out, it’s not hard to imagine a utopia being enveloped by the soothing and thoughtful sounds of Liminal Drifter.” – Xpress Mag on Connected Download via Bandcamp, stream via Spotify and the rest. The music of Liminal Drifter is available for licensing via Hidden Shoal (film, tv, web games etc). Check here for more details. Hidden Shoal · Liminal Drfiter – Lured By The Lounge Related Items: Liminal Drifter 'Child's Play' - New Single! Liminal Drifter Tops The US College Radio Chill Chart for 2020 Liminal Drifter "Connected" Reviewed at Xpress Mag Liminal Drifter - Choir on Mars Liminal Drifter Riding the US Radio...Moonchy & Tobias “Venus Mirror” EP Out Now!
We’re proud to announce the release of Venus Mirror, the sublime new EP from Moonchy & Tobias. The EP is available now through Tiny Room Records and Hidden Shoal. Head to Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music and the rest to soak in this beautiful release. Venus Mirror is a buoyant follow-up to the brooding, nocturnal atmospheres of the duo’s 2020 release Moonchy & Tobias III, the luminous, soothing Venus Mirror is infused with an almost tropical sway. On ‘Specchio Di Venere’, Tobias’ modulated synth, tuned percussion and acoustic guitar paint a widescreen scene, over which Moonchy’s vocal traces a mesmerizing wordless melody. On the other six tracks, Moonchy sings both in her native Italian and in ancient Latin, her voice soaring and graceful in turns. In the single ‘Delibo,’ the warm major sevenths of jazz are chilled by a shivering wind. ‘Leniter’ brings the EP to a fittingly ambiguous close, setting the listener adrift on see-sawing, reverb-drenched piano lines. The music of Moonchy & Tobias is available for licensing for film, tv, web and beyond via Hidden Shoal. Hidden Shoal · Moonchy & Tobias – Delibo Related Items: Moonchy & Tobias - Delibo New Moonchy & Tobias Single, EP in June Moonchy & Tobias 'Foglia di Te' Reviewed at Tonic Grain Moonchy & Tobias - Atmosfere Moonchy &...New Moonchy & Tobias Single, EP in June
We’re excited to announce the release of ‘Delibo, the new single from the forthcoming Moonchy & Tobias EP, Venus Mirror. The single is available now to download via Bandcamp and stream via SoundCloud ahead of the EP release on 5th June through Tiny Room Records and Hidden Shoal. ‘Delibo’ is also accompanied by a beautiful music video from Pat Moonchy. Venus Mirror is a buoyant follow-up to the brooding, nocturnal atmospheres of the duo’s 2020 release Moonchy & Tobias III, the luminous, soothing Venus Mirror is infused with an almost tropical sway. On ‘Specchio Di Venere’, Tobias’ modulated synth, tuned percussion and acoustic guitar paint a widescreen scene, over which Moonchy’s vocal traces a mesmerizing wordless melody. On the other six tracks, Moonchy sings both in her native Italian and in ancient Latin, her voice soaring and graceful in turns. In the single ‘Delibo,’ the warm major sevenths of jazz are chilled by a shivering wind. ‘Leniter’ brings the EP to a fittingly ambiguous close, setting the listener adrift on see-sawing, reverb-drenched piano lines. The music of Moonchy & Tobias is available for licensing for film, tv, web and beyond via Hidden Shoal. Related Items: Moonchy & Tobias - Delibo Moonchy & Tobias "Venus Mirror" EP Out Now! Moonchy & Tobias - Atmosfere Moonchy & Tobias 'Foglia di Te' Reviewed at Tonic Grain Moonchy & Tobias - Une Saison En...Latest Reviews
Memorybell “No Anchor” Reviewed at Echoes and Dust
“I’ve never heard anything by Memorybell or the music of the artist behind the sobriquet, Grant Hazard Outerbridge, but as soon as I saw the cover art and read that it was piano-centered ambient music, I got the sense that I would enjoy No Anchor immensely. The album is compromised of three long-form pieces, with the title track doubling up in length to expand over 40-minutes. ‘Beneath A Soft Clearing’ opens the album with warm, contemplative pads secreting opiate mountains of sedation to battered hungover brains and overworked eyes. Each intermittent piano key stroke, a sunbeam cascading onto an otherwise dismal day. Ambient music is like a balm or a dressing on the acid burn of capitalism; almost anyone can seemingly do it. But, it has an almost divine, transgressive grace to it. It’s a genre of narcotic reprieve, and whilst it means that very few artist’s sit atop the pile as the ultimate high, the vast majority of ambient artists, I tend to enjoy and this is no placebo. This first fifteen minutes of couch-slump, post-dopamine surge tranquillisation is as effective as any other great ambient/drone work in its ability to take the overwhelming chaos of existence and slow it down into gentle manageable waves of time, space, emotion and expectation. The serenity carries over into the sophomore track, ’Soon To Wake’; a track reaching out with tape hiss arms and crackled embracing intentions. These delicate oscillations of noise, like shampoo slowly dissolving between ears and bathwater amidst ovarian peace and comfort. The true beauty of this music is its ability to lure the listener deep into the cosmos of introspection. Its...Moonchy & Tobias ‘Foglia di Te’ Reviewed at Tonic Grain
“The duo of vocalist Pat Moonchy and instrumentalist Todd Tobias have released the magical EP “Venus Mirror” that includes a stunning track called “Foglia di Te.” The song title translates from Italian as “Tea Leaf,” and it features beautiful lyrics and an immersive, fairytale-like soundscape. The tender guitar and careful rhythm section accompany the listener along the way. The enchanting synths create a fantastic, cinematic atmosphere. And the lovely vocals unfold in the most delicate, spellbinding performance.” – Tonic Grain Related Items: Moonchy & Tobias - Une Saison En Enfer Moonchy & Tobias - Bon Bon Moonchy & Tobias - Pioggia e sale New Moonchy & Tobias Music Video Moonchy & Tobias "Atmosfere" Reviewed at Here Comes The...Chloe March “Starlings & Crows” Reviewed at Ondarock
“One of those magical words that sometimes manages to capture the reader’s attention is underestimated. I find it actually difficult to call Chloë March with the term underrated, because in this case we are faced with a real neglect by critics and the public, despite the Fact that the English artist has just crossed the threshold of the fifth album (the penultimate “Amialluma” was shared with Todd Tobias). Perhaps I should not be surprised at the lack of attention paid to her so far, considering the guidelines of the music of the London singer-songwriter, more inclined to that imperceptible Hugo Largo-style rock, where the role of percussion and guitars is at least accidental. Chloë March’s evanescent and refined chamber-pop wouldn’t go unnoticed if it were published on behalf of more celebrated artists (for example, Kate Bush or David Sylvian). There is an extreme vulnerability in these eleven creations that cannot be fully appreciated without attention and patience being devoted to it. Let’s be clear that “Starlings & Crows” isn’t a difficult or pretentious album, voice whiteness and harmonies with fall and dreamlike tones are an easy language to understand and interpret. Diafane (the title track),moderately synthetic (the charming “Turn Fox Then”), rarely throbbing (the piano intonation in “All Things Good”), melodically fragile (the symphonic synth-folk of “Neon Emerald Sequin”), slightly retro (waltz time in “To A Place”), concise (the sumptuous “Remember That Sky” and the romantic “Chroma Bather”) or evanescent (“High Hay”), Chloë March’s chamber-folk and dream-pop creations are kissed by unusual beauty. “Starlings & Crows” is a record with delicate and penetrating fragrances, almost an aroma-therapy entrusted to the seven notes. There is no shortage of literary references (“Alice...Chloe March ‘All Things Good’ Reviewed at Fifty3 Musings on Music
“It was hard not to be charmed by the beauty of Chloë March’s album, Starlings & Crows, which flew into sight in October last year. As a timely reminder of her precious talent, the English ambient-pop artiste has just shared a third single off the record, “All Things Good”. Those very familiar with her work may recognise that the song is a version of “Calypso Wants” from her previous album, Blood-Red Spark, with extended lyrics and a different arrangement. March is a confessed fan of the process of reworking as a means of improving something or continuing to explore a theme. “All Things Good” falls firmly into the second category.” – Fifty3 Musings on Music Related Items: Chloe March 'To a Place' Reviewed at Fifty3 Musings on Music Chloe March "Starlings & Crows" Reviewed at Music Won't Save You New Chloe March Single - 'All Things Good' Chloe March "Starlings & Crows" Reviewed by Craig Laurance Gidney Chloe March "Starlings & Crows" Reviewed at...Chloe March ‘All Things Good’ Reviewed at Fresh on the Net
“I first heard the unique and otherworldly music of Chloë March on Tom Ravenscroft’s BBC 6 Music Show some 6 or 7 years ago. Little did I know that we would later become friends and we would both, in different roles, become stalwarts of Fresh On The Net. In that time she has continued to produce a consistent catalogue of beautifully-crafted songs and accomplished albums, recording for the Australian label Hidden Shoals. She has also repeatedly won the approval of our discerning readers who have regularly voted her tracks into the Fresh Faves. All Good Things is a prime example of what Chloë does so well. The piano develops in waves of alternating, fluid chords that make room for the kind of sumptuous dissonances rarely heard on a pop record. The other sounds swirl and saunter around it, while her soft but distinct and assured voice takes hold; a subtle and savoury main course, adorned by a plateful of carefully contrasting side dishes. The song is reflective, melancholy and tugs at the heartstrings. But never does it dip down into sugary sentiment, and it is all the more emotionally powerful as a result.” – Neil March, Fresh on the Net Related Items: Chloe March 'To a Place' Reviewed at Trust The Doc Todd Tobias & Chloe March 'Lallulow' Reviewed at Trust The Doc Chloe March 'To a Place' Reviewed at Fresh on the Net Chloe March 'Snow Bird' Reviewed at Trust The Doc New Chloe March Single - 'All Things...Chloe March “Starlings and Crows” In Best of Mark Griffin’s Best of 2020
“A stunningly lovely blend of electronic and orchestral jewel tones, sensitive vocals and diaphanous compositions, this record envelops and holds you to its chest where you can feel its beating heart.” – Mark Griffin Related Items: Chloe March's "Starlings & Crows" in Mark Griffin's Best of 2020! New Chloe March Single - 'All Things Good' Chloe March "Starlings & Crows" Reviewed by Craig Laurance Gidney Chloe March "Starlings & Crows" Reviewed at Music Won't Save You Chloe March's "Starlings & Crows" in the Curve Ball Top 30 for...Hidden Shoal TV
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