Conscience, their first collaboration, is about as close to perfect ambient minimalism as it gets. This disc starts with a low drone that envelops listeners with its overtone qualities and subtle pitch changes. Mathias and Thomas build layers of atmospheres upon and from this drone. The atmospheres are gentle, cerebral and serene and they control the pace - slow, so slow as to approach standing still.
That is the unique characteristic of this set. The music evolves slowly and deliberately. It seems to hang forever in listeners neuropathways as it triggers serotonin and neuroprenephrin activity. On the surface, the overtones have no substance or purpose. As they enter the biosonic feedback device (read: brain), they define themselves anew and allow listeners to float at will.
For such a low-key soundscape, this CD evokes and promotes lots of activity -all of intangible and unquantifiable. While it might be impossible to dance to this music, it is just as impossible to prevent one's insides from dancing to it. The music infects the mind, the heart, the spirit and the soul with its positive energy.
With this release, Thomas leaps to the forefront of the ambient community. Association with a master qualifies as a major endorsement. Mathias, with more than 100 releases in his discography, qualifies as a master. This CD is as good an introduction as any for his music. It comes with the highest recommendation.
