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Astrowind might be a slightly ridiculous band name, especially if you consider the fact these two Latvian guys play lush ambient music on Soviet synthesizers. But nevertheless, it’s a good name. An accurate name, at least. Because there is a feel of
acroamatic escapism, there are these huge chords of hissing analogue synthesizers and you can even find this special kind of Slavonian melancholia (or Baltic, respectively) people use to rave about. Astrowind bring up a lot of references in their beautiful
and, well, obsolete music. 70’s Krautrock Avant-gardists like Cluster or Harmonia make up for the most obvious comparison, but you can also find some influences from contemporary composers like Arvo Pärt (listen to the stagnant organ-chords on
Impressions) or Terry Riley (the overall tonality). Add some traces of experimental guitar-music (on The Night the Stars Flew for instance) and you get an idea. But who’s behind the Astrowind-moniker?
Kriipis Tulo is an important figure in the electronic music-underground of Riga, the humming capital of Latvia. He founded the Kolka-Music label, released several EPs at Nexsound, Sutemos and Synergy Networks and travelled Europe for several live-gigs. He was collaborating with a lot of influential artists ranging from fine arts (Ritums Ivanovs, Voldemars Johansons) to free improvisation (Derek Holzer, Maksims Shentelevs). After collaborations with Rodions Zolotarevs (duo Oloolo) and I/DEX, he started Astrowind in late 2006 with Mahi Bukimi.
The Night the Stars Flew is a four track-monument you shouldn’t miss. It’s helplessly out of fashion and ignores maybe two decades of electronic music, namely Techno, Minimal and Glitch (tough you can hear Tulo dropping some deep Minimal-tracks at his myspace-account). A brave, a good decision. Astrowind got the harmonies and the sound to become one of the most interesting Baltic acts to emerge from a scene rich of innovative musicians (Muschraum, Joel Tammik, Selffish, to name just the most obvious).
V/A "Bezdna Radio Essentials 002 [BRE002]" LP
(mp3 Silent Flow 2009)
V/A "MyOuterSpace Vol.4" LP
(mp3 MyOuterSpace 2009)
"Der Leuchtturm" LP
(mp3 Resting Bell RB 042 2008)
V/A "In Memoriam Andrey Tarkovsky" LP (mp3 Musica Excentrica EXC 015 2008)
Download full album in ZIP file
"Fresh Wind in the Valley of Dreams" LP
(mp3 Musica Excentrica EXC 013 2008)
"Somewhere The Music Had Been Played" EP
(mp3 Resting Bell RB 008 2007)
"Into Vernadsky" EP
(mp3, CD-R 12rec 041 2007)
Download full album in ZIP file
“The Night The Stars Flew†EP
(mp3 Electrosound ES 26 2007)
