EYE ONE : VIDNA OBMANA – NEAR THE FLOGGING LANDSCAPE (1990)
Short-lived US cassette label VIOLET GLASS ORACLE TAPES was a particular one but in its short run they released a very interesting and unique collection of albums. A bit more departed from the noisy and industrial vibe most labels had back then. REVEALED BY COMPOSED NATURE was just finished and sent off to the pressing plant when this album for VGO was recorded. Meanwhile learning more in depth about the KORG M1, VIDNA OBMANA refined his ambient sound. NEAR THE FLOGGING LANDSCAPE was perhaps the album wherein he showcased his affection and inspiration for Brian Eno’s 80s ambient music. The reviews spoke for themselves.
Factsheet Five: Marvelous electronic music embodying Brian Eno’s ambient aesthetic, the dense, subtle wash of sound can function either actively or passively, depending on your brainset. Not only are these aural passages composed of fascinating multi-layered textures, but the cumulative effect is not entirely unlike those positive environmental vibes so aggressively marketed by crappy new age synth-meisters. Excellent quality cassette.
Option: If you wondered why Brian Eno didn’t make a Music For Airports Vol. 2, wonder no longer. Our friend Vidna has devised eight pieces with very similar parameters: slow washes of synth chords, drifting piano, very ambient. What renders this fresh and vibrant is an occasional eastern harmonic or polyphony (12-tone, or what sounds like it) that has been worked into the fabric so that you might miss it had you not been listening to it.
Autumn is the perfect season to rediscover or get acquainted with this album.
For the moment at ‘name your price’…. grab it and enjoy…
(photo is the original cassette cover)
