Environments Vol. 2
Album Description
When a follow-up to the first Environments record was announced, it was initially believed to featuremore material from the band’s 1994 ambient radio sessions. What came, however, was considerablydifferent – and even better. Environments II is the band’s first foray into more cinematic ambientmusic. Beginning with the almost classical string-based Viewed From Above, and moving on to the first of the dreamy, lightly percussive Glacier tracks, the record is vastly different to anything heard by the band before (it’s not surprising to see Max Richter and Robert Fripp on the credits list).
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I had the most frustrating time trying to get the MP3 tracks of Environments Vol. 2 over the summer time with no date when it would come out. Downloaded the MP3 songs about five months later without listening to it giving my father a complete CDr of it on Thanksgiving. When he played the CDr on the radio fo Vol. 2, I confused it with Steve Roach and my father was shocked that I didn’t here vol. 2 of Environments.
Knowing the wait is over, what was even more surprising that this wasn’t just noise like FSOL- Environments Vol. 1 was. There is actually some very good stuff. We’re talking break beat, relax, ambient music. Unlike Environments 1, no FSOL fan or new age fan should have a right to feel shy of the powers of the mythological (no more) pure ambience.
Rating: 5 / 5
Environments Vol. 2
Simply wonderful; a vast, expansive journey through the farthest reaches of humanity’s industrial uprising. There are sounds on here that not even “Lifeforms” could fathom. Whereas that was more of an organic affair, Environments II is the result of flora melding with cold steel. Journies through overgrown establishments and ancient outposts long-forgotten, yet still rife with faint, flowing energy and the dreams of slumbering Artificial Intelligences. It even brings about melodies and samples previously encountered through works past; “Ice Formed”, in particular has a distinct, crystallized “Calcium”-esque synth providing much of the draw to the former’s composition. Think of this as a fusion of their entire back-catalogue, yet re-worked and shaped into a sound never before encountered from this dynamic duo.
This is not to be missed by anyone — even those outside the current FSOL fanbase. Kick back and let the music take you.
Rating: 5 / 5
Environments Vol. 2
Having not been impressed by the past several years of FSOL, I decided to give this a chance. I think it is great! I became a big fan of FSOL a while back, having Lifeforms as my all time favorite, with Cascades and Papua New Guinea Translations being my other favorites. Then, there was other stuff that was different and not so great like The Isness and Amorphous Androgynous, which I thought sucked. However, this ‘Environments’ stuff is like the good old FSOL that we all know and love!! This is possibly even better!! The only problem, which is perhaps minor, is that these tracks are not longer. They seem too short, being on average four minutes long, and it at times feels like the song is cut short… since I am used to tracks being more like 7 to 10 minutes. Overall though, any one who liked the FSOL of the 90′s will for sure like this release. I am happy to see that FSOL has returned to this stuff!!!! This is the best of ambience music!
Rating: 5 / 5
Environments Vol. 2
Matches their best work from the early 90s (ie – Tales of Ephidrina/Lifeforms). Incorporates similar elements, similar style, yet is substantially different, substantially all its own. This is FSOL of the past realized in the future.
Rating: 5 / 5
Environments Vol. 2
Great cd something new and diferant with every track. play on repeat and kick back and enjoy.
Rating: 5 / 5
Environments Vol. 2