DESOLATE Schallplatten & CDs

Review: "Exceptionalism" isn't a stinging musical critique of some Britons' mindsets - yes, even Juno can do satire - but rather the fourth album from Sven Weisemann's occasional Desolate project. Like its' predecessors, the album is unflinchingly downtempo and picturesque in tone, offering up a seductive, slowly shifting set of ear-pleasing soundscapes that lazily shuffle between sunset Balearica, 21st century trip-hop, layered ambient journeys, ultra-deep two-step shufflers and the kind of sparse, piano-heavy electronica that was once a calling card of Scottish deep house producer Aqua Bassino. The results are hugely enjoyable, not to mention pleasingly becalmed.

Review: Berlin house hero Sven Weisemann returns under his dubstep alias Desolate for the first time since 2015's Withering Beauty EP. Darkside esoterica, inspired by dystopian sci-fi street sounds of the UK to be heard on his brand new Lunar Glyphs EP. Perfect for that stoned journey home on the night bus.. or the U-bahn of course. Highlights include "Ravishing" where blunted beats are complemented by Weisemann's use of smooth and hypnotic tones as heard in his house music on Mojuba or a.r.t.less. There's sombre, cinematic and hypnotic sound design as heard on "Blessedness" (which treads the same territory as The Haxan Cloak or Forest Swords) while darkside trip-hop can even sound contemporary still, as heard on the chilling suspense of "Sputnik Sunrise".

Review: Sven Weisemann returned to FauxPas under his less-known Desolate moniker, one which he uses predominantly for more experimental investigations into sound. Celestial Light Beings opens with "Ambrosia", a quick reminder of what this guy is capable and warning off all that is to come. The LP floats gently between different moods and styles, from the broken beat rhythms of "Teariness Of Lemnia", through the haunting, noise-induced soundscapes of "Se7en" and ending up at the soothing synth waves and piano keys of "Exclusion Of Light". A wonderfully executed project and one that grows with each new listen.