BAADM Belgium Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Mats Erlandsson and Maria W Horn reconvene their patient, considered approach to electro-acoustic minimalism and sustained synthesis with Celestial Shores. Originally conceived in response to a commission, Erlandsson and Horn created the extended pieces on this album for a live performance in 2021 during which they created a score for the second half of the film Nico/Nico Crying by Andy Warhol. Using zither, modular synths, voice, field recordings and metal percussion, the pair recorded a subsequent version of the piece as a one-take, in the room session which is what you can now savour on this exemplary record.

Review: Mark Gomes turned plenty of heads with his debut album back in 2015. Back then, it was only ever released on limited edition cassette, but now that wrong is righted with a vinyl release via Belgium label BAADM. Six years on, the heart breaking soundscapes still draw you in. On tracks like 'Chrysanthemum No 1' tender piano keys ring out into pregnant empty space, heavy chords resonate and the whole thing serves to sooth your woes. 'Meadowsweet' is another bittersweet piece with piano that speaks of pain, but also subtle hope. Closer 'Bleeding Heart' marries organic keys with synthesised sound to make for a more fulsome track, but one that still makes its point in a gentle, beautiful fashion.