Nectar by Oceanographer

Every once in a while, an artist or album comes along that makes you stop what you are doing, whatever that is, and makes you want to do nothing else but take the music in with no distractions. A headsnapper. Stops you dead in your tracks.

Nectar, the new LP from Missouri producer Oceanographer aka Ryan Howell, does exactly that. It commands your attention.

Right from the get go, you get the sense that this is no ordinary ambient album. The detail and constantly evolving beauty in the first track, Meeting of Hearts, is the first evidence that something special is unfolding. Nectar is a beguiling listen from beginning to end, with Ryan's innate ability to use non-standard chord voicings and patterns.

There's a refreshing songcraft to tracks such as Cloud King and Kettle Dance, which are both like listening to an ambient Kate Bush (you'll get it when you hear it). With more layers of sound (including often neglected and most welcome lower-than-low end)to envelop you than most contemporary beatless electronic artists, especially on the epic 'After the Rain, Before the Rainbow', you get the sense that Oceanographer is operating on a different level than most.

Nectar is the sound of a producer at the peak of his creativity. it's an inspirational and endlessly creative LP that just keeps revealing parts of itself to you beyond the 10th listen.

Ryan Howell aka Oceanographer // Creator of electronic voyages

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