With the second 12“Maxi Single release of two new AMBIQ tracks, from the album „AMBIQ 2“, and after a first EP featuring sparkling remixes by Ricardo Villalobos and Tobias Freund, arjunamusic is continuing the remix series which brings electro-acoustic music into a alternative techno environment, now featuring Thomas Fehlmann and Margaret Dygas. The fluid, open-ended nature of the AMBIQ trio’s compositions, which never remain trapped in one musical genre or another, gives them an almost irresistible “sample- ability.” This quality lends them to all kinds of inspired re- interpretations, and this new pair of remixes is a good proof of that. Orb / Kompakt alumnus Thomas Fehlmann, as well as eclectic producer Margaret Dygas, are no strangers to psychedelic narrative epics of sound, and they take to this task with the ease of expert engineers. Fehlmann’s familiar low-end rolling and provide the rocket fuel which takes his “Meta” mix beyond the stratosphere, though these classic techno elements never neglect the eerie ‘singing saw’ quivers and drum kit chatter of the original material. It’s a mutant dub that, like the best electronic music, never feels ‘manufactured’ for a moment and permeates every corner of listeners’ active imagination. Meanwhile, Dygas’ noir-tinged “The Mother” remix incorporates all kinds of clever low-end subtleties and sliced- and-diced sound fragments while still leaving plenty of room for Ambiq’s woodwinds and percussive commentary to have their say. The unique enveloping feel of the music gives one the uncanny feeling of both secretly observing someone and being secretly observed, a shift in perspective that is only accomplished by the most well-considered new music. More

Burnt Friedman’s own dramatic interpretation of “Microcosmoism” pairs up his consciousness of deep bass and analog inventiveness with Rohrer’s continually transforming sound objects, making for a flowing and wordless narrative that simply dares listeners to stop paying attention. Feeling more like a collaboration in “real time” than a remix proper, Friedman brings his characteristic ‘mad scientist’ wit to the proceedings and delivers an energetic piece that simply glows in the dark.
This is complemented nicely by Villalobos’ remix of “Microcosmoism”. It carries the energy level of the 1st EP over to a new disk, while heavily experimenting with feelings of emotional ambiguity. At some points aggressive and at other points merely curious, this mischievous collage of attitudes feels as inspired by the questing jazz of Sun Ra as it is by continental techno. Contemplative keyboard runs, enthusiastic spring-like percussion and malfunctioning machine chatter all coalesce to make this a most fascinating piece of multi-purpose electronic music. More