Having always been a fan of music which caters for the more chilled out side of life, the latest Pantha Du Prince release has hit the spot; The Elements of Life, with Bell Laboratory. This isn’t just any old bell we’re talking about either! This is a set up many would dream of getting a bang off.
The inspiration came from the carillon as a structure in cities such as Oslo and Berlin. Hendrik Weber (Mr. Pantha) was intrigued, so much so, he just had to incorporate one into his live performances. He recorded the Oslo carillon and constructed one which he could take on tour, which consists of 50 bronze bells!
I’m often one for throwing on tunes before I sleep and this release is one of those which is perfect for that in between awake and asleep time. Weber’s minimalist approach to electronic music has often produced slowly accelerated tunes, and this release has gone even further down the slowly unfolding path. Not only meditative, it’s so engaging at times that it’s not until you snap out of it that you realise it’s caught you. Whether this was the intention or not is another thing.
When the 4/4 does creep in, it’s worth the wait. Perfect in a certain time and place. While I did prefer the lure of the first two tracks, the lull left by the second half of the release has sent me off on a few peaceful sleeps now so thumbs up for that!