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Balmorhea

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Balmorhea

Dec 29, 2021
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Balmorhea

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Today we have a guest recommendation from Fog Chaser, a Pacific Northwest-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, and writer of a free newsletter of new instrumental compositions, photos, and inspirations once every month.

I first came across Balmorhea (pronounced bal-mə-ray) when I stumbled upon one of their performances in an old, cavernous, low-lit church while living in the band's hometown of Austin, Texas. Discovering this six-piece minimalist instrumental ensemble felt like a gift — a band that at once encapsulated the lush, dreamy neo-classical instrumentation I love, along with a healthy dusting of the expansive and beautiful landscape of West Texas and the Texas Hill Country.

Formed in 2006 by Rob Lowe and Michael Muller, Balmorhea makes a wonderful mix of the cinematic and the minimal — a sort of push-and-pull between the entrancing elements of Philip Glass and the epic moments of Explosions in the Sky. The band uses compelling textural sounds and tactile instrumentation, including keys, strings, bass, and guitar, to create richly-attired songs with sweeping arrangements that are so easy to get lost in. I consider Balmorhea one of my biggest inspirations for my own instrumental compositions as Fog Chaser. I particularly love their 2007 eponymous debut album which showcases all of the band's best qualities. The 2014 re-release of this record includes a stunning reworking of their song "Attesa" from Nils Frahm.

Balmorhea - Balmorhea (50m, no vocals except track 8)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music / Amazon Music / Bandcamp / Tidal

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Balmorhea

www.flowstate.fm
barred monks
Dec 29, 2021

Hi MC, thx for this one! Found out the latest album of Balmorhea - The Wind was recorded in Nils Frahm's Saal 3 studio in the Funkhaus Berlin. Another Gem. I wondered who else recently made recordings in this awesome sounding place and discovered Deaf Center from Norway. I do think other followers of Flow state will appreciate their album "Low Distance" too. You can check it out here:

https://deafcenter.bandcamp.com/album/low-distance

https://open.spotify.com/album/7eA7lexsBpvgs17la5jRc0?si=wuTltGS5TIiqMWUurFImzw

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FogChaser
Writes Fog Chaser
Dec 29, 2021

❤️

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