Better known to the ambient-loving masses as Biosphere, Geir Jenssen is one of the most influential artists in his field. Responsible for the milestone album 'Substrata' among many others, Jenssen defined a sound and a time of ambient music and his compositions served as a precursor to the Deaf Centers and Tim Heckers of the world. This disc however sees the musician moving away from his delicate electro-acoustic compositions and into the realm of field recording, or more specifically diary recordings of an adventure in Tibet. The enclosed booklet describes the journey; Jenssen ventured up Cho Oyu, the worlds sixth highest peak at 8201 metres, with a group of fellow travellers and documented it beautifully with his writing, but the real adventure is hidden on the disc itself. Across twelve tracks Jenssen does his best to sum up the sights and sounds he was experiencing as he trekked through towns, villages and frozen landscapes. It might be a stray radio broadcast, a street musician, wind chimes and traffic in the distance or a cassette tape bought from a nearby shop - but what Jenssen manages on the record is simply heart-stopping. With only the simplest of means he has created an album which totally distils the current explosion in atmospheric, cinematic listening music - he has documented an actual adventure, a journey which could easily have been filmed with sound, letting the recordings tell the story. Of course what he ends up with transcends the term 'cinematic' - you know this is real, as you hear a dog barking or a voice shout in the background you are perfectly aware that Jenssen was sitting there recording these people and that is enough to make listening to the album a totally absorbing experience. An incredible package in typically lavish packaging, and a welcome addition to Geir Jenssen's already impresive catalogue. Highly Recommended.
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