Selected Moments I: A Gritty Dive into Minimal Ambient Vibes
Alright, let’s cut the fluff and get straight to it. Selected Moments I by Various is one of those albums that sneaks up on you like a shadow in an alley—quiet at first but packing enough weight to knock you sideways. Released in 2008 under Shoreless Recordings (Germany), this little beast of an album dives deep into minimal and ambient electronic soundscapes. Mastered by Georg Neufeld, it's not just another forgettable collection of tracks; nope, this sucker sticks with you.
Now, let’s talk about two cuts from the lineup that really hit different: "Neural Network" and "Hyloxalus."
First off, "Neural Network." Holy crap, this track feels like staring into the void while the void stares back. It starts slow, almost teasing you with these glitchy pulses before morphing into something cold yet strangely inviting. You can practically hear circuits frying as layers build on top of each other, creating tension so thick you could slice it with a knife. The thing I dig most? It doesn’t try too hard—it lets the silence between the notes do half the work. It’s haunting, man. Like walking through an abandoned lab where robots once dreamed.
Then there’s "Hyloxalus," which slaps harder than it has any right to. This one opens with what sounds like raindrops falling onto steel plates—or maybe someone smashing glass underwater. Either way, it’s hypnotic AF. About halfway through, everything drops out except for this low, droning hum that vibrates in your chest cavity. Feels like being swallowed whole by some massive invisible creature. It’s unsettling but also kinda beautiful? Yeah, I said it. Ugly-beautiful. That’s what makes it stick.
The rest of the album ain’t bad either—tracks like "Glimpse Of Infinity" and "Adagio For Drone" bring their own flavor of ethereal weirdness—but damn if those two don’t claw their way into your brain and refuse to leave.
Here’s the kicker though: after listening to this album all the way through, I couldn’t help but wonder…is this what machines dream about when they’re bored? Because honestly, Selected Moments I feels less like human music and more like eavesdropping on a conversation between malfunctioning satellites orbiting Jupiter. Weird flex, I know, but hey—that’s why we love it.
So yeah, give it a spin if you’re tired of glossy overproduced crap flooding playlists nowadays. Just don’t blame me if it messes with your head.
