Nashville Ambient Ensemble : Interview

The Nashville Ambient Ensemble, one of the most exciting new projects of Nashville’s continuously burgeoning experimental scene, is releasing their debut tomorrow on Centripetal Force Records. Layers of otherworldly vocal, synth, guitar, steel, delicately mingle and merge into celestial, cinematic soundscapes.

The seven-piece ensemble, spearheaded by composer Michael Hix and featuring many of the stars of the scene in their own rite, like Kim Rueger (Belly Full of Stars), Jack Silverman (who penned the album’s title track), Deli Paloma-Sisk (Diatom Deli), Cynthia Cárdenas, Timon Kaple, and Luke Schneider. Although each individual artist’s musical background is unique, the shared vision and collaborative spirit only found in Nashville turns seven unique sounds into one.

The six languorous, other-worldly tunes are thoughtfully composed, reminiscent of classical music in its movements and technicality; but in fact, bluegrass and jazz were Hix’s influences, as far as improvisational techniques and the almost psychic communication that goes on between players during this type of performance. As I said in my initial review and you’ll hear me say again, this record does cause one’s pineal gland to throb quite viscerally.

Buy Cerulean by Nashville Ambient Ensemble on Bandcamp.