Vivid Circles

Subterranean Source is the solo project of Italy's Andrea Bellucci. However, unlike his other main projects, Red Sector A and Son-Dha, this music is entirely ambient and not at all beat-oriented. Leaning to the more minimal, "barely there" end of the ambient electronic spectrum, Vivid Circles' quietly ominous drones often bring to mind images of wind sweeping across some barren, lifeless planet. Indeed, for much of this album, Bellucci comes across like outer space's answer to arctic drone-ambient guru Thomas Köner, crafting deceptively not-simple soundscapes that encompass lots of movement and subtle, continual shifts underneath their seemingly still surfaces. The initial release on Relapse sub-label Desolation House, this handsomely packaged disc comes in a three-panel fold-out digipak with austere black, gray, and brownish orange artwork that accompanies and accents the music well. This type of subtle ambient music is not for everyone, but Vivid Circles makes for good, creepy, late-night listening provided you can find a quiet enough place to play it.