Gorgeous ambient music...not weird or fluffy, just incredibly relaxing.

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Product Description

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Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Storm In A Teacup
2. Opium
3. Interior Design
4. The Path Of Least Resistance
5. Blue Topaz
6. Velvet Garden

Disc 2:

1. Opium (@ 45 Degrees)
2. Storm In A Teacup (@ 135 Degrees)
3. Melted Teacup
4. Seems To Remind Me (Of Love)
5. Into The blue (Vocal Remix)
6. Clair De Lune

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65340 in Music
• Released on: 2002-03-26
• Number of discs: 2

Amazon.com
The title probably refers to the most efficacious position for listening to this drifting, shimmering expanse of ambient music from James Hood, a one-time drummer with the Pretenders. This is ambient music that draws on the timeless mix of resignation and awe you find in Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, Brian Eno's "An Ending (Ascent)," and Johann Pachelbel's "Canon," the last of which Hood freely adapts on "Interior Design." Comprising two CDs, Horizontal presents a floating ambient dreamscape in the first disc, with minimalist sequences that surge in and out, pulling sweeping synth chords along with them. Disc two remixes the first, adding in some deeply chilled rhythms and, on a couple of tracks, the celestially seductive voice of Julee Cruise. On "Opium," a pedal steel guitar calls out across a southwestern desert plain in space before evolving into a symphonic, albeit low-key crescendo. Hood is an artist who has one foot melting, Dali-esque, in 1970s German space music, while the other taps its toes in more contemporary chill-out designs. He brings it all together on a CD that should become an ambient signpost, pointing the way to destinations out. --John Diliberto

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Customer Reviews

The songs are beautiful.
This is quite possibly, the deepest, most chill album I've ever listened to. This two-CD set is unmixed with a deceptively low number of tracks (12 in all). While there are only 12 tracks, the shortest one is 7 minutes, with most running about 10 minutes. It is incredibly atmospheric and will put you into a very relaxed state. I do not recommend you drive or operate heavy machinery while listening to this. This album is so relaxing, that staying awake while listening to it, becomes a conscious effort. The songs are beautiful and even though they're not mixed, flow into each other quite well.

Some of the songs sound like they have Irish Folk song influences, while others have Classical piano melodies. The entire package just eases itself along. If you're looking for something that'll take the edge off of you, faster than a joint of Marijuana, this is it.

Another masterpiece from Moodswings
First of all:'Horizontal' is an adventure of sublimal sounds and samples. Everytime when I hear 'Horizontal', I hear something new.
Here is my comment to every track:

CD 1.

Storm in a teacup *****

The first track is a very good opener and leads the listener to the new soundscapes. It offers something that I would describe as an ambivalence between the sounds. I has a bright side and a dark side and it seems that these opposites strike against each other. In my opinion the dark side is the 'Storm' and after the Storm has gone, the bright side shines again,brighter than ever before. I needed one week to recognize that almost all
tracks on 'Horizontal have 2 or 3 main sound themes and every time a theme is reprised is has a new variation -> perceptible deviations.

Opium *****

Opium is a great track and the description about 'Storm.' fits also for Opium. I think it is a little bit better than 'Storm..' because it offers more sounds.

Interieur design *****

My favourite track. I like the instrument that sounds a little bit like a harp or zither - I could listen to this track permanently.

The Path of least resistence ****

For the first time I didn't like the track because it seemed that it doesn't fit in the musical context of the CD. But it is an ultimately Moodswings/Liz Upchurch Piano track with much more orchestration as known before. Now, I like it.

Blue Topaz *****

The fifth track opens a new musical horizon of Moodswings music because it has a bumpy sound (well done) . I like the guitar sound of Johnny Marr and the steal guitar sound of B.J. Cole.

Velvet Garden ***

This is the only disappointing track on 'Horizontal' because it offers nothing new. It is only a reprise track of used sounds on the first CD.

CD 2

Opium @ 45 Degrees ****

For the first time I thought the 'Opium' remix could be predistined as a fast trance track and I asked myself why is it only a mid-tempo track. The answer I found is that in general no one of the revisited tracks should be fast or very fast because that is not the intention of 'Horizontal'. If there was only one fast track on CD 2 in would query the tracks of CD 1.
Finally, this track has superb effects. Well done.

Storm... @ 135 Degrees ****

It was a big surprise to hear drum & bass elements on a moodswings track. I think it was a good idea to integrate this elements. In addition, I like the spoken voice sample. Well done.

Melted Teacup *****

The third track is still better than the second. Why?
I can't explain. I only know it offers the whole Moodswings Sound Universe.

Seems to remind me... *****

This track can be compared with the best former known Moodswings voice track: 'State of Independence'- it is unique and Julee Cruise was the right choise. In addition the harmonica is great! A Masterpiece!

Into the blue *****

Yet another great voice track. Excellent!

Clair de Lune *****

. terminates 'Horizontal'. I like the pedal steel guitar and this track shows that an instrument can be used unusually.

Horizontal is so vertical
Horizontal is different than the previous 2 albums by Moodswings. It's even better. The 2 disc CD gives you a lot of music for your money. The tracks are great for your mind. It's electronic music at it's best. To tell you a particular track is awesome is to tell you they all are. Buy it, listen to it and be peaceful!