James Murray – Islands Alight – Ambientblog

JAMES MURRAY – ISLANDS ALIGHT

Since 2008, James Murray has built an impressive back catalogue of solo albums and collaboration projects. He released his music on his own Slowcraft label, but also on labels like Eilean Rec., Ultimae, Home Normal – ánd on Quiet Details (‘the label where each release is an artist’s own unique interpretation of that phrase’).
Islands Alight is his second solo album for that label (following Weeds from 2024) – and his third if you include his Slowreels collaboration with Ian Hawgood (Everyday Exotic, also 2024).

While Islands Alight retains the personal touch – his ‘ability to craft deeply touching synthetic vistas’ – he also broadens the sonic spectrum by adding rhythms, subtle percussion, and dub effects:
“Islands Alight stands as a deliberate, defining work at the confluence of ambient dub roots and the artist I am
now.”
Adding rhythmic elements does not mean this has become a ‘dub techno’ album you can dance to. This is still unmistakably ‘ambient music’, but Murray’s use of rhythm gives the genre a really refreshing twist.

James worked four years on this album, but its association with water is now more relevant than ever before:
“… making landfall amidst these relentless heatwaves and impending drought feels about right; environmental anxiety courses through the album like wildfire, consciously balanced only by the rising of pale, elemental waters.”

As is usual for Quiet Details, the album is available as a long-form continuous mix in CD, while the download contains (8) individual tracks.