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The Widening Gyre "Les Landes"
format: album, released: 1999

review by James Andean


The Widening Gyre is the project of Toronto ambient wunderkind Ryan Hagerman
(not to be confused with the folk group of the same name, who apparently share
with Hagerman a love for W. B. Yeats). Les Landes is his second album to date,
and it is a fine effort indeed. Controlled, beautiful, and graceful, it is an
excellent set of electronic soundscapes that clearly show an artist in knowing
control of his chosen field.

The spirit this particular genre can be somewhat elusive to the aspiring musician,
as good ambient music requires that a very tight line be walked between not enough
material on the one hand, and too much on the other; few enough are those who
navigate this path successfully. Some rely heavily on drones and broad washes of
sound, which can all too easily bore the listener; but a still more common failing
is an overabundance of material, too much density, too much motion, quickly turning
the music to sonic mud, or proving to be merely distracting. It takes creativity to
overcome the former weakness, and, harder still, a great deal of artistry, restraint,
and, above all, a highly-tuned sensitivity, to steer clear of the latter.

Les Landes walks this line beautifully. The pieces are for the most part clear, not
quite transparent; Hagerman's themes, very restrained two- or three-note motifs, are
given plenty of space to hover, before slowly and subtly developing, giving plenty of
time for us to appreciate, admire and enjoy the slow, unfolding growth of each track.
The environments he creates are rich without ever becoming dense or bogged down, warm,
and inviting. What's more - an all-too-rare virtue in ambient music - he knows when
to close, to end the song as soon as we have tasted all it has to offer, leaving us a
teasing craving for more, rather than overstaying its welcome.

The album opens by laying its finest track on the table. "Scene" is a truly beautiful
piece, hovering and serene, built on a slight, chiming three note melody. The track is
perfectly constructed, each element being allowed just enough time to be tasted before a
new element is brought in, slowly building to a gentle, rolling wash of abstract percussion
and the rich, ringing melody. Another highlight is "Breathe", which languishes in deep
swirling washes of sound, punctuated by a slow, barely recognizable pulse, and, in a
coup of astounding restraint, saving its central motif for nearly the end of the song: a
simple, lazy theme, which sounds almost guitar-like, that slowly enters in, opens out,
and as soon as it is finally heard in its entirety, immediately retreats, bowing out for
the next track.

The closest point of reference to Les Landes might be Aphex Twin's brilliant 1994
collection Selected Ambient Works Volume II, which grew from a lukewarm initial reception
to become recognized as one of the masterpieces of the genre. Hagerman exhibits some of
the same degree of control, of carefully crafted electronic sonorities, and above all,
of craft and artistry in building the structures of his pieces, as are in evidence in
Aphex's work - which is no faint praise, and no small accomplishment. Anyone with an
appreciation of good ambient music should definitely give this album an attentive listen
(it can be purchased directly from the artist at wideninggyre@hotmail.com ). The
Widening Gyre is definitely a name to watch out for, and I look forward to hearing more
from Mr. Hagerman in the future.