We Carry Eden

 I was shocked when I learned that Hanyo van Oosterom, whose CHI projects had found a safe haven at Astral Industries for many years, would no longer be releasing on Ario Farahani's wonderful label. I suspected a major break, but I didn't read a thing about it. Quite the opposite. Hanyo only spoke with the utmost gratitude and respect about his time at AI, which has now come to an end. Well, shocked is perhaps too harsh a word. I was very surprised and would not have believed it possible, especially since it was clear that Hanyo's visions are far from over. For "Carry of Eden", Hanyo has found a more than respectable new home in Music from Memory. Whether he is allowed and wants to live there long-term, or whether he will lead a nomadic life from now on when it comes to releasing new projects, time will tell. At least the latter wouldn't be inappropriate. After all, that's exactly what his music is about. Basically. But what do I know.

Reviews:

Groove Magazin:

"The sound design unfolds intuitively throughout the entire 42 minutes, tucked between field recordings and tribal percussion, looped dialogues and prayers, distant calls and enchanting flutes – as if a brief, clear glimpse into another reality. The feeling of security in a deeply shattered world. Who couldn't use that". 

Test Pressing:

“Now we have some new music from Hanyo and longtime collaborator Omar Ka on the ever-essential Music From Memory. Water ebbs and flows. Marimba-propelled tempos quicken. Gentle bass reassures. Various voices come and go but the whole enterprise is underpinned by Omar's narrative. Life comes into focus”. 

Juno Records:

"We Carry Eden is an album so deep you can plunge right into it and forget the real world entirely. It melds drones, field recordings, dub, jazz and fourth world influences across a two-part composition that features storytelling by West African vocalist Omar Ka. Van Oosterom crafts textured soundscapes rooted in meditative grooves and spiritual depth and is inspired by Patmos and Hopi wisdom. He also weaves nature, myth and memory into a unified sonic journey".

Minimal Collective:

“Where meditative soundwork, nomadic storytelling and archival instinct converge, We Carry Eden unfolds as an elemental synergy. Son Of Chi builds space. Omar Ka brings voice. In this two-part composition, the Dutch ambient pioneer reunites with the Senegalese singer, finding a natural home on Music From Memory. The result hums with spiritual gravity, inviting slow immersion".

Funkentechno (David James):

"Awesome hearing the Dutch ambient wizard on Music From Memory now, exploring more dubbed out fourth world jazz territory in collage format, flowing episodically and stitched together by the voice of Omar Ka".

Boomkat:

"Sonically, the world of ‘We Carry Eden’ is fully immersive; it ripples with depth and shimmers in detail. Motifs, ideas and fragments, arise and disappear like passing thoughts, drawing the listener deeper and deeper inwards. For those familiar with Oosterom’s work as Chi Factory, the depth and meditative nature of the work will come as no surprise".

Ban Ban Ton Ton:

"A hallucinatory, peyote button heat haze where crows caw, cattle bells rattle and then the Sahara breaks down, shifts to somewhere Spanish, serenaded by crickets and cicadas. Language gets looped. The narration supplied by cosmic guides: Senegalese vocalist Omar Ka and Elders of the Native American Hopi Tribe. 

The music is like ECM jazz meets the drones of modern, digital ambient. Seamlessly weaving together different, separate sections. Snatches of woodwinds, traditional song, and patient piano ripples. Exploring Jon Hassell’s Fourth World with gentle electro-acoustics".