Author Archives: Arcana

Unknown's avatar

About Arcana

My name is Ben Hogwood, editor of the Arcana music site (arcana.fm)

#AmbientAugust no.22 – Philip Glass: Contrary Motion

Posted on by
Reply

by Ben Hogwood

While it seems a bit strange to label a piece with frenetic keyboard activity as ‘ambient’, this early Philip Glass piece qualifies for that label by its static harmonies and shimmering profile. The effect is rather like looking at fast moving ripples on a pool, which change ever so gradually over time.

Contrary Motion dates from 1969, an early Glass piece that is typically lean and functional – but which adds up to something rather mesmeric. As do the other pieces on this excellent album from Steffen Schleiermacher!

Published post no.2,990 – Saturday 22 August 2026

#AmbientAugust no.21 – Arvo Pärt: Fratres

Posted on by
Reply

by Ben Hogwood

A special kind of hush descends when listening to Arvo Pärt’s Fratres, a meditative piece from 1977 first heard as part of his ground breaking debut album, Tabula Rasa, on ECM New Series. Fratres is based on a small, repeating cell that can be expressed through a number of different performing combinations…but this one, for twelve cellos, is my choice, the soulful sound of the stringed instruments given a haunting edge by the tapping of the cello itself. A remarkable piece of stillness:

Published post no.2,989 – Friday 21 August 2026

#AmbientAugust no.20 – cv313 – Analogue Oceans

Posted on by
Reply

by Ben Hogwood

It is a very slow and short walk from yesterday’s post to today’s cv313 – for both have in common the producer and Deepchord mastermind Rod Lodell. cv313, headed by Stephen Hitchell in occasional partnership with Lodell, takes the ‘weather through music’ approach to greater extremes, with sonic canvases that take on wider perspectives with their progression through time:

Published post no.2,988 – Thursday 20 August 2026

#AmbientAugust no.19 – Deepchord – Functional Designs

Posted on by
Reply

by Ben Hogwood

Around the release of his last album, Functional Designs, Arcana was lucky to get a chat with Deepchord, aka Rod Lodell, to explore his methods and processes.

Few producers make their music sound so weather-beaten, and Modell manages a balance between forward movement in a dub-techno interface, and a position for the listener where they can stand still and literally feel the rain on their face. Headphone listening brings all these sensations to life:

Published post no.2,988 – Wednesday 19 August 2026

#AmbientAugust no.18 – Ocoeur – Dawn / Dusk

Posted on by
Reply

by Ben Hogwood

Bordeaux-based Franck Zaragoza records as Ocoeur, and makes music with environmental connections and concerns, often without beats. Here is a quote from my 2020 review of the Everything album, containing these two tracks:

“It is however the closing pair of Dawn and Dusk that leave a lasting mark. At 20 minutes between them, they have an easy, natural progression across space and time in direct opposition to the busy digital environments around us. There is very little to anchor either production to the ground, but the floated motifs work really well.”

Published post no.2,987 – Tuesday 18 August 2026