Flawless is not one of those terms that should be thrown around casually in describing music–especially electronic music, in all its derivative, self-referencing, constantly impossible to qualify and classify guises–and yet somehow, the latest release by John Beltran, titled Ambient Selections (Delsin) is just that: utterly flawless. To be fair, this isn’t your regular album, but rather a retrospective of Beltran’s entire career as an ambient electronic producer, yet it’s a detail that is easy to let fall by the wayside. What stands out instead is the painstaking care with which this entire collection has been pieced together; the passage of time is virtually unnoticeable from one song to the next, a sure sign that Beltran’s overall aesthetic–though variable throughout his career when viewed in normal time–has overall been unchanging, and to some rather impressive ends.
Says John of the compilation…
“I have personally selected these songs from eight of my albums which span 16 years, though the compilation also includes two brand new, unreleased compositions, "Expecting” and “Miss Weird”. I believe all of these songs have, and will continue to, stand the test of time because, in my humble opinion, they are my best ambient works. I have always felt I have had the most unique, loyal fans in the world, so this compilation is dedicated to them, from me, with love.“
This album is especially recommended if you’re a fan of Brian Eno, Donnacha Costello, Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works I and II, and the Merck catalog.
Edit: Check out the listening examples below!
