Pluviophilia (2019) — Robert Scott Thompson — Ambient Music

Over the years, from AtmoWorks to Relaxed Machinery now to earthMANTRA and Aatma, I’ve had the genuine pleasure of working with some of the most talented artists working in the genre today. I’ve played a role in releasing some amazing music in the past 12 years, and it never gets old. That’s why today is such a special day – one for a very special release.

Robert Scott Thompson is a name known by anyone with even a casual interest in ambient electronic music. For more than 35 years, Robert has been releasing ground-breaking, genre-challenging music of the highest caliber. His catalog reads as a “who’s-who” of landmark albums in the history of electronic music. So when someone with that kind of resume says they’d like to release some of their work on your upstart little label, you tend to sit up and take notice. And when that work comes in the form of three meticulously crafted, beautifully diverse albums…well, that just sweetens the pot.

The Pluviophilia Project is a monumental work, requiring repeated listens to fully appreciate the breadth of the material. Robert described some of his feelings about the work, and what it means to him.

“As a young kid, like so many others in the L.A..area, I was enthralled by the seasonal rain. It did not come all that often, but when it did, it brought of a bit of magic to the streets with little rivers running down the curbside affording an imaginal world in which to explore – building dams, bridges, and floating objects down the currents. Perhaps it was then that I became a pluviophile.

Pluviophilia means “love of rain.” For the composer, rain is often an inspiration not only of mood and image but also of sound itself. Rain is a sonic vehicle and a metaphor rather than merely a subject. Rain can soothe, but it can also terrify – precipitation has many faces.”

You can read much more about the genesis of the project, as well as a detailed description of each track and the creation process in a compendium PDF included in the download.

Aatma is thrilled to offer this amazing work from legendary composer Robert Scott Thompson.

— Geoff Stewart – Aatma Records, 2019

DOWNLOAD PLUVIOPHILIA PROJECT NOTES by RST

The name Robert Scott Thompson has been, for many years now, synonymous with high-quality music, boundary-breaking experimentation and a brave mix of modern romanticism and the most daring avant-garde. This latest offering has the distinction of not only belonging to his best work, but also being a mix of both, a sort of avant-garde romanticism, every track laying bare a unique knack for creating mysterious, sensual, and at times vaguely ominous soundscapes.
 
— Ulf Claesson
...among the finest pieces of music I own...

On Pluviophilia (2019) – Robert Scott Thompson

The name Robert Scott Thompson has been, for many years now, synonymous with high-quality music, boundary-breaking experimentation and a brave mix of modern romanticism and the most daring avant-garde. This latest offering of his has the distinction of not only belonging to his best work, but also being a mix of both, a sort of avant-garde romanticism, every track laying bare a unique knack for creating mysterious, sensual, and at times vaguely ominous soundscapes, where the listener is left floating upon an endless ocean of aural excellence, both in terms of production values, but chiefly musical ecstasy.

Yes, ecstasy! I will not single out any stand-out track, even though such exist, but rather emphasize the pure JOY of experiencing this entire composition, a roaring success that had me cheering inwardly, while listening the first time. The pieces float, glide, dissolve and reassemble themselves like shimmering soap bubbles, resulting in rainbow hues for the ears and soul. Yes, I know it sounds like hyperbole, but I stand by every word, I LOVE this work, it belongs among the finest pieces of music I own (and the list of music, both on CD and as downloads, is long!!)

It is high time the name Robert Scott Thompson becomes as well known in modern musical circles as those of Penderecki, Ligeti, Stockhausen or Varese, not least because of the sheer MASS of work this man has created. It is nothing short of astounding, so, hurry, get this latest composition as soon as possible, and then the rest, too. I promise you will have many, many hours of pure bliss to look forward to.

— Ulf Claesson — January 2020

...a magnificent series...

Robert’s work is reminiscent of the works of Robert Rich and Steve Roach. With time, his name should be held in the same regard as these two maestros are. This new generation make incredibly vital compositions.

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