REVIEWS reviews...... sounds...... pictures...... words...... links...... info written by Eric Prindle of Ujamaa's Ambient Experience http://www.susqu.edu/students/p/prindle/ The Foundry/Mote The Foundry FOU06 (USA), 1999 On the surface, a compilation album from a label that focuses on the work of one artist seems like an unusual idea. However, although the three projects which have released albums so far on the Foundry label are predominately the work of one M Bentley, eM, Rhomb and The Apiary each demonstrate a distinct approach, and Mote blends these approaches in a variety of ways. Most of the tracks on Mote are partially derived from the sound of an abortive answering machine message. From this base, Bentley constructs a wide variety of ambiences, from the very abstract, halting sounds of eM's title track to the thick layered ambience of "The Bridge," featuring a guest performance by violinist Susan Worland, to the gentle, rhythmic electronica of The Apiary and eM's "Filaments." The most successful tracks from a purely ambient standpoint are a pair of pieces from Rhomb and eM, "Occluded Forms" and "Dark Passage," both of which feature dark and minimal soundscapes. Many of the other tracks have a more playful feel to them which lends the album an interesting balance. For the most part, Mote succeeds in the difficult duel mission of providing a sampling of where The Foundry's projects stand artistically at a particular point in time and bringing together the different approaches of these projects into a coherent statement.