Ben Cox recently released the album Consciousness, and Other Tricks of the Light on Spotted Peccary Music. It is an adventurous expedition through the musicality of synthesizers and electronics.
Thoughtfully conceived and executed, this second album by sound explorer Ben Cox offers an enthralling listening experience infused with contemplative moments and pleasant surprises. The album achieves a delicate balance as its six tracks capture the essence of moods that range from extreme stillness to dynamic motion, combining closed-eye tranquility with ear-opening revelations.
Through a combination of programming, software, and modular synthesis, Cox crafts his compositions with a sonic skill that lights up the mind and soothes the soul, delivering a thoughtful blend of analog and digital synthesis – occasionally augmented by electronic percussion and electric guitar – that maintains a fascinating chemistry across the whole of the project.
Consciousness, and Other Tricks of the Light is available on Bandcamp:
The album opens with “Einstein Cross” (6:08) featuring a bold strutting beat with snazzy sort of high hat sounds, and a knowledgeable voice that provides a lesson about gravity and symmetry while you might dance around to the pulses, as arpeggiating melodic satellites pass overhead.
“Now” (3:01) could be one of those songs that’s spoken about in hushed, reverential tones as a proto-ambient classic with a beat, all with a much greater overall saturation of the acoustical space.
“Matins” (12:57), sometimes pronounced “matnz,” is the final song on the album; it makes one think of calm water with tiny metallic tinkling echoes, perhaps in a huge dark cave well after midnight.
The Gear
When interviewed about his methodology by music writer Robin James, Cox revealed his preferences for the My Eurorack modular, Moog Voyager (Anniversary Edition), Dave Smith Instruments Pro 2, Nord Modular G2, DSI/Oberheim OB-6, a pair of Moog Mother-32, Novation UltraNova, Moog Little Phatty, and a Roland JV-2080. Instrument used: Line6 Variax JTV-59, Helix Rack Software used: Avid Pro Tools, Plugins from u-he, Native Instruments, Eventide, McDSP, Waves, Lexicon, Arturia, iZotope, FabFilter, Csound Hardware used: Focusrite Red8Pre and Red16Line audio interfaces (DigiLink, Dante), Avid Pro Tools HDX, Artist Mix, Focal Trio6BE+Sub6, and a TC Electronic M3000.
Cox’s ambient music legacy is strong. In 2004, Cox co-founded the independent progressive ambient electronic label Lotuspike with Daniel Pipitone and Jeff Kowal, who recorded as Terra Ambient. In 2008, Lotuspike merged with Spotted Peccary Music, allowing their releases to be more widely distributed, marketed, and heard. Consciousness, and other tricks of the light is Cox’s second solo release on the Spotted Peccary label;his previous music offerings include On Water (LSM03), and the self-released collection, multi threaded.
Consciousness, and other tricks of the light was mastered by Howard Givens (who has a vinyl release with Craig Padilla coming up soon!) and is available for physical purchase in CD format and in 24-BIT AUDIOPHILE, CD QUALITY LOSSLESS, MP3 and streaming formats.
The CD version of Consciousness, and other tricks of the light arrives in a factory sealed 6-panel gatefold package that includes vibrant artwork, liner notes, a 4-page booklet, and exquisite package design by Daniel Pipitone.
For more information, see the Spotted Peccary Album page
Press release by the label