BOTN, Genning - Strange Fog (2023)

Greyscale full length release #27 offers two previous Mood Series artists to share one long player. Titled 'Strange Fog', Genning takes the first 6 songs while BOTN wrote the last 5. This album is full of gentle picturesque ambient pieces that equally create a space and a vision of an atmosphere or setting. It begins with 'Mountain's Church' that is a very scenic piece that plays like a distant memory of seeing a vacant church over a nice field on a cloudy day. The main chimes call like an announcement at the arrival of the album while the chords delay an underneath melody that is truly symbolic. 'Vitrine' is a bit more eerie and really draws you in deep while 'Consternation Shop' sounds more of radio transmission working itself out. 'Fog' is a straight-forward, wonderful interlude that peacefully calms the senses that bridges to the beautiful arcing and airy 'Five'. Both are amazing pieces that sweep you to a far a way place that then leads to the powerful chamber-esque darkness in 'Boiler' for finale of Genning's portion. Like a foggy morning sunrise, 'Black River' paints a picture like you are waking up to a nearby calm riverside. Serene but still hazy, these tones are like distant memories revealing themselves. Naturally, 'Daughter' and 'Cold Winter' will draw upon classic comparisons with Gas but while that is great company to keep, these are much vaster and take multiple listens to fully grasp the atmosphere. The album triumphantly concludes with the calm, soothing and magical numbers 'Strange Situation' and 'Stress'. Two amazing tracks to end things. 'Strange Fog' is an instant ambient classic. One half is full of scenic memories like a painting by Genning while the BOTN additions are emotional pieces of the upmost. Available on CD or digital. Chill out to these astounding gems on 'Strange Fog'