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German ambient pioneer Thomas Köner has often used acoustic instruments as source material for his chilling arctic drones -- his debut album was created entirely from the sounds of gongs, and 2014's ultra-sparse Tiento de las Nieves was piano-based. Tiento de la Luz expands his palette to include percussion and viola da gamba in addition to piano and electronics, and it feels like a dramatic evolution of his sound. While much of his work can seem barren and frigid, perfectly resembling an endless array of frozen tundra, Tiento de la Luz feels much brighter and less isolated. It's the closest Köner has come to creating something resembling an album from Brian Eno's Ambient series. The six pieces resonate with clear, calmly paced piano melodies and distant, chiming percussion. The second and third parts sound a bit dark and eerie, but otherwise the album actually sounds surprisingly hopeful. Worlds away from the deep, abrasive bass drones of albums like Permafrost, Tiento de la Luz is just as immersive, and one of Köner's best works. ~ Paul Simpson
