{"id":539,"date":"2026-03-08T09:58:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T23:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/?p=539"},"modified":"2026-03-08T09:58:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T23:58:03","slug":"2026-02-26-highlands-magazine-128-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/?p=539","title":{"rendered":"2026-02-26 – Highlands Magazine 128 (Review)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Translation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AMBIENT DEN is the new progressive rock project from musicians associated with Ben CRAVEN, whose previous albums GREAT & TERRIBLE POTIONS (2011), LAST CHANCE TO HEAR (2016), and MONSTERS FROM THE ID (2022) have already been reviewed in our pages. Tim BENNETTS (author of Seven Day Mask and SUB INC) is also involved, while Dean POVEY had previously recorded Frankenfido.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with Ben CRAVEN\u2019s previous works, the music of AMBIENT DEN, for which he co-wrote the twelve compositions with his two collaborators, offers a creation that is largely instrumental and of consummate refinement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The acoustic guitar passages played by Ben CRAVEN display great delicacy and atmospheric finesse, evoking their compatriots SEBASTIAN HARDIE or the Japanese band ASTURIAS, led by Yoh OHYAMA. One can also sense the delicate and velvety approach of British master MIKE OLDFIELD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The instruments used\u2014such as the piano, Hammond organ, and Fender Rhodes played by Tim BENNETTS\u2014particularly highlight this music, whose flow proves melodic and abundant through a multiplicity of winding, labyrinthine themes. Special mention goes to the mega-instrumental Terraforming (16:31).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The album\u2019s vaporous instrumental introduction, Future History Part 1 (1:48), irresistibly recalls PINK FLOYD\u2019s Shine On You Crazy Diamond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For All Mankind (8:16) is the trio\u2019s first vocal composition, with each member contributing vocals. One might think they are hearing the hyper-melodic music with voluptuous sonorities of David MINASIAN. Ben CRAVEN\u2019s electric guitars prove sublime, delivering a range of sounds with a powerfully emotional tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provenance (5:58) is an instrumental piece with a solemn introduction set to an unchanging slow tempo. Piano and electric guitar interact and respond to one another in a set of intoxicating sounds reminiscent of CAMEL or Steve HACKETT, with Ben CRAVEN\u2019s six-string solos proving truly dazzling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earthrise (9:16), set at a medium tempo, presents music that reconnects with the inspiration of For All Mankind, with vocal passages evoking CAMEL or David MINASIAN. The omnipresent melodic sense takes center stage, with shimmering keyboards and voluptuous-sounding guitars competing for musical bliss. Ben CRAVEN\u2019s acoustic guitar parts seem to refer to the Japanese band ASTURIAS, particularly their CIRCLE IN THE FOREST period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terraforming (16:31) proves to be the album\u2019s summit, offering complex and majestic music full of twists and arabesques. The piece unfolds within a universe of soft, often floating and atmospheric sounds, even if some rhythmic echoes\u2014courtesy of Dean POVEY\u2019s drums and Ben CRAVEN\u2019s bass\u2014remain perceptible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Future History Part 2 (5:47) contrasts with the previous tracks with its lively, almost funky rhythm, delivering vocals with muted tones. The rhythm guitar and keyboards embrace an upbeat tempo with more immediately catchy colors than before. Brass parts are represented through programming skillfully carried out by Ben CRAVEN, while the lead guitar appears in the second half in a completely different, more syncopated style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four bonus tracks close the collection, presenting single versions of For All Mankind, Earthrise, Terraforming, and Future History Part 2. Of moderate interest, these new versions should be regarded for what they are: additional pieces offered for the group\u2019s die-hard fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For its first release, AMBIENT DEN has passed its test with flying colors. We look forward to what comes next!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(****\u00bd) Didier GONZALEZ<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Original:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AMBIENT DEN est le nouveau projet de rock progressif des musiciens pr\u00e9c\u00e9dents de Ben CRAVEN dont les albums pr\u00e9c\u00e9dents GREAT & TERRIBLE POTIONS en 2011, LAST CHANCE TO HEAR en 2016, MONSTERS FROM THE ID en 2022 ont \u00e9t\u00e9 chroniqu\u00e9s dans nos colonnes, Tim BENNETTS (auteur de Seven Day Mask et SUB INC), Dean POVEY ayant auparavant enregistr\u00e9 Frankenfido.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comme dans les \u0153uvres pr\u00e9c\u00e9dentes de Ben CRAVEN, la musique d\u2019AMBIENT DEN dont il cosigne les douze titres compositions avec ses deux homologues nous offre une cr\u00e9ation tr\u00e8s largement instrumentale, d\u2019un raffinement consomm\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les passages acoustiques de guitare tenues par Ben CRAVEN offrent une grande d\u00e9licatesse, une finesse d\u2019ambiance et de ton \u00e9voquant leurs compatriotes SEBASTIAN HARDIE ou encore la formation japonaise ASTURIAS, de Yoh OHYAMA. L\u2019approche d\u00e9licate et ouat\u00e9e du ma\u00eetre britannique MIKE OLDFIELD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Les instruments utilis\u00e9s, comme le piano, l\u2019orgue Hammond et le Fender Rhodes de Tim BENNETTS mettent particuli\u00e8rement en valeur cette musique dont le cours r\u00e9v\u00e8le m\u00e9lodique et foisonnant \u00e0 travers une multiplicit\u00e9 de th\u00e8mes sinueux labyrinthiques. On retient en priorit\u00e9 la m\u00e9ga instrumentale Terraforming (16\u201931).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

L\u2019introduction instrumentale vaporeuse de l\u2019album, Future History part 1 (1\u201948) fait irr\u00e9sistiblement penser \u00e0 PINK FLOYD de Shine On You Crazy Diamond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For All Mankind (8\u201916) est la premi\u00e8re composition chant\u00e9e du trio o\u00f9 chacun assume une part des vocaux, on croirait entendre la musique hyper m\u00e9lodique aux sonorit\u00e9s voluptueuses de David MINASIAN. Les guitares \u00e9lectriques de Ben CRAVEN s\u2019av\u00e8rent sublimes, d\u00e9livrant un ensemble de sonorit\u00e9s au timbre puissamment \u00e9motionnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Provenance (5\u201958) est une pi\u00e8ce instrumentale \u00e0 l\u2019introduction solennelle, prise sur un tempo lent invariable. Piano et guitare \u00e9lectrique s\u2019entendent et se r\u00e9pondent dans un ensemble de sonorit\u00e9s enivrantes \u00e9voquant CAMEL ou Steve HACKETT, les solos de six cordes de Ben CRAVEN se r\u00e9v\u00e9lant proprement \u00e9blouissants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earthrise (9\u201916) pris sur tempo m\u00e9dium met en sc\u00e8ne une musique qui renoue avec l\u2019inspiration de For All Mankind, avec des parties vocales \u00e9voquant CAMEL ou encore David MINASIAN. Le sens m\u00e9lodique omnipr\u00e9sent prend le dessus, les claviers scintillants et les guitares aux sonorit\u00e9s voluptueuses se disputant la palme de la f\u00e9licit\u00e9 musicale. Les parties de guitare acoustique de Ben CRAVEN semblent se r\u00e9f\u00e9rer \u00e0 la formation japonaise ASTURIAS, p\u00e9riode CIRCLE IN THE FOREST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terraforming (16\u201931) se r\u00e9v\u00e8le le sommet de l\u2019album en proposant une musique complexe et majestueuse, tout en circonvolutions et arabesques ; musique qui s\u2019\u00e9tale dans un univers de sonorit\u00e9s ouat\u00e9es, souvent planante et flottante \u00e0 ses heures m\u00eame si quelques \u00e9chos rythmiques, \u0153uvre de la batterie de Dean POVEY et la basse de Ben CRAVEN sont perceptibles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Future History Part 2 (5\u201947) tranche avec les morceaux pr\u00e9c\u00e9dents avec son rythme sautillant, limite funky, d\u00e9livrant un chant aux sonorit\u00e9s feutr\u00e9es. La guitare rythmique et les claviers embrassent un tempo upbeat, couleurs plus accrocheur que pr\u00e9c\u00e9demment. Les cuivres sont figur\u00e9s par un programming habilement r\u00e9alis\u00e9 par Ben CRAVEN, la guitare solo se fait entendre en deuxi\u00e8me partie de programme, dans un tout autre style, plus syncop\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quatre titres bonus pour refermer ce recueil reprennent, en version single For All Mankind, Earthrise, Terraforming et Future History Part 2. D\u2019un int\u00e9r\u00eat mod\u00e9r\u00e9, ces nouvelles versions doivent \u00eatre consid\u00e9r\u00e9es pour ce qu\u2019elles sont : des pi\u00e8ces additionnelles offertes pour les die hard fans du groupe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pour son premier opus, AMBIENT DEN a excellemment r\u00e9ussi son examen de passage. On attend la suite !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(****\u00bd) Didier GONZALEZ<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Translation: AMBIENT DEN is the new progressive rock project from musicians associated with Ben CRAVEN, whose previous albums GREAT & TERRIBLE POTIONS (2011), LAST CHANCE TO HEAR (2016), and MONSTERS FROM THE ID (2022) have already been reviewed in our pages. Tim BENNETTS (author of Seven Day Mask and SUB INC) is also involved, while… Read More »2026-02-26 – Highlands Magazine 128 (Review)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":540,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=539"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/539\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":542,"href":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/539\/revisions\/542"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ambientden.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}