Reviews – Ten – East Of The Elm EP (Self-Released, 2012)

Ten – East Of The Elm EP
Genre: Folk / Ambient / Experimental
Rating: 3.8 out of 5
Much like its predecessor (2010 Lowlands EP), “East Of The Elm” by Leeds duo Ten  is a collection of melancholy-tinged ambient, perhaps best suited as a backdrop for observation of sunsets and various natural phenomena.
And much like on “Lowlands” , Ten doesn’t shy away from demonstrating their chops and throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the mix – from  glockenspiel to  piano.
For all the diversity of instrumentation and moods, however, only the title track and “Heart Beat” manage to capture an essence of Ten’s approach – an ocean of sound that you wouldn’t mind drowning in.
The remaining three tracks, which run a gamut from Hearts of Space-like extravaganza (“Paper Fragments”) to soothing guitar numbers (“Little Tree Big Heart”),  make for a good, but non-essential listening.
 
For fans of: Hearts Of Space, Brian Eno, Kranky, Rocket Girl
Listen/buy: Bandcamp
Highlights: East Of The Elm, Heart Beat