John Sellekaers – Observer Effect (Album – Glacial Movements)
Genre/Influences: Ambient, Experimental, Cinematographic.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: John Sellekaers (Xingu Hill, Ambre, Dead Hollywood Stars, Internal…) is an artist who needs no further introduction. This year he released “Observer Effect”, which is inspired by numerous themes featuring the idea of staring at icy landscapes.
Content: “Observer Effect” has a typical, strong ‘ambient’ feeling. It sounds like an invitation to travel through imaginary spaces although we here have to face the icy landscapes, which is the theme of the work. Sellekaers guides the listener through a labyrinth of Ambient atmospheres, which are now pure reverie and later on dark and even freaky. Aquatic noises (field recordings or samplings) are noticeable elements in the composition. You’ll also notice glasshouse sounds and effects mixed with echoing sound sculptures.
+ + + : I like the abyssal atmosphere of the work, which in a way totally fits with the concept. My favorite cuts are the darker ones, creating an imaginary vision of desolation, which is only reinforcing the perception of the theme. John Sellekaers has accomplished a mysterious composition featuring freaky passages with a strong visual appeal. I like this work for its global sphere created with great sound sculptures.
– – – : The album is missing some diversity to speak about a totally successful work.
Conclusion: “Observer Effect” totally fits to Glacial Movement’s sound philosophy, but it also is a great production inviting the listener to dream away.
Best songs: “On The Trail”, Terra Nova”, “Optical Haze, Pt.1”
Rate: 7½.
Artist: www.facebook.com/john.sellekaers
Label: www.glacialmovements.com / www.facebook.com/glacialmovements
About John Sellekaers
John N. Sellekaers was born on 19 December 1973 and holds Belgian and Canadian nationality. He lived in Brussels for thirty years, moved to Montreal in June 2004 and returned to Belgium in 2010. He runs a studio specialised in sound production and mastering, and works as a web journalist and photographer.
He has recorded under the project names Xingu Hill, Dead Hollywood Stars, Ambre, Ammo, Urawa, Moonsanto and Uncotones. Releases under his own name include the cassette album “Residual Broadcast” on Oreille Gardée in 2019, the singles “Lacuna” and “Innerland” on Parenthèses Records the same year, “Next of Kin” on Parenthèses Records in 2020 and the self-released “Isolation Postcard”.
“Observer Effect” was released in 2021 through the Italian label Glacial Movements, alongside “Folium” and “Approches” the same year. The compilation “What Happens At Night” followed in 2022, and the album “Phaenomena” in 2024.
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