H.U.V.A. Network ‎– Distances

BEST ALBUM OF ALL THE ULTIMAE CATALOGUE EVER.... I'm a big fan of Ultimae Rec, I buy them every single album or comp, I love all their artists, in their different styles... but this... THIS..., THIS IS PURE AMBIENT ART.... If you listen carefully, you'll notice the music is in fact a lot more simple in its composition than on other ultimae albums, or even on the Aes dana or Solar Fields solo albums.... take the first track for instance, Distances... as simple as elegant, sober, deep, beautifull... I dont recall any other track as simple as this one on the other ultimae projects...
and I hope you'll agree with me, that making simple things is the hardest thing to achieve.

Chilling releases from Ultimae Records in France is always exciting. Here they are out with an interesting collaboration between Solar Fields (Magnus Birgersson) from Sweden and Aes Dana (Vincent Villuis) from France. They call themselves H.U.V.A. Network, and here they are with a full length ambient album called Distances. Both artists have previously released albums on Ultimae Records.

The first track is a totally deep, floating track. Deep is definitely the word for most of these tracks. Very atmospheric, beautiful floating vibe, without much rhythms at all. Totally relaxing all the way through. In track 2 you get some light jazzy vibes and a few relaxing break beats. Track 3 is a mystic sounding track. Totally slow and relaxed with a bit darker vibe. Here they have played a little bit of acoustic guitar too, done by Magnus Birgersson. You also get some of those heavy, relaxed beats that Aes Dana often uses in his tracks. Nice one. Track 4 is another one of those totally deep tracks. This one has some very nice melodies and chilling deep down tempo beats. Definitely one of my favourite tracks on this album. Track 5 goes back to very floating beat less ambient again. As relaxed as it can get. Track 6 gives us some relaxed rhythms again, mixed with beautiful, floating sound scapes. This track has a more dubby vibe.

In track 7 they give us more mystic, deep vibes. This one sounds almost scary. Reminds me of some of the music by Biosphere etc. Very dark, floating ambient. Track 8 is the longest track on this album. A beautiful journey of nice floating sounds and relaxing down tempo rhythms. This one has a trancey tempo you can actually dance to if you want. Perfect for early evenings at a dance floor, opening a set etc. Track 9 goes back to the totally chilled vibe again, with just floating beautiful sounds and a few tribal inspired slow drums. Track 10 is one of the most beautiful tracks on this album. Here we get a beautiful voice and careful small beats together with the mystic floating vibe. After a while, a pumping beat drifts into the track. Again we get this early evening sort of trance. Relaxed chill out music you can dance to also. They finishes the album with a happier track, with the sound of birds singing and some light beautiful melodies. There is still the mystic vibe in there. If you wait a little bit after the last track, you get a short hidden track too. This one is even more mystic, and is just floating with deep sounds.

Solar Fields and Aes Dana sure makes great tracks together! This is a really beautiful ambient album, perfect for your chilling at home or wherever you like to chill out. As usual from Ultimae, we get deep and mystic music. Recommended!

The two ambient geniuses (Vincent Villuis and Magnus Birgersson) have given the world so much in their own projects (Aes Dana and Solar Fields) and now they have joined together, they have possibly made the best ambient album I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. All of these tracks are so soft and perfectly produced. As the album starts of slowly it developes its songs more faster and then slowing down completely in the end. The tracks just take me to a
heavenly place everytime I put this on and when it's listened as whole it tells me a story that takes you through beaches, snowy forests, dark city nights and into outer space as far
as you can imagine going.

Behold the battle of the giants…

Humans Under Visual Atmospheres Network… Sounds pretty posh, and in a sense it is… This is ambient heavy-weights Magnus Birgersson & Vincent Villuis (of Solar Fields and Aes Dana fame respectably). We heard the first taster of their collaboration of Fahrenheit Project Part 3, and now finally the full album is out…Naturally, it’s on Ultimae Records … That alone, says ‘quality guaranteed’ in my book…

Through broadband internet technology, they’ve been able to swiftly send bits and pieces back and forth from France to Sweden through Ultimae-servers… This album was in the making for six full months, and only a couple of times did the two sonic wizards actually meet IRL… Wow, the wonders of modern technology, huh!?

I’ve listened to this virtually non-stop since I received it in the mail, and it’s hard for me to describe how wonderful it is… I can’t stop listening to it… Ambient chill in its purest, cleanest form… From featherlike, dreamy, tribal atmospheric chill to deep, dark, dubby, alienated downbeat… So fresh, so clean, so well polished… This is beyond words!

Make sure you give this the respect it deserves, but playing it on a decent sound system… There is so much stuff going on, on so many frequencies – Headphones are highly recommended… The deep, rich baselines and the overall magical ambient feel will send you on a journey you will not soon forget… Strong contender for ambient album of the year!

9.5/10

Favourites: All (Oh, and check out the dark, gloomy hidden track after BBQ… Sweet!)