fran3000
Toby Wiltshire's compositions in Surfacing reveal themselves in melodies that are drawn out like carefully expressed non linear brush strokes upon which they then meld on a canvas of deeply layered and ever evolving ambient soundscapes. It's a uniquely immersive experience that can be equal parts intimate and expansive in its aesthetic scope.
The gaye device
Immersive and encompassing ambient soundwaves that make me drift away from reality and anxiety. Great ambient/drone from my hometown Leeds.
Surfacing is the second album from Leeds based electronic composer, saxophonist and sound artist Toby Wiltshire.
It’s a compelling, cinematic journey that’s conjured through sweeping, shimmering and evocative ambient music and is Wiltshire's most personal and emotionally arresting work to date.
Surfacing is a collection of seven captivating instrumentals, all of which emerged from a time in their creator’s life that shifted between intense grief in the wake of a bereavement and intense joy at the birth, in 2017, of his daughter.
Surfacing allows its listener to occupy these states in a way that is both serene and theatrical, lush and austere. The listener swims through worlds that, if they feel like the aftermath of great pain, also embody the near-unbearable (and beautiful) states that constitute joy at is most intense.
Toby explores themes of grief and loss through the metaphors of water, time and movement. He is interested in the way landscape can embody memory and retain a haunted quality for those affected by loss.
Selected Press:
"Listen, guy, it's time to put down the Strut compilation and reach for something darker, deeper, and more aligned with the meteorological changes that take place as summer burns out and autumn descends on us. Toby Wiltshire's new long player 'Surfacing' is something that's a perfect accompaniment to, and even representation of, sharp grey dawns and dusks that speed into night. It's seems apt, then, that 'Surfacing' is an album that's built on change and movement. Even the title itself conveys a sense of locomotion, a decisive present participle describing a tangible act. Although 'Surfacing' is an ambient album, there's still a sense of movement. For instance, dark, growling textures occasionally sweep into 'Flight' and dissonant chords seem to carry it towards a climax that's never quite reached.
These musical movements convey a sense of material movement such as a car or incoming rain shower. 'Deep Time' begins with a synth motif that's like a train speeding over tracks (see Symmetry's superb song 'Death Mask' for reference). Little motifs and textures seem to anticipate the coming of something huge and great, such as the muffled thump of a war drum on 'Hydra' or the startling introduction of a faint, mournful saxophone melody in titular piece 'Surfacing'.
'Surfacing' is a slow album that has the pacing of a fast one. Huge washes of noise and soundscapes hide distant activity and commotion, like a thunderstorm crackling in the distance."
Reviewed by Will, (Norman Records) 8/10.
"Toby Wiltshire was dually inspired by the death of a loved one and the birth of his daughter; the mixed emotions come into play on the melancholic Surfacing” Fall Music Preview - Ambient - A Closer Listen.
“Lovely set of widescreen ambiences - some sad, some happy - from Leeds based composer Toby Wiltshire here. Surfacing lilts along very nicely indeed, the synthetic textures bobbing like buoys in a bay at dusk. Some of the sounds here might be the heavily-manipulated tones of Wiltshire’s beloved saxophone, though we’re not sure on that one. Try Loscil for a related artist. “ Norman Records.
I
credits
released September 20, 2019
All music written, performed and produced by Toby Wiltshire
Mastering by Tim Hann - timhann@outlook.com
Photography by Greig Ness
Artwork by Megan Lally
Toby Wiltshire is a composer, sound artist and saxophonist based in the UK. His musical output takes in ambient music, large
scale audio-visual installations, live performance composing for film and sound design for visual artists. His second album 'Surfacing' will be released on 20th September 2019....more
I keep returning to this album by the legendary K.Leimer. He has an original and distinctive take on ambient music which is evident on this album. 'Lament to the Open Air' is staggeringly beautiful. Toby Wiltshire
Epic Analogue and Modular drones and tones from Lancashire. I love the 'liveness' of it and the range of textures he draws out of his instruments. Toby Wiltshire