The latest releases reviewed

GEL-SOL
Iz
Psychonavigation
**
They say the great thing about being a celebrity is that it's always the other person's fault if the conversation falls flat. Perhaps a similar benefit of the doubt is too readily extended to makers of ambient, electronic and experimental music. This third album from Seattle-based Andrew Reichel invites listeners to relax in its sweeping, shimmering and fluttering synth pads, its glacial harmonic frequencies, its - oh all right, damn you - filmic and ethereal soundscapes. Long story short: Reichel gives good ambient. But, unless my rude ears have completely failed to register what the meaning of Iz, er, is, there's precious little here even threatening to breach the comfort zone marked Genre Exercise. Now That's What I Call Music for Airports 659, anyone? www.gel-sol.com
DARAGH DOWNES
Download tracks: Iz, As Far as Eye Can See