Martin Herterich - silent fields (2009, Kesh)

Born in Budapest 25 years ago, but moving in his childhood to Stockholm, Sweden, Martin Herterich enters the ambient field like a shooting star. A first album - there are two previous EPs - released as a limited CDR (100 copies) on the obscure Swedish label Kalligrammofon, later re-released on the UK label Kesh. 

Kazumi Nikaido - you dropped something again, didn't you? (2003, Poet Portraits)

Coming from Hiroshima but leaving in Tokyo, Kazumi Nikaido looks and sounds like a strange bird. Her songwriting is quie innocent, candid, naïve and spontaneous. At times it recalls me of Julie Doiron, The Softies, Tenniscoats or even Meredith Monk but it's in fact much more simple and totally deshinibited and natural. She is exotic like Bjork was at the beginning of her career, or like Brigitte Fontaine has always been.

Thanksgiving - the 'in the world ep (2005, Marriage)

A few years ago, in 2004 to be exact, I've seen Adrian Orange – from Portland -  playing alone in a kind of cellar somewhere in Brussels. I think Sharron Kraus and Fursaxa have shared the scene with him that night.  He was playing guitar and singing barefoot, with a very simple and humble attitude, and the show was intense. His interpretation and his songwriting had something of old records by Palace Brothers, Smog or Songs Ohia: bare, honest and sincere.

Rdl - decades away from home … (2009, P-Vine)

RdL is a Japanese duo, was formed in 1999 by Mondii (who runs labels SPEKK, PLOP, Lantern) and Naph (working as sound engineer).  They are playing instrumental music which I would consider in a similar vein as Six Parts Seven, Dif Juz, Eisi, Penguin Cafe Orchestra  or early records by Tristeza or Collections of Colonies of Bees.

v/a - advent (2010, Parvoart)

Conceived as a meditation and celebration of all things wintry, "Advent" is an ambient compilation released on the German label Parvo Art.

Honestly the only name I was familiar with was M. Ostermeier who released an EP, "Percolate" on the same label. His track on this compilation "Sagewood", is delicate, introspective, minimal and moving, one of the three highlights.