Asterisms by Matthew Cardinal

Asterisms is a dazzling collection of ambient electronic music that crystallizes moments in the amiskwaciy (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) based musician’s life. Known for his work in nêhiyawak – the moccasingaze trio whose debut album nipiy is currently nominated on the 2020 Polaris Music Prize Shortlist – Cardinal’s first solo full-length is an audio journal that explores "captured moments of experimentation and expression" in eleven entries, “asterisms drawing attention to where I was musically, mentally and emotionally at very brief passages of my life.” Each piece contemplates emotional textures with an often gentle, dreamy, and melodic palette – constellations of synthesizers dancing around atmospheric themes and rhythmic punctuations. Bedroom ambient music created with analogue synthesizers, a small modular system, samplers, electric piano, and processed voice, each sonic entry came out naturally in improvisational waves, recorded often in single takes or single days. Calling to mind the gradual melodies of Brian Eno, and the weightless flights of Fennesz, with Asterisms Cardinal creates a glacial, airy sonic universe that is personal yet evocative, fleeting yet impressive: a catalyst and companion to reading, studying, working, walking, dancing, hand holding, sleeping, and skygazing.

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Performed and recorded by Matthew Cardinal
Mastering by Simon Scott at SPS Mastering

Tracklist

1.	Dec 31st	2:37

2.	May 25th	1:18

3.	May 24th	4:28

4.	Dec 4th	3:41

5.	May 7th	8:40

6.	Mar 12th	3:55

7.	Sep 7th	1:08

8.	Aug 23rd	5:46

9.	Sep 11th	2:28

10.	Jan 8th	2:02

11.	July 23rd	6:32

Credits

released October 27, 2020

Performed and recorded by Matthew Cardinal
Mastering by Simon Scott at SPS Mastering

License