Cycles 4

Stephen Philips' first in his Cycles series shows him charting out dense and serene ambient landscapes that speak to the listener with a very consonant and minimalist vocabulary. Philips' work is always fantastic, and in his Cycles series his work is at its best. Cycles 1 is a long-running, long-form composition that clocks in at just over 66 minutes. In that time, Philips crafts a beautiful landscape that is unique, but at the same time similar to James Johnson's Entering Twilight and in places very much like Vidna Obmana's Landscape in Obscurity, only it's not as rough and as obviously looped. With Cycles 1, Philips has masterfully created a work of calming and contemplative serenity. This work, though, can't be without Cycles 2, 2000s Cycles 3, and Philips' Desert Landscapes. For those looking for a starting point to Philips' massive catalog, this is as good a place to start as any, but it's recommended that listeners hear all of the Cycles series as one, long-running sonic excursion.