AMG Review of Ambessence Piano & Drones

James Mason
All Music Guide

Fans of the Harold Budd and Brian Eno collaboration Ambient 2: The Plateau of Mirror rejoice! Ambessence is a close descendant of that classic ambient record. Where Budd's gentle piano was buffeted by Eno's ambient textures on Mirror, here Bruno Sanfilippo's gentle piano is underscored by Mathias Grassow's serene drones. For just over an hour, Sanfilippo and Grassow explore nearly the same musical landscape that Budd and Eno did decades ago. And while they don't find much that is new, the pair work so well together that it barely matters. Sanfilippo plays piano with a light touch and keen melodic sense, and Grassow creates dense webs of synths that complement and underline the fragile melodies. While there are differences between tracks, they work together as an entire piece, best listened to in one sitting at low volume. For fans of either artist or any of Eno's ambient works, this is recommended, but for those who believe "new age" is a pejorative, it is best avoided.