Album Notes

Austere has been making and covering all that is "ambient" music since 1998: minimalist classical (Steve Reich's "Process Music" manifesto); Eno-esque / Satie "quiet" pieces; Coil-esque pastiche; Buddhist inspired pieces, and just about anything you can shove under that term "ambient". While not overly profilic, Austere is known for having a particular sound and style for all their "Mindscapes" (music as a soundtrack through a trip in your head) and always stands out, good or bad.

"Euterpe", Austere's umpteenth release since their first, took over well over a year to complete and even more time aging on the shelf. The results? Honed sonic goodness that covers every style or genre they’re known for (which is many) as well as brand-new ground broken, no paths retraced. A diverse trip across everything that can be called “ambient”, this is the Austere CD that you can give to your Mom on her birthday.

‘’My wife asked me yesterday, "What's that music you're playing?” I asked her why [...] and she replied, "'’Cause that's very nice." She goes for more popular music; the fact that a "typical bystander" such as her was wowed by Euterpe augurs well I believe.’’ - Joseph Pe, cool dude

Entirely unique sound design, massive layers stripped to the bare essentials, held together by a centuries-old Tibetan meditation “pulse” tone (to slow the heart) shows that while Austere is not the most prolific ambient” band, it is solely because they are searching for something new and unique, and then make it theirs’.

‘’I’m not quite sure what to make of this. Has Austere sold out? But somehow... much like Wilco, I feel a sense that they might’ve, but only on their own damned terms. It’s quite a delight, and bares repeated listening. It’s nothing like what they’ve done before... yet unmistakably Austere... and none else.’’ - Wayne Dolman, (Scintillating Spelling Bee)

‘’I love the new CD. I barely know how to comment on it. I hope you're not insulted [we're not!] if I describe it as "accessible.” But I think this CD is likely to appeal to a very broad audience. It is very clear, peaceful, meditative. The effect I feel from it is like the feeling I get from listening to a tampura drone in Indian music, very major and broad scoped.’’
- Christopher Arnold, Human Being