“Feed Me With Your Tea” by Chihei Hatakeyama

The latest entry in Chihei Hatakeyama’s long-running Ancient Forest series serves as a masterclass in ambient drone work. Spanning over an hour, the album’s three songs find the Japanese composer and producer carefully and patiently coaxing vast, expansive tones from his guitar and synths, to great effect.

Lovesliescrushing’s Glissceule is perhaps the closest point of comparison for “Feed Me with Your Tea.” Softly billowing clouds of pure sound fill your ears, alternately evoking alien choirs in cathedrals of purest glass, the distant hum of power lines, desolate Arctic winds, and perhaps something too massive to completely articulate in mere human language.

Lovely as Hatakeyama’s drones might be — and they are very lovely, indeed — it’s almost ominous how otherworldly and immersive they are.

The Ancient Forest XII is currently available via White Paddy Mountain.