Ambient Shell is the brainchild of Madison, Wisconsin musician Tyler Carter. His latest E.P. “Returned” is a collection of cosmic soundscapes that draw you into a lush, colorful world and allow you to explore them in grand fashion.
The record begins with the swaying sounds of “Tell Me” which feels like a storm taking place on a desolate planet while faint whispers loom underneath it all. It’s a beautiful track that would be perfect in a film like “Flux Gourmet” and it’s a great way to start off the record.
“Dance” is driven by Carter’s passionate vocal delivery and it sounds incredible alongside the ominous piano piece that accompanies him. This style continues throughout “Eremition” but the vocals are more distant and nuanced.
Guitars and Bass enter the fold on “Returned” which creates a very eerie presence to the track and moves things into another direction while keeping the records original aesthetic in tact while “Dead Flowers” channels an underlying melody and minimalistic yet brilliant stance that reminds me of a modern take on something from Lou Reed and John Cale’s “Songs For Drella” album.
Things close out with the dreamy “Waiting For Stars” which is the perfect ending for this six song E.P. as it comes off incredibly honest while harnessing a high level of mystery around it all. I’m excited to hear what Carter records next.
