William Adam Jones’ “Intrusive Thoughts”

My first introduction to musician/producer William Adam Jones was with the synth quartet S U R V I V E. He, along with Kyle Dixon, Michael Stein, and Mark Donica built ominous, dark musical worlds with analog machines. Capturing the work of folks like Vangelis, Brad Fiedel, John Carpenter and even Kraftwerk to some extent. […]

Jessica Roch : Human Music: Live Improvisations I

Musician, composer, and forward thinking artist Jessica Roch wants to connect to an audience at a human level. She wants her music to feel organic, alive, and connect emotionally as much as it does intellectually. The London-based musician weaves and guides us through everything from jazz to folk to experimental to ambient music within her […]

Pye Corner Audio : More Songs About The Sun

Martin Jenkins has built a steady career out of making slow-building, electronic-based music that feels cryptic, eerie, dread-inducing. Pye Corner Audio is the essence of hauntology; music inspired by synth-based scores and low-key techno beats that are as hypnotic as they are cinematic. Albums like Sleep Games, Black Mills Tapes, Prowler, and The Endless Echo […]

SML : Spontaneous Music Live

The L.A. musical quintet known as SML have had a couple incredibly productive years. The band -which includes Josh Johnson(sax), Anna Butterss(bass), Jeremiah Chiu(electronics), Booker Stardrum(drums), and Gregory Uhlmann(guitar)- have given new spark and excitement to the world of improvisational music. Their 2024 debut, Small Medium Large, was built with these jumpy, kinetic tracks that […]

“exploring a ghost town” : Jonas Munk Talks The Return Of Manual And New Album ‘True Bypass’

Danish artist Jonas Munk wears many hats. Besides being guitarist/producer in Causa Sui, Munk releases solo records, as well as the collaborative project Billow Observatory with Auburn Lull’s Jason Kolb. He’s also a producer, mixer, engineer for other artists as well, most notably Nicklas Sorensen of band Papir. Munk also runs Azure Vista Records and […]

Manual : True Bypass

Musician and producer Jonas Munk has remained pretty busy these last few years. Between releasing music with Causa Sui, ambient solo works, and putting out records with Auburn Lull’s Jason Kolb as Billow Observatory, he’s leaving a wide swath of sonic endeavors for us to get lost in. And let’s not forget running record label […]

Geoff Garlock : Don’t Die Today

California’s Geoff Garlock has made a subtle, little masterpiece with his newest release Don’t Die Today. His first release with Seattle label SFI Recordings, Garlock has made a meditative, transcendent album that welcomes the listener in with warm, open arms. Ambient textures, New Age headiness, and that DIY, personal touch that came out of the […]

Billow Observatory : Resina

Jonas Munk and Jason Kolb, aka Billow Observatory, have continued to work on new music since last year’s full-length release The Glass Curtain. The two have just released Resina, a 26-minute EP of new, heady dark ambient pieces that run the gamut between optimistic hues of sunrise and the sleepy tones of minimalism. Both coalescing […]

Complex Distractions Presesnts : Favorite Albums Of 2025 – Jazz/Ambient/Experimental

I’m kind of at a loss for words regarding the fact we’re about 2 weeks away from the beginning of 2026. It feels like we’ve traveled through an entire year; ups, downs, outs, ins, and everything in-between leaving plenty of emotional, mental, and even physical scars along the way. But to actually say “2026” out […]

From Overseas : Thinking Like A Mountain

From Overseas (aka Kévin Séry) makes the kind of bold, engaging, and ethereal music you can’t help but get lost in. Like some crystalline forest in a dream, you’re surrounded by a beauty not quite tangible. As if thoughts and visions form from the subconscious in rays of light and wonder, not quite able to […]