K.M. Krebs is another talented musician whose works can be found all over the internet. He records online albums and CDs for a number of labels. He specializes in richly nuanced ambient music that is not all that minimal yet not so complex it loses the listener. I have featured five different free and legal online albums from the Webbed Hand and Treetrunk netlabels.

Oneiromancy was recorded in 2000 and sets the stage for Krebs ‘ deft use of samples to create his dark soundscapes. The poetic titles only hints at the range of emotions the artist manages to evoke in these aural journeys. While the album is split into 12 tracks, each part flows into the other making a satisfying whole. The album is available in VBR MP3 (around 192kbps).

The Light will fit the Darkness and Obliterate It continues the theme of expressive titles fitting equally expressive music. As with Oneiromancy, the work is available from Webbed Hands Records. There is an abundance of nature samples but rarely do they exist on their own but evolves into quite different sounds. “Folding Water” goes from splashing waves to sounds that are liquid on other ways. The album is a pleasing array of ambient soundscapes that are dark yet calming. It is also available in VBR MP3.

The last three albums are all from 2006 and 2007 and available from the Treetrunk netlabel. Fog Sequences gets its inspiration from photographs of fog and are expressed in a eerie series of drones and vibrations. Jade Furnace I consist of 20 brief tracks of three minutes or less. The short duration makes these “samples” less interesting but still worth a listen. Finally, Phosphorus is a live performance from 2007. It may be the most realized of the albums as it is a summation of Krebs’ themes and variation in a mesmerizing 43 minute track. All three albums are available in either VBR MP3 or Ogg Vorbis format.

As usual, If you enjoy the music support the artist by buying his CDs.

Download
Oneiromancy
The Light Will Fill The Darkness and Obliterate It
Fog Sequences
Jade Furnace I
Phosphorus