Kranky (Forma, Tim Hecker) drop the debut LP from Californian drone act Less Bells. Despite being the solo project of one Julie Carpenter, on Solifuge Less Bells conjure a sound that would have you thinking they were a ten-piece band if you didn’t know better. By layering strings, synths, voice and Optigan (we didn’t know what that was either - turns out it’s a funny kind of organ) Carpenter manages to create a series of cinematic ambiences here. The abstract and widescreen instrumentals of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ Skeleton Tree comes to mind, as does Cave & Warren Ellis’ film score work. ‘Golden Storm’ also displays a little New Age influence.