Black Sea

2008, Nov 17

Apple Spotify Bandcamp Ambient Electronic 96 Touch Pitchfork 8.4/10 All Music 4/5 Mojo 4/5 Slant 3/5 Pop Matters 7/10 Spectrum Culture 70% Sputnikmusic 4.5/5 Uncut 8/10

Pitchfork 8.4/10 Black Sea is positively huge while also being much more accessible. You get a sense here of how far Fennesz has come, how far his music reaches, and the unexplored possibilities that still exist.

Slant 3/5 Black Sea is a headphone album, packed with fragile, briefly presented sounds that seem in constant danger of escaping unheard.

Pop Matters 7/10 The first is a human trait that seems necessary to enjoy ambient music at all, but which may have been compromised by Fennesz’s more pop proclivities: patience. Spend some quality time with Black Sea, and it begins to open up.

Spectrum Culture 70% With few discernible melodies, Black Sea still speaks profoundly. This gem of shimmering ambiance is a celebration of its inspirational forefathers. It isn’t Fennesz’s milestone album, but it should easily attract new fans while reassuring veterans yet again that his creativity is here to stay.