Global Communication's 76:14 ranks somewhere near Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works Vol. II in the pantheon of classic ambient albums — which is to say, near the very top. Released in 1994, the album, whose title doubles as its running length, was the lone longplayer to come from Tom Middleton and Mark Pritchard's headiest alias. (They also recorded deep electro-funk as Jedi Knights, Link & e621 and Reload & e621; both went on to solo careers in deep house and experimental breakbeat music, respectively.) '70s forebears like Brian Eno and Vangelis inform the duo's measured pacing and their emphasis upon the tone color of warbly electronic sounds; the opening "4:02" is obviously rooted in both Ambient 1: Music for Films and the Blade Runner soundtrack (or at least, it would be if something so ethereal could have roots), and those drifting, wavering lines continue to lace 76:14 like silvery ribbons.

Global Communication's distinguishing factor is the way that they use breakbeats to give rhythmic life to their tracks. (They weren't the only ones to do this, of course; alongside them were the Orb, Sun Electric and Biosphere). "9:25" assembles itself,… read more »