Or You Could Just Go Through Your Whole Life and Be Happy Anyway in Bloomington, MN

While
No Solace in Sleep
was a chilling array of haunting
ambient
drones,
Or You Could Just...
is a warm, softer counterpart. On
Vol. 18
of
Darla
's stellar
Bliss Out
series (other featured artists have included
Amp
,
Sweet Trip
, and
American Analog Set
),
Jon DeRosa
is joined by
Lorraine Lelis
Mahogany
and DJ
Aaron Spectre
. The nicest surprise is a handful of tracks with vocals, including the wonderful
"Aura Lee."
It adds a human dimension to
Aarktica
's iciness, yet maintains a dreamy atmosphere. Guitar, electronics, and studio tricks add more textures than the previous LP, with plenty of delay on
"A Correspondence in Film"
and gentle
drum'n' bliss
on
"You're Landlocked, My Love."
DeRosa
's studies in music technology and psychology have definitely paid off for this record, as he produces a therapeutic album of celestial
space rock
. ~ Kenyon Hopkin