released June 4, 2015
Far Beyond The Stars was released on June 4th 2015 as Digital Download and one track mini CDr limited to 50 hand numbered copies.
CDr label nr. CScd006
Copyright 2015
All music and production: Core Shift
Mastering: Mike Kramer
Cover: Mike Kramer
More music and info at:
coreshift.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/coreshifter
soundcloud.com/coreshifter
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REVIEWS
Ravage Webzine
Mike Kramer pakt weer flink uit met de zesde release van Core Shift op rij. Hoewel, flink uitpakken? Zijn ambient muziek is niet van het grote en grootste, maar is minimaal en ontwikkelt zich traag doch gestaag. Daarin zit wat mij betreft de flinkheid. Core Shift weet met Far Beyond the Stars opnieuw te verrassen en bouwt zo een mooie collectie op van dromerige ambient music.
Far Beyond the Stars verschijnt in een fraaie mini dvd-box en is in eigen beheer uitgegeven. De muziek begint met enkele hoge tonen die bij wijze van spreken jou naar adem doet happen. Zwaardere synthesizerklanken geven ondersteuning aan de kosmische geluiden en samples waarop gesproken stemgeluiden te horen zijn, brengen de luisteraar terug naar het mens-zijn.
Een pulserende hart-beat geeft de muziek extra stevigheid. De kracht vervaagt zodra de beat verdwijnt in de achtergrond waarna kalmerende golvende tonen de overhand krijgen. Ook hieraan worden op subtiele wijze geluiden toegevoegd en de luisteraar geattendeerd op minimale verandering. De toegevoegde geluiden worden intenser en donkerder, aarde en hemel worden muzikaal met elkaar verbonden. (author: Jan Kees Helms)
Chain D.L.K.
Core Shift is a project started by Mike Kramer, based in the Netherlands. He's the initiator of the (h)ear foundation, an organization that support electronic music artists by putting up events such as lectures, workshops and exhibitions. Mike Kramer's founded Core Shift in early 2013 as an output for his electronic and ambient music production. His latest offering under this pseudonym is reminiscent of the ambient techno of the nineties. Think Basic Channel, Aphex Twin (Selected Ambient Works), Fuse, The Orb and B12. There is only one track on this mini album, called 'Far Beyond The Stars'. The track features all the ingredients of ambient techno music: lush pads, pulsating 808 rhythms, flickering synthetic riffs and the occasional sampled dialogues. Mike Kramer describe Core Shift's music as 'Dance for the mind' and rightly so, as his music is both beat based and has enough layers of sound textures to keep your interested all the way through. The track ends with a more twisted, noisier and darker tone. I have the feeling that it could have lasted way longer and it's almost a shame that the track ended so abruptly. It sounded like a live improvisation that had to cut short, which is really sad. However, it's still a good piece and it's well done electronic music. 'Far Beyond The Stars' is certainly not the most original music out there, but it's a real pleasure to listen to. This mini album is limited to 50 copies and is self released. (author: Pierre Parenteau)
Avant Music News
Shortly after the sun-dappled, ambient full-length A Gentle Touch swung into radar range, Netherlands-based Core Shift sends a small astral probe into orbit, a limited edition, three-inch CDR in mini-DVD packaging, from Far Beyond the Stars. On the subject of extraterrestrial life, sampled talking heads opine. On setting the perfect spacey mood, its gravitational pull is irresistible. (author: Stephen Fruitman)
Vital Weekly
Some time ago I reviewed the first releases by Mike Kramer's new project Core Shift (see Vital Weekly 931and 940), but we missed 'A Gentle Touch', which he also released in the meantime. He likes his pieces to be long, but only now reaches for longer: 'Far Beyond The Stars' is twenty-one minutes and as we'll see soon the piece on the next release is also twenty minutes. Core Shift is Kramer's interest in all out ambient music, using laptop technology. As noted before there is a whole renewed interest in ambient/cosmic music, and sometimes that comes with a bit of rhythm, reminding us of the mid 90s ambient house. Kramer's music fits right in there. In a very minimal way he develops his music, adding layer by layer and then suddenly you might be hearing an on-going slow thump of rhythm, emerging from these stretched, sustaining fields. Beware: Core Shift doesn't play dance music. If anything, you could think Aphex Twin's 'Selected Ambient Works Volume 2' if you need something to compare, but also mid 90s Vidna Obmana comes to mind, Biosphere is an obvious point of reference, but also much of the music by Heavenly Music Corporation or any other release by Silent Records. 'Far Beyond The Stars' has it all: a bit of rhythm, bass thumping below the endless sustaining synths, the bit of Nasa flight control (or whatever cosmic intervention), a bit of nasty sounds at the far end (of the horizon?) and lengthy, spacious outro, makes this a great piece; one without surprises, but Core Shift does a more than excellent job here. (author: Frans de Waard)
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ABOUT CORE SHIFT
Core Shift produces Ambient/Techno spiced with Experimental Electronics. The music is characteristic thanks to the typical use of layered sounds which is both intense and subtle; the listener is carried along in a sonic space similar to water in sea, where Core Shifts sound can be compared as currents that blend and always refresh. Added pulsating rhythms complete the sound to be described as 'Dance for the mind'.
Core Shift, founded in early 2013 is one of Mike Kramer's aliases. Mike is also active as a sound art artist recording and producing sounds for installations and releases. Besides that he is the initiator and artistic leader of (h)ear, a foundation which focusses on sound art and experimental music by organizing performances, lectures, workshops and exhibitions.
