DOVS is a collaboration between Johannes Auvinen, aka Tin Man and Gabo Barranco, aka AAAA. Their second album together Psychic Geography, released on Barcelona-based imprint Balmat, is an all-analogue ambient acid affair. The whole album is beatless. Devoid of drums and propelled instead, slowly, sedately by ripples from Roland’s little silver box. The duo dropping their TB-303 into zero gravity to produce beatific drones and bleeps. The bionic bottom end’s gentle undulating is highly melodic. The results like acid house’s banging inverted. The set’s soft focus, symphonic shimmering summoning a stillness. A soundtrack not for Saturday night’s smashed shindig but for the introspective, soul searching Monday morning after. 

There must have been a fair amount of improvisation involved because, despite being totally electronic, the way that the music evolves is very organic. Similar, say, to Matthewdavid’s Mycelium Music or Ran$om Notes’ Music To Watch Seeds Grow By. An elegantly unfurling modular mixture of kankyo ongaku, kosmische and new age knob twiddling. Vernal Fall is a highlight. A magical moonwalk moment whose tender twists recall the textures of Recondite’s Tie In. Ancient River is suitably flowing. Monsoon Reason harbours hushed choral harmonies, while its flickering, fractal frequencies pay homage to classic `90s techno and IDM. Similarly, the finale of Rooftop Blues closes the album with a slightly melancholy Rephlex / Planet Mu worthy melody. 

DOVS’ Psychic Geography can be ordered directly from Balmat.