Carbon Based Lifeforms – Twentythree

Beatless and drone style ambient is super easy to get lost in. I imagine it like the sunken place in the movie "Get Out." The listener is hyper aware of all sound and stimuli, but is rendered immobile in the attempt to identify and pinpoint each sound. Um, without the implied racism of course.

Is it beautiful?

Sure if you have the time to fully fall down the rabbit hole and give yourself to the music. Some tracks are quite spooky while others are technologically cold. Very enjoyable. If you're a casual listener it would be easy to get bored with the slow pace and lack of development. I'm certainly in the latter camp and imagine this to be the soundtrack to viewing the cosmic ballet aboard craft we as humans will eventually develop many years into the future.

My copy, in hand has NO Barcode on sleeve, liner or shrink?

My copy of this release gives me mixed feelings. It mostly delivers on everything I want it to be, but it is a tale of two halves.

First disc, fantastic, no complaints.
Second disc, Inertia has the occasional sputter of noise. VLA has a subtle level of surface noise, only noticeable because of how quiet the content of the album is, but it is still there. On the flip side, Kensington Gardens and Held Together By Gravity is a return to brilliance.

My vinyl sounds excellent--quiet and clean--there is very little surface noise

"Twentythree" is a hidden gem, and is among the best ambient albums in the genre.

Needs a CD re-release .Love this album and all CBL works.

To be honest, this album doesn't grip me as much as their other albums. Maybe I just need to listen to it more. Having said that though, I've always been a fan of ambient music.

Really eagerly awaiting a reissue from Blood Music. Do Ultimae still own the rights to this or something?

Somewhere in Russia is a beautiful track.

Beatless space-ambient release, it is quite excellent and a welcomed departure from the usual duo style.