
Shenzhou Vinyl
Out of stock. Get notified when available.
Triple LP version. Biophon present a reissue of Biosphere's Shenzhou, originally released by Touch in 2002. This expanded reissue includes a bonus album The Samphire Tower. Paul Cooper, of Pitchfork, on the album: "Shenzhou, aside from being the name of the Chinese manned-spaceflight vehicles, means 'magic vessel', and I can't imagine a more apt description for Geir Jenssen's latest excursion into ambient deep listening.... Jenssen again relies on found sound as source material for Shenzhou, but this time, the found sound is old vinyl recordings of the orchestral works of French Impressionist composer and ambient precursor, Claude Debussy. Jenssen lifts fragments of these scratched records in a similar manner as he did for Cirque's 'Black Lamb Grey Falcon' and 'Iberia Eterea'. The ten tracks (out of the dozen on the album) that follow this model all begin as a barely audible hum, like a small electrical transformer, out of which the dust-dappled loops of Debussy's woodwind, brass, and strings emerge, condense, and fade out into pink noise rustles. Unlike Steve Reich's phase pieces or Brian Eno's Discreet Music, though, Jenssen doesn't set his loops against each other to produce juxtapositions and piquant dissonance; he uses them to describe imagined terrain, at first glance monotonously flat and barren, but on concentration, replete with minute detailing. The overall effect of these pieces is a sense of immensity. The orchestral loops sound distant, abandoned in a vast wilderness, and strenuously battling against Arctic winds. Jenssen sets the listener down in this wilderness as an aloof observer, a witness to the music's futile struggles against entropic forces. The two tracks not derived from Debussy share the same hypnotic aesthetic. The brief interlude 'Bose-Einstein Condension' is a loop of piano chords lolloping in search of coherence, while 'Gravity Assist' is a longer voyage into woofer-quaking low-frequency manipulation, bell-like drones, and contrails of subdued noise. I can't help but feel that these tracks fit awkwardly and break up the conceptual flow of the album. This, however, is a minor quibble given the power of this music. Shenzhou is unquestionably a magic vessel, but one that reveals it's enchantment only to those who pay close attention."
TRACKLIST
Iβve placed my order, when will I receive it?
In the US, 97% of orders are delivered within 2-5 business days, although it can take longer.
International delivery normally takes around 2 weeks, although it can take up to 21 business days depending on location and domestic carriers.
Will I be able to track my order?
Yes! When you place an order, you receive a confirmation email with the tracking information to make sure you know where your package is at all times.
I received the wrong record. What do I do?
In very rare instances you may receive the wrong record, please donβt stress! Send an email to support@vinyl.com with a photo of the record and we will be in contact with the next steps.
What do I do if my order arrives damaged?
If the products in your order are damaged, contact us immediately at support@vinyl.com.
Please include all the information regarding the problem, and photos of the damage, and we will be in contact with the next steps.
What's your refund and return policy?
On the very small chance youβre not satisfied with your purchase i.e. you receive damaged, defective, or incorrect item(s) from Vinyl.com, you may return the product(s) within 30 days of delivery. When we receive the item(s) and verify the return of product(s), we will send you a replacement(s) or issue a full refund for the item
What is Shipping Protection?
Shipping Protection is our commitment to ensuring your package arrives safely at its destination.
If your shipment encounters any issuesβsuch as being lost, damaged, or stolenβwe will take prompt action to resolve the problem.
By opting for Shipping Protection, you gain peace of mind knowing you're protected against unforeseen shipping complications.
Note that Shipping Protection is non-refundable.

Shenzhou Vinyl
Out of stock. Get notified when available.
Triple LP version. Biophon present a reissue of Biosphere's Shenzhou, originally released by Touch in 2002. This expanded reissue includes a bonus album The Samphire Tower. Paul Cooper, of Pitchfork, on the album: "Shenzhou, aside from being the name of the Chinese manned-spaceflight vehicles, means 'magic vessel', and I can't imagine a more apt description for Geir Jenssen's latest excursion into ambient deep listening.... Jenssen again relies on found sound as source material for Shenzhou, but this time, the found sound is old vinyl recordings of the orchestral works of French Impressionist composer and ambient precursor, Claude Debussy. Jenssen lifts fragments of these scratched records in a similar manner as he did for Cirque's 'Black Lamb Grey Falcon' and 'Iberia Eterea'. The ten tracks (out of the dozen on the album) that follow this model all begin as a barely audible hum, like a small electrical transformer, out of which the dust-dappled loops of Debussy's woodwind, brass, and strings emerge, condense, and fade out into pink noise rustles. Unlike Steve Reich's phase pieces or Brian Eno's Discreet Music, though, Jenssen doesn't set his loops against each other to produce juxtapositions and piquant dissonance; he uses them to describe imagined terrain, at first glance monotonously flat and barren, but on concentration, replete with minute detailing. The overall effect of these pieces is a sense of immensity. The orchestral loops sound distant, abandoned in a vast wilderness, and strenuously battling against Arctic winds. Jenssen sets the listener down in this wilderness as an aloof observer, a witness to the music's futile struggles against entropic forces. The two tracks not derived from Debussy share the same hypnotic aesthetic. The brief interlude 'Bose-Einstein Condension' is a loop of piano chords lolloping in search of coherence, while 'Gravity Assist' is a longer voyage into woofer-quaking low-frequency manipulation, bell-like drones, and contrails of subdued noise. I can't help but feel that these tracks fit awkwardly and break up the conceptual flow of the album. This, however, is a minor quibble given the power of this music. Shenzhou is unquestionably a magic vessel, but one that reveals it's enchantment only to those who pay close attention."
TRACKLIST
Iβve placed my order, when will I receive it?
In the US, 97% of orders are delivered within 2-5 business days, although it can take longer.
International delivery normally takes around 2 weeks, although it can take up to 21 business days depending on location and domestic carriers.
Will I be able to track my order?
Yes! When you place an order, you receive a confirmation email with the tracking information to make sure you know where your package is at all times.
I received the wrong record. What do I do?
In very rare instances you may receive the wrong record, please donβt stress! Send an email to support@vinyl.com with a photo of the record and we will be in contact with the next steps.
What do I do if my order arrives damaged?
If the products in your order are damaged, contact us immediately at support@vinyl.com.
Please include all the information regarding the problem, and photos of the damage, and we will be in contact with the next steps.
What's your refund and return policy?
On the very small chance youβre not satisfied with your purchase i.e. you receive damaged, defective, or incorrect item(s) from Vinyl.com, you may return the product(s) within 30 days of delivery. When we receive the item(s) and verify the return of product(s), we will send you a replacement(s) or issue a full refund for the item
What is Shipping Protection?
Shipping Protection is our commitment to ensuring your package arrives safely at its destination.
If your shipment encounters any issuesβsuch as being lost, damaged, or stolenβwe will take prompt action to resolve the problem.
By opting for Shipping Protection, you gain peace of mind knowing you're protected against unforeseen shipping complications.
Note that Shipping Protection is non-refundable.