4 tracks. Running time 56:20 Secret Observatory is the second album to come from Stefan Jonsson, aka Between Interval. He invites us to places of mystery with a somewhat oppressive atmosphere to contemplate visions of another existence. The four long form tracks (only one of which clocks in under ten minutes long) are great examples of deep ambient that mostly eschews melody and rhythm in preference for structureless forays into unoriented sonic realms. Up first is the longest track "Garden of the Divine" coming in at over eighteen minutes. Growing dark brooding drones and echoing plonky taps on the soundscape along with occasional wraith like voices make a heavy intro to this piece. Slowly the piece evolves as layers of different texture move around, some as slow washes while others are whoosh by. Further in the mood becomes a little lighter as some luminous textures scan past like glowing comet tails. And it's only when the track finishes that you realise how resonant the backdrop was. By now we know roughly what to expect. The second track "Surreptitious Ritual" also starts off in a eerie vein, it's as though we're seeing something not meant for our eyes. For a short while blankets of ocean waves subtly shimmering are pushed over then sucked back into the void. Later in and tubes of sound yaw past, drawing us into an inexorable journey punctuated by stretched out airy vocalisations. The miasmic venture of "Forested Veins" provides the sole departure from purely formless ambience. Billowing cosmic winds held in check by humming dark matter lead towards an industrio-organic heartbeat. Chaperoning this pulsating sign of life are a variety of astral refrains. Play Secret Observatory in a darkened room and it's easy to swap quotidian concerns for nearly an hour of escape to who knows where. There's quite a lot of low frequencies which are noticed most when the music finishes, such is their surreptitiously visceral impact. A must have ambient recording in my opinion.