Slow Meadow is the instrumental project of composer Matt Kidd, and this is their second album.  The music here is largely keyboard and string driven, Ships Along The Harbor glides in on a bed of synths with soothing backing vocals and strings.  This is what might otherwise be known as ‘chill out’ music if that wasn’t a complete cliché, you immediately feel relaxed listening to it.  Boy In A Water Globe features prominent piano and cello, joined by some truly soaring strings.  Glacial piano introduces Cielo Rojo before violins take over the track, while an almost tender piano motif introduces Brazos Fantasmas.  Lamellophone and the Gulf of Mexico has fuller sound, opening with a drone, joined by violins and piano evoking A Winged Victory for the Sullen.  It’s all very tasteful stuff, Quintana and Hurricane have almost graceful melodies while closing track Palo Volador fades off into a kind of ambient nirvana with forlorn viola.

 If there is a criticism, it’s that there is no distinctive point of difference here separating this from other, similar artists.  Much of this music defies description, better to let it wash over you.  Suffice to say that if you enjoy Max Richter, Dustin O’Halloran etc, this is for you.  Check it out here.

1. Ships Along The Harbor

2. Boy In A Water Globe

3. Borderland Sorrows

4. Cielo Rojo

5. Brazos Fantasmas

6. Viejo Carrusel

7. Lamellophone and the Gulf of Mexico

8. Quintana

9. Hurricane

10. Palo Volador