artist: Tristan Feldbauer country of origin: Switzerland style(s): Ambient pop, cinematic, electropop essential releases: Recordings (2007, Feldbauer.com/CD Baby)

The somewhat enigmatic Feldbauer is schooled in both classical and jazz, which at least explains two seemingly contradictory things about his beguiling pop instrumentals: the precise construction and the relaxed, jazz-like melody-lines. He recorded music in the 90's as half of the duo Zeus Faber but Recordings marks the creative peak of his more recently developed style of distinctive, impressionist ambient-pop with a unique European sensibility.

Recordings radiates an early digital synthesiser sound that defines some peak moments in 80's synthpop. Musos will probably know the original keyboard by name; two rapturous examples are "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" by The Korgis and "Drive" by The Cars. Feldbauer and his three collaborators perform 12 exquisite ambient pop instrumentals all wrapped in that same floating, hovering sound that stretches off to the horizon. The crisp drum programming is simple and effective, the basslines warm and true. The melody lines are handled by a variety of keyboards and occasional jazzy guitar. By turns melancholy, nostalgic and bittersweet, the music often feels like a glide through an urban landscape and not surprisingly it makes a fantastic album for the car. Recordings is special; there's no better word for it.

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