Observation of Transcendence is the second album by the San Francisco-based ambient music project Celestial Trails, crafted by Taner Torun. Inspired by the vast Pacific Ocean and the serene landscapes that embrace its shores, the album captures the essence of a sunny and calm day by the ocean.

The album weaves together lush synthesizers, drones, and subtle harmonic progressions with field recordings, evoking the serene beauty of nature.

Rapture of Deep Blue was the first track recorded. Taner was meditating by the ocean in Hawaii when a sudden wave of euphoria washed over him, almost as if the ocean itself was singing. Quickly, he turned on a sound recorder to capture the melody, but his true pursuit lay beyond mere sound. He sought that inner voice, longing to weave it into music. For months, he experimented with the human voice, synths, and various instruments, yet nothing could fully replicate the alien-like sound he had envisioned.

“After four months of on-and-off experimentation, I finally got closer to what I wanted. The sound came from an unexpected source: a classical brass instrument, the tuba, processed through 11 digital effects. With that sound, I composed the main structure of Rapture of Deep Blue.”

Along the way, he encountered many failed experiments—but some of those failures led to the creation of fascinating sounds, which were later incorporated into other compositions. “The strange yet calming alien sounds you hear in Ripples in the Current and Peace are the results of these experiments,” he explains.

The foundation of these compositions combines analog synthesizers with virtual instruments. Torun employs electroacoustic techniques such as reverb, delay, harmonizing, tape manipulation, and sonic deconstruction to create rich, layered soundscapes.

Field recordings play a crucial role in the album and can be heard prominently in tracks like Pacific in Tender Motion, Aeonian Waves, and Peace. These recordings were made in various locations across California, including Morro Bay, San Francisco / the Bay Area, Santa Cruz, and San Pablo Bay. Another significant source was the Hawaiian Islands, with recordings taken from O‘ahu, Maui, the Island of Hawai’i, and Kauai.

Over the past few years, Torun has immersed himself in Japanese ambient music, drawing inspiration from Kankyo Ongaku, a genre that emerged in the 1980s. Translating to “environment music,” this style was designed to blend seamlessly with its surroundings, creating a calm and unobtrusive atmosphere. The album pays homage to the influential figures of the genre, including Hiroshi Yoshimura, Takashi Kokubo, Haruomi Hosono, and Kenichiro Isoda.

Observation of Transcendence is an invitation to experience calming waves, gentle breezes, and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, along with its surrounding ecosystems, through richly textured soundscapes.

Celestial Trails, the San Francisco, California-based solo ambient music project of Fluttery Records founder Taner Torun, makes its debut on Lunar Beachcomber.

Celestial Trails paints sonic tapestries layer by layer, seamlessly blending the warmth of organic textures from piano, analog synths, electric and bass guitars with the precision of virtual electronic instruments. Organic recordings are enriched using electroacoustic techniques such as reverb, delay, harmonizing, tape manipulation, and sonic deconstruction. Additionally, tape-manipulated field recordings captured during nature hikes and city walks are seamlessly integrated as another layer.

From seed to final form, Lunar Beachcomber’s recording process unfolded between June 2023 and January 2024. The first recording was in Pittsburgh, PA on a sleepless hot summer night, while the last one took place in San Francisco, CA. All recordings for the album were captured exclusively in these two cities.

Inspired by the boundless beauty of nature, urban landscapes, and the alluring mysteries of the cosmos, Lunar Beachcomber invites you to explore uncharted sonic territories; lush soundscapes, evoke tranquil meadows, bustling cityscapes, and the vastness of outer space.

The opening track, “A Pair of New Wings,” serves as an audio representation of the profound personal connection to nature and life.

“Over the past five years, I’ve embarked on incredible hikes across the United States, from discovering the trails around Finger Lakes in upstate New York to wandering along the Lackawanna River. I’ve witnessed the vibrant colors of Mount Rainier in Autumn and experienced the serene beauty of Mount Tamalpais in California winter. Sharing the same muddy ground with mudskippers in Kauai was just one of many memorable moments. Each journey has been profound, integral to my healing journey, offering me solace, inspiration, and a newfound sense of freedom.”

Through careful processing, electric guitars shed their familiar skins. The washed electric guitars in “Time Collapse on the Threshing Floor” and “The Crudest Luminescence” are seamlessly integrated into the atmospheric ambient soundscape. However, there are more surprises beyond the strings.

“I don’t want to reveal all the mysteries of this album but if you listen carefully you can hear a flock of birds in “Spell Machine Manufacturing”. Those mysteries are well hidden with a series of filters and tape manipulations.”

Despite its abstract nature, the album retains discernible melodies. Infused with elements of science fiction and surrealism, “Lunar Beachcomber” presents a rich and textured ambient experience, yet its roots remain firmly planted on earth.

“We often forget that our planet is smaller than a grain of sand on a beach. Life is a gift, and our time on this planet is limited. We should strive to make this experience easy and pleasant for each other.”

Celestial Trails extends an invitation to traverse sonic landscapes, where earthly whispers intertwine with cosmic hums. As listeners embark on this auditory journey, they are reminded of the fleeting yet intriguing experience within this cosmic beachcomber’s sanctuary.