Gemini Suite

John Elliott (formerly of Emeralds) and Andrew Veres are the two main architects of the musical entity known as Outer Space. The project inhabits a similar neo-kosmische niche as Emeralds, one which occasionally lapses into more techno-influenced territory, as on Outer Space's 2014 EP Phantom Center. The 2016 full-length Gemini Suite is a single 36-minute piece spread over two sides of vinyl, and it's as vast and expansive as anything else they've done. The album starts off slowly before gorgeous, delay-heavy arpeggio notes flutter in. The first side ends up delicately floating to a close, and the second starts with isolated, echo-drenched notes springing out, eventually flowing out to a supremely relaxed sea of warm synth tones. For a project themed around the cosmos, this album is surprisingly sunny and earthbound, with chirping birds and crashing waves making appearances. Even the synthesizers seem to flow in a natural rhythm, which seems to imitate breathing. The album reflects on how overwhelming and infinite space is, but also on how liberating and calming it can be to detach from the chaos of life on earth.