2021 finds British ambient/minimalist guitarist Jon Attwood a bit more assertive in his Yellow6 project than 2020's 'silent streets and empty skies' anti-paean on the pandemic. Although ambient, these 10 tracks in about 67 minutes seem more song-like although they aren't really songs; hinting at melodies in the shadows. Perhaps it's the abundance of reverb and tremolo used that recall the lighter side of the psychedelic sixties to my mind, but also the impressionistic melodies that sound like a fading memory of a fabled time long ago. It is noted in the SIS one-sheet accompanying this album that Attwood was in part inspired by recent work by Warren Ellis and Nick Cave’s soundtrack work, and the varied minimalist approach of Philip Glass and Burial among others for this work. Rather than the previously used approach of anchoring each tune on arpeggiated and delayed guitars to set the tone, these tracks have a greater focus on more abstract and heavily effected loops, topped with repeating intertwining clear and clean guitars, which was helped by a change to a more minimal effects board.

These changes may be technically subtle but the result is dramatic and refreshing. "Tides," one of the more dramatic and darker pieces on 'The Cloud Factory' comes nearly smack in the middle, kind of a change-up with its pseudo-choo choo train beginning, but also offering tonally dark chords and progressive abstractions. (You can hear glimmerings of several Brit prog-rock bands on this one.) Yet there is no rocking out on this album. The music tends to be full of introspective ruminations with a strong emotional undercurrent, and a touch of sadness. The final track, "Quarter To Half" is nearly a masterpiece in and of itself. This is an album that deserves your attention and there is a really good chance you'll be hooked in one listening. The CD comes in two versions - the regular limited edition of 200 handmade and hand-numbered collectible copies, and the deluxe limited edition of 100 handmade, hand-stamped and hand-numbered collectible copies that includes an exclusive bonus disc, not included in the other edition or the digital download. The bonus disc, entitled 'pause:rewind:reflect:forward,' includes six tracks that are only available in physical format.