I've been a fan of Jason Sweeney's Panoptique Electrical ambient project for years now and 'For Years' certainly seems like an appropriate title to me, at least. Jason, who is based in Kaurna County, South Australia, has composing and recording for over 20 years, and this is his fifth album on the Sound In Silence label. What we have is 10 new compositions comprised largely of textured ambient pads that move across your speakers like clouds. Although it may sound just like a single sustained chordal tone, it is really far from that as it shifts in density, dimension and scope. The ambience continues seamlessly from one track to the next with nary a beginning or end marker, save for a slight dip in volume, giving the impression of a complete cycle throughout the first four tracks. Every track is named "For [something]" such as "For Oceans," "For Sleep," "For Night, "For Bells," etc. and the music really seems to correspond with the titles in subtle ways.

When you get to 5th track, "For Em," there is a neoclassical feel unlike the other tracks, heralding a bit of a different direction, and there is a definite ending to this one. "For Piano," which follows, juxtaposes minimal piano with synth voices and a slow, single downbeat. Slipping in from the sustained drone of the previous track,"For Spaces" leads us back to the drifting cloud ambience of the earlier tracks, and you will only know that the next track has begun when a heavier sub-drone slips in to "For Stillness." There is a little more sonic diversity than I expected in this one (from the title) but it is mostly so subtle you may not notice it until a higher drone tone creeps in at 3:44. It gets kind of "organic" towards the end but still maintains its consistency. "For Pictures" sounds Eno-esque with its blend of musicality and ambience. One listen and you'll know exactly what I mean. This track slides easily into "For Ruins," which ends the album. It's a superb final track, and perhaps the best ending to an ambient album I've heard in a long, long time.

As Sweeney puts it, "'For Years' was made as part of a larger music project called Ageism that traverses ideas of what it means to be older and queer. The compositions on this album observe the ageing queer body as a site of beauty, of wisdom, of false promises and a fragile future. Something to look forward to, something to leave behind." However, you don't have to be old or queer to appreciate this album. 'For Years' is an ambient work to treasure...well, for years. Comes in the usual Sound In Silence limited edition of 200 Handmade, hand-stamped and hand-numbered CDr copies, or, the deluxe edition of 50 similarly packaged CDrs with 3 bouns tracks. Either way, highly recommended.