Matthew Cardinal ⁂ Asterisms is a dazzling collection of ambient electronic music that distills moments in the amiskwaciy (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) based musician’s life. Known for his work in nêhiyawak – the moccasingaze trio whose debut album nipiy is currently nominated on the 2020 Polaris Music Prize Shortlist – Cardinal’s first solo full-length is an audio journal that explores "captured moments of experimentation and expression" in eleven entries: “asterisms drawing attention to where I was musically, mentally and emotionally at very brief passages of my life.” Each piece contemplates emotional textures with an often gentle, dreamy, and melodic palette – constellations of synthesizers dancing around atmospheric themes and rhythmic punctuations. Bedroom ambient music created with analogue synthesizers, a small modular system, samplers, electric piano, and processed voice, each sonic entry came out naturally in improvisational waves, recorded often in single takes or single days. Calling to mind the gradual melodies of Brian Eno, and the weightless flights of Fennesz, with Asterisms Cardinal creates a glacial, airy sonic universe that is personal yet evocative, fleeting yet impressive: a catalyst and companion to reading, studying, working, walking, dancing, hand holding, sleeping, and skygazing.