Seeker After Patterns

Record Details

Artist
Sensitive Chaos
Release
2011
Genre
Ambient, Down-tempo, groove, world
Seeker After Patterns cover

Record Links

Record Tracklist

  1. Seeker After Patterns -:-- / 10:41
  2. Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire -:-- / 7:29
  3. A Piece of Stars -:-- / 6:13
  4. L’Ascension -:-- / 7:30
  5. Sensitive Chaos -:-- / 5:26
  6. Thoughts of Home in a Sand Storm -:-- / 8:59
  7. Psychic Twins of Gemini -:-- / 4:59
  8. Simon Stilites Dreams of Rain (Chaotic Remix) -:-- / 7:48
  9. Seeker After Patterns Radio Edit 1 -:-- / 6:30
  10. Seeker After Patterns Radio Edit 2 -:-- / 4:59

Performed and Produced by Jim Combs

Synthesizers, keyboards, guitar, bass, and percussion by Jim Combs with
Track 1 Brian Good on soprano saxophone
Track 3 Christian Birk on synthesizers
Track 3 Tony Gerber on EWI and synthesizer
Track 3 Paul Vnuk, Jr. on electronic percussion
Track 8 Brian Good on EWI
Track 8 John McNicholas on guitar
Track 8 Otso Pakarinen on bells, sound effects, and synthesizers
Track 8 Tim Walters on Super Collider

CD package design by Jim Combs

Photo Collage art by Demi Pietchell, http://www.demipietchell.com

Awards: Qualified in 4 categories for the 2011 ZMR Music Awards; Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, Best Electronic Album, Best Ambient Album, and Best Cover Art.

ZMR Top 100 Airplay for both 2012 (#100) & 2011 (#79). #80 on February 2012 ZMR Top 100 Airplay, #24 on January 2012 ZMR Top 100 Airplay, #23 on January 2012 ZMR Top 100 Airplay, #35 on December 2011 ZMR Top 100 Airplay, #44 on November 2011 ZMR Top 100 Airplay, #36 on October 2011 ZMR Top 100 Airplay, #31 on September 2011 ZMR Top 100 Airplay, #25 on August 2011 ZMR Top 100 Airplay, #36 debut on July 2011 ZMR Top 100 Airplay.

WMSE 91.7FM Instrumental Saturdays Top 10 of 2011.

Airplay

Seeker After Patterns

#100 on Zone Music Reporter’s Top 100 Airplay for 2012, out of over 2300 recordings. Second year in a row to make the Top 100.

Qualified in 4 categories for the 2011 ZMR Music Awards; Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, Best Electronic Album, Best Ambient Album, and Best Cover Art.

KSBR 88.5FM The Morning Breeze show in Black Hawk, CO/Mission Viejo, CA played “A Piece of Stars” on September 28, 2024, June 8, 2024, “A Piece of Stars” on November 18, 2023, “Contemplation of One’s Place in the World” on August 6, 2022, “L’Ascension” on February 3, 2019, “Sensitive Chaos” on January 26, 2019 and November 26, 2017, “Seeker After Patterns” on October 29, 2017, “L’Ascension” on September 23, 2017, “Seeker After Patterns” on September 9, 2017, “Sensitive Chaos” on September 3, 2017, “Sensitive Chaos” on August 19, 2017 and August 6, 2017, “Sensitive Chaos” and “A Piece of Stars” on July 30, 2017, “Sensitive Chaos” on July 9, 2017, “A Piece of Stars” on July 2, 2017, “SensitiveChaos” on June 10, 2017, “Seeker After Patterns” on May 13, 2017, “L’Ascension” on March 4, 2017, “Seeker After Patterns” on February 25, 2017, “A Piece of Stars” on February 12, 2017, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on January 15, 2017, “A Piece of Stars” on December 10, 2016, “Sensitive Chaos” on November 26, 2016, “A Piece of Stars” on November 19, 2016, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on November 6, 2016, “A Piece of Stars” on October 9, 2016 and October 1, 2016″, “A Piece of Stars” on September 18, 2016, “A Piece of Stars” on June 26, 2016, “L’Ascension” on June 19, 2016, “A Piece of Stars on May 1, 2016, “Seeker After Patterns” and “Contemplation of One’s Place in the World” on December 27, 2015, “A Piece of Stars” on November 7, 2015, “March of the Timeshifters” (twice) on November 1, 2015, “L’Ascension” on February 1, 2015 and January 31, 2015, “A Piece of Stars” on January 17, 2015, January 4, 2015 and December 28, 2014, “L’Ascension” on December 20, 2014 and December 7, 2014, “L’Ascension” on November 29, 2014 and November 9, 2014, “A Piece of Stars” on October 25, 2014, August 24, 2014 and August 10, 2014, “Sensitive Chaos” on August 17, 2014, “To Sleep, To Dream” on August 9, 2014. “Contemplation of One’s Place in the World” on July 6, 2014, “Seeker After Patterns” on July 5, 2014, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on June 7, 2014, “Sensitive Chaos” on March 29, 2014, “L’Ascension” on March 9, 2014, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on January 5, 2014, “L’Ascension” on October 20, 2013, “Floating” on October 6, 2013, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on September 21, 2013, “L’Ascension” on September 15, 2013, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on August 25, 2013, “A Piece of Stars” on July 27, 2013, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on July 20, 2013, “A Piece of Stars” and “L’Ascension” on June 23, 2013, “Seeker After Patterns” on June 9, 2013, “L’Ascension” on March 30, March 24 & 17, 2013, “Sensitive Chaos” on March 24 & 16, 2013, “A Piece of Stars” on March 9, 2013, “Seeker After Patterns” on March 3, 2013, “L’Ascension” on March 2, 2012, February 24, 2013, February 17, 2013 & February 10, 2013,, “Sensitive Chaos” on January 27, 26 & 6, 2013, “A Piece of Stars” on January 5, 2013, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on December 30, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” on December 23, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns” on December 16, 2012, “L’Ascension” on December 2, 2012, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on December 1, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns” on November 17, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” on November 10, 2012, “Sensitive Chaos” on October 28, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” on October 7, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” on October 6, 2012, “Sensitive Chaos”, “A Piece of Stars” and “The Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on September 23, 2012, “L’Ascension” and “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on September 15, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns” on September 9, 2012, “Sensitive Chaos” on September 8, 2012, “L’Ascension” & “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on September 2, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns” & “Sensitive Chaos” on September 1, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns on August 12, 2012, “L’Ascension” on July 22, 2012, “Sensitive Chaos” on July 21, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns” & “L’Ascension” on July 15, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns” on July 8, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns” and “A Piece of Stars” on July 7, 2012, “Sensitive Chaos” on July 1, 2012 (twice) & June 30, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” and “L’Ascension” on June 23, 2012, “Sensitive Chaos” and “A Piece of Stars” on June 16, 2012, June 9, 2012, and June 3, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” and “L’Ascension” on June 2, 2012, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on May 6, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” on May 5, 2012, “Sensitive Chaos” on April 29, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” on April 22, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns” on April 14, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” & “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on April 8, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns” on April 7, 2012, “A Piece of Stars on April 1, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” & “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on March 25, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” on March 24, 2012 & March 18, 2012, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” and “L’Ascension” on March 17, 2012, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on March 11, 2012, “L’Ascension”, “A Piece of Stars”, and “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on March 4, 2012, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on March 3, 2012, “L’Ascension” on February 26, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” on February 25, 2012, “L’Ascension” on February 19, 2012, “A Piece of Stars”, “L’Ascension”,”Psychic Twins of Gemini”, and “Sensitive Chaos” on February 12, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” on January 29, 2012, “L’Ascension” on January 28, 2012, “Simon Stilites Dreams of Rain (Chaotic Remix)”,”Psychic Twins of Gemini”, “Thoughts of Home in a Sand Storm”, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” and “L’Ascension” on January 22, 2012, “L’Ascension” on January 15, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” on January 7, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns” on January 1, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” and “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on December 4, 2011. “Seeker After Patterns” on November 26, 2011, November 20, 2011, October 1, 2011, and August 14, 2011 and “A Piece of Stars” on July 10, 2011, and lists the album at #10 for August 2012, #8 for July 2012, #5 for June 2012, #3 for May 2012, #2 for April 2012, #1 for March, February & January 2012, #6 for October 2011, #5 for September 2011 and #3 for August 2011.

KDNK 88.1FM Carbondale, Colorado (88.3FM Aspen 88.5FM Basalt, Redstone 93.5FM Leadville 94.9FM Thomasville) played “Seeker After Patterns” on November 13, 2023 and (2011) added Seeker After Patterns and has it in light rotation.

KXFM 104.7FM Laguna Lounge show in Laguna Beach, CA played “Seeker After Patterns” on March 5, 2023 and August 14, 2022.

KKUP 91.5FM Cosmic Visions show played “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on February 12, 2023 and The Contemplation Connection show in Cupertino, CA ranks Seeker After Patterns #2 on their Top 20 for July 2011 list and #13 for August 2011.

KUAC 89.9FM Nightlight show in Fairbanks, AK played “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on December 5, 2021, “A Piece of Stars” on December 29, 2013, “L’Ascension” on July 15, 2012, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on October 16, 2011, “A Piece of Stars” on October 2, 2011, August 21, 2011 and “L’Ascension” on July 24, 2011, and lists the album at #4 in the Top 20 for November 2011 and October 2011, and also Top 20 for September 2011 and July 2011.

WWUH 91.3FM Ambience show in West Hartford, CT played “Seeker After Patterns” on May 5, 2019, “A Piece of Stars” on June 11, 2017, and the entire ‘Seeker After Patterns’ album on April 24, 2016.

WYSO 91.3FM Alpha Rhythms show in Yellow Springs, OH played “Seeker After Patterns” on March 24, 2019, “A Piece of Stars” on October 19, 2014. “A Piece of Stars” on December 1, 2013, February 10, 2013, December 2, 2012, June 24, 2012, March 18, 2012, March 4, 2012, February 12, 2012, January 22, 2012, January 8, 2012, December 4, 2011, November 20, 2011, October 23, 2011, October 16, 2011, October 2, 2011, August 7, 2011, and July 24, 2011. The album is #17 for October 2011, #8 for September 2011, #4 for August 2011, and #14 for July 2011.

WMSE 91.7FM Instrumental Saturdays with Mary Bartlein show in Milwaukee, WI selects this album as Top-10 for 2011, and played “Sensitive Chaos” on June 2, 2018, “Seeker After Patterns” on August 22, 2015, “Sensitive Chaos” on May 4, 2013, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on March 2, 2013, “Seeker After Patterns” on December 1, 2012 and April 28, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” on April 7, 2012, “Psychic Twins of Gemini” on February 25, 2012, “Sensitive Chaos” on February 18, 2012, “L’Ascension” on February 4, 2012, “Simon Stilites Dreams of Rain (Chaotic Remix)” on January 14, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns”, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire”, and “A Piece of Stars” on January 7, 2012, “L’Ascension” on December 31, 2011, “Seeker After Patterns” on December 17, 2011, “A Piece of Stars” on November 19, 2011, October 1, 2011 and September 24, 2011, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on November 5, 2011 (fund drive), “Thoughts of Home in a Sand Storm” on October 15, 2011, “Seeker After Patterns” on October 8, 2011, “Seeker After Patterns” on September 17, 2011, “Seeker After Patterns” and “Sensitive Chaos” on August 20, 2011, and “Seeker After Patterns” and “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on July 30, 2011. The album is #5 for February 2012, #7 for January 2012, #8 for November 2011, #14 for October 2011, #9 for September 2011, #8 for August 2011, and Top 20 for July 2011.

KCBX 90FM Last Jazz Show in San Luis Obispo | 89.5 Santa Barbara | 91.7 Paso Robles to Salinas 90.9 Santa Ynez, Avila Beach, Cambria | 91.1 Cayucos | and 95.1 Lompoc played “Seeker After Patterns” on May 9, 2017 and July 10, 2012. “L’Ascension” on April 10, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns” on March 27, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns (Radio Edit 1)” on February 21, 2012, “Thoughts of Home in a Sand Storm” on February 7, 2012, “Sensitive Chaos” on January 17, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns” on December 6, 2011 and “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on October 25, 2011. The album is #18 for March 2012, #8 for February 2012, #1 for January 2012, #5 for December 2011, and #16 for November 2011.

HFM Radio 102.3FM Night Hawke show in Market Harborough, South Leicestershire and North Northamptonshire, UK played “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” and “Seeker After Patterns” on November 14, 2015, “Seeker After Patterns” and “Sensitive Chaos” on January 28/29, 2012. Lists album at #13 on the Top 20 for November 2015.

Hearts of Space (NPR syndicated radio show on 200+ stations in the US) played “L’Ascension” from Seeker After Patterns on their week of July 24, 2015, June 1, 2012 and June 17, 2011 program “Blue Sky Blue”.

John Shanahan, Hypnagogue Reviews Podcast June 12, 2014, 2014: “Thoughts of Home in a Sandstorm”. June 3, 2011: “A Piece of Stars” is featured in the Hypnagogue Reviews podcast #55: http://hypnagoguepodcast.blogspot.com/2011/06/hypnagogue-podcast-55.html

WPNE 89.3FM/WHND 89.7FM At The Edge show in Green Bay/Sister Bay, WI played “A Piece of Stars” and “Simon Stilites Dreams of Rain” on September 3, 2012, “Seeker After Patterns,” “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire,” “A Piece of Stars,” “L’Ascension,” and “Sensitive Chaos” on June 27, 2011. The album is ranked #18 for March 2014, #6 for June 2011 and #18 for July 2011.

WPRB 103.3FM Music With Space show in Princeton, NJ played “Apiece of Stars” on January 27, 2014, “Seeker After Patterns” on January 5, 2013, “L’Ascension” on October 20, 2011, “Psychic Twins of Gemini” on September 3, 2011, “Thoughts of Home in a Sand Storm” on August 20, 2011, and “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” and “A Piece of Stars” from Seeker After Patterns on July 23, 2011.

AstreauxWorld.com played “A Piece of Stars” on January 16, 2013, the songs “L’Ascension”and “A Piece of Stars” from Seeker After Patterns on June 13, 2011.

Hypnagogue podcast features “Seeker After Patterns” on November 1, 2012.

#83 on Zone Music Reporter Top 100 for August 2012, #80 on Zone Music Reporter Top 100 for March 2012, #25 on Zone Music Reporter Top 100 for February 2012, #23 on Zone Music Reporter Top 100 for January 2012.

At Water’s Edge show on StillStream.com in San Francisco played “Sensitive Chaos” on September 1, 2012.

KRCB 91FM in SantaRosa/North Bay, CA played selections from “Seeker After Patterns” and listed the album at #10 for August 2012.

WREK 91.1FM The Mobius show in Atlanta, GA played “A Piece of Stars” on April 18, 2012.

Radio Despi 107.1 FM La Otra Orilla show in Barcelona, Spain played “Psychic Twins of Gemini” on April 9, 2012, “A Piece of Stars” on February 19, 2012 and “Seeker After Patterns” on June 27, 2011.

#18 for March 2012, #6 for February 2012, #1 for January 2012 on KCPR Audioscapes, #5 for December 2011, and #17 for November 2011.

WRBC 91.5FM Tangents show in Lewiston, Maine played “Seeker After Patterns” on January 22, 2012. The album is #3 for February 2012.

Montana Public Radio’s Oasis show (KUFM 89.1FM in Missoula, KUKL 90.1FM in Kalispell, KGPR 89.9 in Great Falls, KAPC 91.3FM in Butte, KUHM 91.7FM in Helena, KUFN 91.9FM in Hamilton, KUFL 90.5FM in Libby, and KPJH 89.5FM in Polson) played “A Piece of Stars” and “Seeker After Patterns” on January 1, 2012, and ranks Seeker After Patterns #14 for December 2011 and #10 on their Top 20 for July 2011 list.

#79 on the Zone Music Reporter Top 100 Airplay Chart for 2011, out of over 2300 recordings.

#35 on Zone Music Reporter Top 100 for December 2011, #44 on Zone Music Reporter Top 100 for November 2011, #36 on Zone Music Reporter Top 100 for October 2011, #31 on Zone Music Reporter Top 100 for September 2011, #25 on Zone Music Reporter Top 100 for August 2011, #36 on the Zone Music Reporter Top 100 for July 2011.

#17 for December 2011, #14 for November 2011 and #8 on CKUW Shades of Classics Top 20 for October 2011.

WUTC 88.1FM Saturday Morning Sunrise show in Chattanooga, TN played “A Piece of Stars” on December 31, 2011 and “Sensitive Chaos” on December 3, 2011. #13 for January 2012, and #7 on the Top 20 for December 2011.

#14 Song and #50 Album on the Zone Music Reporter Playlist Spin Count for November 2011, #9 & #29 & #47 Song and #12 Album on the Zone Music Reporter Playlist Spin Count for August 2011, #29 & #65 Song and #44 Album on the Zone Music Reporter Playlist Spin Count for July 2011.

WWSP 90FM Ambient Aether/Acoustic Resonance/Fantasy Realm show in Stevens Point, WI played “Seeker After Patterns” and “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on December 4, 2011 and November 27, 2011, “Seeker After Patterns” on November 13, 2011, “Sensitive Chaos” on October 23, 2011, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on October 2, 2011, “L’Ascension” on September 4, 2011, “Thoughts of Home in a Sand Storm” on August 28, 2011, “A Piece of Stars” on August 21, 2011, and “Psychic Twins of Gemini” on August 7, 2011, and “Sensitive Chaos” on July 24, 2011, and lists the album #14 for November 2011 and October 2011, #3 for September 2011 and August 2011.

YLE Radio 1 Avaruusromua (Space Junk) Finnish Broadcasting Company radio played “L’Ascension”, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire”, and “Thoughts of Home in a Sand Storm” on November 20, 2011.

#8 on KRSC Spectral Voyages show Top 20 for October 2011.

KCUR 89.3FM Night Tides show in Kansas City, MO played “Seeker After Patterns (Radio Edit 2)” on October 16, 2011, “Sensitive Chaos” on October 9, 2011, September 18, 2011, “Simon Stilites Dreams of Rain” on September 4, 2011, “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on August 28, 2011, “Psychic Twins of Gemini” on August 21, 2011, “Seeker After Patterns (Radio Edit 1)” on August 14, 2011, “L’Ascension” on July 31, 2011, “Thoughts of Home in a Sand Storm” on July 31, 2011 & July 24, 2011, and “A Piece of Stars” on July 10, 2011, and lists the album in the Top 20 for September 2011 and August 2011.

WFIT 89.5FM Future Echoes show in Melbourne, FL played “A Piece of Stars” on August 21, 2011, “Seeker After Patterns” on August 14, 2011 and June 5, 2011, “Psychic Twins of Gemini” & “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on August 7, 2011, “Sensitive Chaos” on July 31, 2011, “Thoughts of Home in a Sand Storm” on July 24, 2011, and “L’Ascension” on July 17, 2011.

WEVL 89.9FM Audio Exotika show in Memphis, TN played “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” on August 21, 2011, “Seeker After Patterns” on August 14, 2011, “L’Ascension” on August 7, 2011, “Sensitive Chaos” on July 31, 2011, and “Thoughts of Home in a Sand Storm” on July 24, 2011.

WRSU 88.7FM Machine Age Voodoo show in New Brunswick, NJ played “Psychic Twins of Gemini” on August 10, 2011.

Echoes (NPR syndicated radio show on 130 stations in the US) played “Seeker After Patterns” from Seeker After Patterns on their July 27, 2011 program “1130C”, July 18, 2011 (and July 23/24, 2011 weekend) program “1129A”, July 13, 2011 program “1128C” and July 7, 2011 program “1127D”. Echoes lists the album at #24 for July.

WVKR 91.3FM Secret Music show in Poughkeepsie, NY played “L’Ascension” on July 24, 2011, “Sensitive Chaos” on July 10, 2011, and “A Piece of Stars” on July 3, 2011. Seeker After Patterns listed as #9 on July 2011 Top-20 report.

WDIY 88.1FM Galactic Travels show in Bethlehem, PA played “L’Ascension” on July 21, 2011 and the title track from Seeker After Patterns on June 9, 2011. The album was Top-20 for Galactic Travels for July 2011, and #16 for June 2011.

#29 Album and #6 Song on the Zone Music Reporter Playlist Spin Count for June 2011.

WTUL 91.5FM Cheezmuzik show in New Orleans, LA played “Psychic Twins of Gemini” on June 26, 2011, and the title track from Seeker After Patterns on June 19, 2011.

OneWorldRadio.org.uk in the UK added Seeker After Patterns to their playlist on June 22, 2011.

WRSU 88.7FM in New Brunswick, NJ added Seeker After Patterns to their playlist.

StillStream.com Zen Caffeine show played the album Seeker After Patterns on June 11, 2011 and is now in current rotation.

WMLB 1690AM What’s The Frequency, Georgia show in Atlanta, GA played the title track from Seeker After Patterns on June 10, 2011.

Press

JOHN SHANAHAN, HYPNAGOGUE REVIEWS BLOG, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

Jim Combs is back in his Sensitive Chaos guise, quite intent on fully captivating you with a mix of uptempo electronica, world-fusion accents and lush ambient spaces. Seeker After Patterns is filled with deft switches of identity that showcase Combs’ range of expression. He also pulls in contributions from a handful of electronic/ambient heavy hitters. As always, Brian Good is on hand with his electronic wind instrument (EWI) and saxophone, lending sweet lines that still pull up embedded memories of Shadowfax every time I hear him play. Good’s sax absolutely flies in the opening/title track, breathing swirly smooth-jazz grooves over Combs’ right-angle sequencers. (The disc also contains two shorter radio edits of this track, the second of which puts Good right in the forefront from the start.) On “A Piece of Stars,” one of several live tracks, Combs is abetted by veterans Tony Gerber, Paul Vnuk Jr. and Christian Birk. This improvised track is a twisting road of silken sound; Vnuk snaps out rhythms on electronic percussion and Gerber spins his own airy EWI web while Combs and Birk handle synth duty. Simply stunning, with touches of exotic romance. On “Simon Stilites Dreams of Rain,” Otso Pakarinen co-pilots with Combs on electronics while John McNicholas unleashes a psychedelic mind-melt on guitar. McNicholas’ playing could liquify your brain at 50 paces as he grinds away over the pulses and flows beneath him. Combs himself goes wonderfully ballistic with the remastering of “Sensitive Chaos,” originally recorded in the mid-80s. Here he piles four tracks of bass, 12-string guitar and drum machine into a mad tangle that comes to sound like Hell’s own dulcimer, played at speed over a casually funky bass line. Can’t get enough of this one. Combs’ solo work on Seeker…. is also superb. “L’Ascension,” played on a Roland JD-800 worked through a looper, is a hushed and melancholic piece with a story to tell. “Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire” is a straight-up drone-based floater, waving slowly through the air and shifting form in its own good time.

Seeker After Patterns is a true look at how diverse and talented a musician Combs is. On his own, he can churn playful electronics like “Psychic Twins of Gemini,” which is just plain fun and which reminds me of my favorite Sensitive Chaos track, “Nightshift at the Baby Mecha Nursery” from Leak, or craft ambient flows with a soft hand. He collaborates beautifully and is obviously very much in his element in a live setting. Outside of all that, Seeker After Patterns is just a great listen that stands up to repeat plays thanks to its variety and quality. Which is why it’s a Hypnagogue Highly Recommended CD.

KIM WARE, PRETTY NEW SONGS BLOG, AUGUST 1, 2011

Sensitive Chaos is the brainchild of Jim Combs, who also plays keys in The Good Graces. The best, most accurate review I can give of Jim’s record is what I told him after the first time I heard it. I was driving to my friend Nina’s while listening to it. And I got lost. Three times. Not because I didn’t know where she lived, but because I was that lost in the music. Hypnotic, atmospheric, and very relaxing, it’s the perfect soundtrack to chilling out after a hot day. Or, driving around aimlessly.

SYLVAIN LUPARI, SYNTHS&SEQUENCES BLOG, JULY 19, 2011

Sensitive Chaos is the musical project of the multi-instrumentalist Jim Combs who lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Seeker After Patterns is his 4th album, an album which navigates between delicate, very Southern rhythms, with a little tribal touch, and ambient structures. Rhythms are mainly minimalist grafted to a palette of very heterogeneous tones, giving to Seeker After Patterns a rich musicality which pokes through in every listening.

The discreet hopping chords which introduce the title-track, “Seeker After Patterns”, are fast harpooned by bass notes which juxtapose a slightly zigzagging rhythmic approach. A metallic synth with hedging chords is joining this rhythmic while dropping some fluttering pads to give “Seeker After Patterns” a strange harmonious envelope wrapped up by silky synth lines and twinkling electric piano notes. This jerky rhythm which livens up “Seeker After Patterns” evolves by following its minimalist cycle to which is added diverse instruments as the suave and melancholic saxophone of Brian Good which precedes a very ambient moment where electric piano notes dance in a mellotron mist before that the rhythm, which moves stealthily, takes back its tempo with a more incisive approach…

The whole review is here: http://synthsequences.blogspot.com/2011/07/sensitive-chaos-seeker-after-patterns.html

SYLVAIN LUPARI, GUTS OF DARKNESS (FRENCH), JULY 18, 2011

Sensitive Chaos est le projet musical du multi-instrumentaliste Jim Combs qui habite Atlanta en Georgie. Seeker after Patterns est son 4ième album. Un album qui navigue entre de délicats rythmes très sudistes, à saveur quelque peu tribale, et des structures ambiantes. Des rythmes majoritairement minimalistes où se greffe une palette de sonorités très hétéroclites, donnant à Seeker after Patterns une riche musicalité qui attise l’ouïe à chaque écoute. Les discrets accords sautillants qui introduisent la pièce-titre, Seeker after Patterns, sont vite harponnés par des accords de bases qui juxtaposent une approche rythmique légèrement zigzagante. Un synthé nasillard aux accords louvoyant se greffe à cette rythmique tout en y échappant quelques nappes voltigeuses afin de donner à Seeker after Patterns une étrange enveloppe harmonieuse emmitouflée par de soyeuses lignes de synthé et de scintillants accords de piano électriques. Ce rythme saccadé qui anime Seeker after Patterns évolue en suivant son cycle minimaliste auquel s’ajoute divers instruments comme le suave et mélancolique saxophone de Brian Good qui précède un moment très ambiant où accords de piano électriques dansent dans une brume mellotronnée avant que le rythme, qui avance comme de furtifs pas de loups, ne reprenne son tempo avec une approche plus incisive. Warm Glow of the Atomic Fire est un doux titre planant aux fines oscillations qui volent dans de délicates boucles échoïques aux subtiles et différentes variations. A Piece of Stars suit avec de délicats arpèges sautillant sur une ligne de synthé binaire, dont une qui échappe un suave souffle continue alors que l’autre lance des oscillations un brin menaçant. C’est un très beau titre avec une délicate approche tribale avec ses tam-tams et ses souffles amérindiens qui évoluent sur une structure minimaliste où les percussions dansent avec ses arpèges légèrement spasmodiques, de par leur tempo nerveux, sur de suaves souffles de synthé giratoires et des instruments qui façonnent les mouvements des vents (EWI)…

The whole review is here: http://www.gutsofdarkness.com/god/objet.php?objet=14505

JEFF CLARK, STOMP AND STAMMER MAGAZINE, JUNE 2011

A more atmospheric vein of electronic music is created by Sensitive Chaos, the brand name under which Atlanta composer Jim Combs and select fellow tech-heads operate. Combs’ latest CD, Seeker After Patterns, takes the listener on a journey through the caress of bliss, with eight longish instrumental pieces (and two additional edits of the title track) that range in design from the coldly intricate to the warmly spacious. Several of the tracks were recorded during live performances at Kavarna and Aurora Coffee, and one recording – a track actually called “Sensitive Chaos,” after which, one assumes, this group is named – dates from the mid-80s.