Biiig Tip! Son Of Chi emerges from the closing of one circle and the opening of another - Hanyo van Oosterom's latest project following the passing of his longtime collaborator Jacobus Derwort in 2019. We Carry Eden, released by Music From Memory, represents both an ending and a beginning: the conclusion of the CHI circle that began in the early eighties and the birth of something entirely new, yet deeply rooted in decades of visionary exploration. Van Oosterom's prolific career spans multiple decades and genres; among countless projects he has been involved in, he is known for founding the Dutch ambient collective CHI in the early eighties, and in recent years for his prolific collaboration with CHI co-founder Derwort as Chi Factory. Following Derwort's passing, van Oosterom decided to close the CHI circle with the birth of Son Of Chi. The result is an immersive long-form composition in two parts that seamlessly blends a collage of spoken word, field recordings and drones with elements of dub, jazz, fourth world and ambient music.

Sonically, the world of We Carry Eden is fully immersive; it ripples with depth and shimmers in detail. Motifs, ideas and fragments arise and disappear like passing thoughts, drawing the listener deeper and deeper inwards. For those familiar with van Oosterom's work as Chi Factory, the depth and meditative nature of the work will come as no surprise; however it is van Oosterom's skill with grooves that shines equally bright here - his infectiously dubby basslines and percussion rise up from the ether, grounding the listener to the earth. We Carry Eden at times invokes the fourth world landscapes of Jon Hassell (with whom van Oosterom has collaborated) but as a whole, it remains the unique work of an artist fully in tune with their vision.

This approach places the work alongside the ethnographic explorations of David Toop, the collaborative territories of Midori Takada, and the cross-cultural investigations of Don Cherry, yet van Oosterom's distinctive understanding of rhythm and space creates something entirely his own. Thematically, storytelling traditions lie at the heart of We Carry Eden, with van Oosterom's long-time collaborator Omar Ka playing a central role. Ka, who hails from the West African nomadic Fulani tradition of storytelling, responds to the collage of field recordings and sounds collected by van Oosterom. His voice is woven throughout We Carry Eden, creating a narrative that binds the multiple sound sources of the album together, transforming disparate elements into unified ceremonial experience.

As with much of van Oosterom's musical output, inspiration is drawn from the Greek Island of Patmos and the wisdom and prophecies of the Native American Hopi Tribe. Since his work with CHI in the early eighties, van Oosterom has often incorporated quotes from Hopi Elders into his music. Gods, spirits, animals and humans, all existing in one unchangeable relationship tied to nature; We Carry Eden is rooted in this philosophy, serving as a peaceful message of beauty, harmony and respect for the wisdom of the Elders and ancient traditions. Beautifully presented with sleeve art and design by Michael Willis, We Carry Eden stands as both culmination and new beginning - honoring the legacy of CHI while establishing Son Of Chi as a vital new voice in contemporary ambient and fourth world music.