Brian Harding, one third of Chicago ambient trio Zelienople, has recently released an excellent solo album of stirring compositions as ILL PROFESSOR. With Wire & Air (Constellation Tatsu), Harding conjures wandering, reflective moods with an intricate layering of piano, violin, bass, and other (mostly) acoustic instruments, accented by a delicate touch of echo and reverb. Ambient in tone and style, the tracks revolve around simple melodies that seem to repeat in subtly shifting, fractured rhythms, creating quietly stimulating variations that seep into the skin and resonate in the heart. This fragmented play with melody opens wide, expansive spaces, like discovering a large placid pool hidden in the darkness of a deep foreboding cavern. Rewarding with repeated listens, this understated album will fill out the spaces inside your mind.