Symbiosis

Symbiosis is an ambient and breakbeat duo made up of Stan Dorsett and Deryl Dorsett. It also appears under the name of a separate Italian solo project by Valerio Orlandini from Florence, who works in ambient and dungeon synth. That project begins in 2004 and becomes more active in 2005.

Italian ambient and dungeon synth project

Valerio Orlandini’s Symbiosis project starts with the self-released demo Passages in February 2006. The release draws the attention of the Austrian artist Uruk-Hai, leading to a split album issued in May 2006 on the Bulgarian label A.M.F. Productions. Another demo, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, follows in July 2006 and is described as a dark soundscape shaped by the Italian summer woods.

Later in 2006, Symbiosis appears on three split releases: Vannvidd / Symbiosis, Wedard / Symbiosis and Hrefensholt / Symbiosis / Bagatur. The Vannvidd / Symbiosis release is later reissued on tape with contributions from the German artist S and the Catalan artist der Wald. Orlandini also begins work under his own name alongside Symbiosis.

Other act using the name

The same name is also used by a UK-based group formed in 1988, centred on flautist John Hackett, Richard Bolton and Clive Williamson. That version of Symbiosis performs ambient music for relaxation and holistic therapies, combining flutes, guitar, woodwind, gentle percussion and natural sounds. Its releases include Touching the Clouds, Amber and Jade, AOTEAROA - Nature Sounds of New Zealand and Dancing in Your Dreams.