Ben Billington's 2020 LP as Quicksails, Blue Rise, is a set of lush, elaborate synthesizer-based compositions which are less improvisatory than his earlier works. The pieces all play like scenes from a virtual forest, with some objects and creatures somewhat close to their real-world counterparts, and others far removed or else completely imaginary. The album brims with percussion sounds, but they're generally closer to chimes, shakers, and wood blocks than standard snares and kick drums, and they're subtly integrated into the soundscapes rather than the foreground and provide a charging rhythm. Opener "Cypress" is a deeply layered tapestry of tangy synth textures, hidden voices, and skyward melodies, standing tall and swaying in the breeze. "Melrose Move" begins with low percussive patterns and shakers which immediately bring to mind some of Moondog's compositions before sprouting other sounds such as gliding, spacy electronics and reflective pianos. On "Sid's Symphony #2," a rich, shimmering drone escapes from a trap of vibrating, scratchy distortion and manages to find its way to the stars. The delicate, mysterious "Ice Walk (With Love)" achieves tranquility from the beginning instead of having to search for it, and the Popol Vuh-inspired "Florian's Brush" is a stirring mixture of brushed drums, electronic bird calls, and calmly levitating pianos. Most stunning of all is "Woodhaven," a calming yet illuminating rush of grand synth washes and icy piano notes outfitted with timpanis and chimes, outwardly expressing inner peace and spiritual enlightenment.