Originally released in 2005 and now reissued in 2025 with two bonus tracks from its 2007 edition, this excellent IDM album remains one of the most cherished and distinctive works in the genre's history. Where much of the genre leans on mechanical precision, Dutch producer Reimer Eising manages to make music that breathes with a living warmth, sounding fragile, meticulous and deeply melodic. Tracks like 'Shinusob' sparkle with twinkling innocence, 'I Was Fine' aches with soft melancholy and the title track cushions the ears like cotton. Kettel's melodies evoke both nature and the whimsical charm of old-school RPG games, giving the album a storybook quality. Pieces such as 'Mwoeb' drifts in tranquil waters before 'Whom' closes with bittersweet nostalgia. A perfect synthesis of Kettel's earlier work, his fifth album Through Friendly Waters balances emotion and subtle experimentation beautifully. It's an engaging album that is endlessly listenable. 20 years later, it still feels like an untouched, organic masterpiece.