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RECORD POOL |
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RECORD POOL |
2003
REVIEWS
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| October
31, 2003 MIDNIGHT SYNDICATE: "DUNGEONS & DRAGONS" Linfaldia Records / Entity Productions Disquieting melodies, though not lacking of an obscure romanticism, are plotting with evil ambiences. to drag us to dark regions where dragons dwell. Composed as the official soundtrack for the popular roleplaying game of the same title, this album fully achieves its objective to evoke the most representative passages, places and situations of the game in the imagination of the listener. The duo formed by Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka shows once again their great talent to create gloomy music with well defined melodies, and all that without overusing special sound effects. JORGE MUNNSHE http://www.midnightsyndicate.com CD Available in Europe through Darkcell Digital Music at: http://www.darkcelldigitalmusic.net GENE ESS: "SUNRISE FALLING" AMP Records In this album, Gene Ess draws the traits that identify his style with firm brush strokes. On the one hand, we have his jazz streak, and on the other hand, his exquisite sensitivity with the guitar, and as a final complement, his taste for sophisticated rhythms. His skill as a musician is sufficiently illustrated with his work in this CD, as well as the quality of the artists he has played with throughout his career, such as for instance Carlos Santana. "Sunrise Falling" is a good sample of powerful Jazz-Rock with touches of Synth-Pop. EDGAR KOGLER BARRY CLEVELAND: "VOLCANO" AMP Records To record this album, guitarist Barry Cleveland has surrounded himself with a numerous staff of musicians, among whom most remarkable are Michael Manring, Norbert Stachel and Michael Masley. The fresh, daring style of Barry Cleveland finds itself thus reinforced by the innovative artistic temperament of his collaborators. By breaking barriers and patterns, the music in this CD takes us to an intense journey that encompasses elements of Jazz-Rock, Ambient and World Music. ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA VOLT: "THE FAR CANAL" Groove The duo Volt, formed by Michael Shipway and Steve Smith, make a kind of electronic music rich in sophisticated orchestrations, with a variety of layers with sounds that are often ethereal, and a clear taste for space. Choosing to create long pieces, these artists develop extraterrestrial suites in it, with slow parts and others of a rhythm sustained by sequencers. EDGAR KOGLER http://www.groove.nl ERIK WOLLO: "THE POLAR DRONES" Groove We find ourselves before one of the most Space albums by Erik Wollo. Working on the most electronic slopes of his personal style, Wollo offers us a collection of magnificient soundscapes. The polar inspiration of the album, so obvious in the title, appears to be perceived in many passages. Listening to the music, it happens to be easy to imagine oneself in the midst of the vast bleakness of the polar regions of our world. Incommensurable extensions of ice fading into the horizon. Icebergs majestically floating on the freezing waters as if they were titans. Ghostly dusks. The immensity of wild nature, still untamed by the human being, exhibiting its beauty as well as its aggressivity at the same time. EDGAR KOGLER http://www.groove.nl RON BOOTS: "DREAMSCAPE" Groove This remastered re-release including a previously unreleased theme of "Dreamscape", originally released in 1991, constitutes a good opportunity to obtain an album that became legendary among the fans of Space Sequencer Music. With influences of the "School of Berlin", but with an entirely personal approach, Ron Boots succeeds in impressing the listener with a music full of intense emotions. EDGAR KOGLER http://www.groove.nl MICHAEL J. SCHUMACHER: "ROOM PIECES" XI Records Michael Schumacher is well known, amongst other artistic activities, for his designs and his assemblies of sound installations consisting in a seriess of loudspeakers sited in strategic points of a room and. by controlling them with a software programme which incorporates random elements In this double CD, Schumacher blends sound textures. shapes echoes, sculpts silences on the surface of ripples, experiments, in short, with the patterns that determine the identity of each sound. In this album, Schumacher has counted with the collaboration of Jane Henry at the violin, Tim Barnes in percussion and Charles Curtis at the cello in certain tracks. VALERIANO GUIOL SHAJAN: "THE HEALING TOUCH" Prudence / BSC Music Shajan weaves a caleidoscopic tapestry of magic ambiences, often of a space kind, melodies of a great symphonism and beauty, ethereal textures and exotic elements, all of that sustained, to a great extent, on synthesizers. The cultural, cosmopolitan background of this artist, the son of a Malaysian ambassador in London, includes journeys to several parts of Asia, throughout which he contacted different cultures, which enriched him vastly from an artistic point of view. This background is appreciated in his music, and provides it with a deeper personality. EDGAR KOGLER http://www.bscmusic.com TYA: "AKWABA" Prudence / BSC Music Martin Scherl, alma mater of Tya, is an artist greatly influenced by Afro-American and Australian ethnic musics, among some others. His particular vision of music stands well reflected in the compositions of this new album. Breakin with barriers amongst styles, pieces of a rich freshness come to the surface of our ears, tracks that feed on elements typical of atmospheric Pop and World Music, also including some touches of Jazz-Rock. MARCELLA CIRIGNOLA http://www.bscmusic.com MERGENER ET AMICI: "NOX MYSTICA" Prudence / BSC Music This album gathers the music created for a part of the ambience of the festival Bread & Games, a leisure-cultural event that, yearly, intends to re-create in the city of Trier, one of the oldest in Germany, the lifestyle of Ancient Rome. The music, created by Peter Mergener, with the collaboration of Alquimia and other artists, takes us through an imagunary journey to Classical Rome, as perceived throughout the personal approach of Mergener and his collaborators, lavishly furnished with elements of space symphonism, and with some touches of Atmospheric Pop. EDGAR KOGLER http://www.bscmusic.com PHILLIP SCHROEDER: "SONGS OF MY AFFINITIES" Capstone records In this album, Phillip Schroeder combines text and music to create a seriess ol lyric pieces under his personal approach. With him collaborate the baritone Robert Best, and various instrumentalist musicians. The final result wavers between Chamber Music and New Music, with certain classicist touches. VALERIANO GUIOL FROHMADER & ROEDER & GERHARDS & FRIEDRICH: "NEKROPOLIS 23 VOL.1" Nekropolis Records This Cd gathers an interesting experience of spontaneous musical creativity. The pieces here included were created and played live by Peter Frohmader, Holger Roeder, Udo Gerhards and Matthias Friedrich. The music oscillates through Psychedelic, a gloomy symphonism, at times even apocalyptic, Experimental Jazz and atmospheres typical of Ambient although spiced with subtle reminiscences of Chamber Music, The overflowing creativity of these artists and the inspiration of the moment have made this peculiar work possible, a work that will not disappoint those who appreciate fresh musical ideas, free from any constraint. ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA http://www.peterfrohmader.de CAN ATILLA: "LIVE" Groove In this magnificient album, recorded live on May, 22nd., 2002 during the International Festival of Music in Ankara, Can Atilla di`plays powerful sequencer rhythms, strong melodies and a general stylistic approach that includes the best elements of Synth-Pop and Space Sequencer Music. The talent of the composer is appreciated both in the slow themes of a romantic mien, and in the fast ones, which appear to re-create transcendental life experiences and extreme situations. The task of Can Atilla in this CD is very solid, and will appeal to the followers of these genres. "Whiteout" contains a passage of about three minutes that, in some way, are intended as a homage to Tangerine Dream, but that show the unmistakable imprint of Can Atilla, and which, to my taste, is the most impressive passage in the entire album, with an explosive rhythmic and melodic display. All the themes of the album are performed by Can Atilla himself, with the support of guitarist Murat Yucel. JORGE MUNNSHE http://www.groove.nl RUDY ADRIAN: "CONCERTS IN THE USA" Groove This album gives us the wonderful opportunity to listen to the live music by Rudy Adrian. A series of performances that this composer gave in various cities of the United States during a mini-tour in the year 2002, are the basis for this CD, which gathers some of the best moments of a live event. In these concerts, where the artist played solo or with other musicians, we perceive all the basic traits of his style, although with an instrumental approach much simpler than in his studio recordings, which is due to the needs of live performances and to the premise that Rudy Adrian has of not resorting to pre-recorded or pre-programmed material when he plays live, as well as avoiding great ensembles of performers. The result of the experience reveals some little known aspects of the style of Rudy Adrian, and allows us to appreciate better his performing skills as well as the freshest, most vital aspects of his music. JORGE MUNNSHE http://www.groove.nl |
| September
30, 2003 CHAS SMITH: "AN HOUR OUT OF DESERT CENTER" Cold Blue Music As the title of this album suggests, Chas Smith transmits in the four tracks in this CD, strong feelings of isolation and immensity, at times shaping dense cobwebs of hybrid sounds ranging from the metallic to the crystaline, and at other times working with the echoes of paused notes. The majesty of the desert, its impressive vastness, yet its overwhelming menace as well, are perceived in the music. EDGAR KOGLER GERARD ROMA: "1=0" Satelite K / Gracia Territori Sonor / Exotica Club Music seemingly inspired in the mysteries of the Digital Era. The themes range around the most industrial side of Techno, with a certain minimalist approach in some passages. Gerard Roma shows a special ability to take recognisable noises, which are clear symbols of the history of Chip, and organise them in such a way that they serve as rhythms or accompaniments to the disquieting melodies, all that without falling into aimless experimentation. ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA KRAKATOA: "WE ARE THE ROWBOATS" Cuneiform Records As can be appreciated when listening to this album, Krakatoa are a band with several remarkable identity traits. Perhaps what defines them best is the fusion they make between elements from Rock and Classical Music. They are very careful with their melodies and make very complete arrangements and orchestrations. In their compositions, touches of Jazz, Folk and other genres can likewise be perceived. They have been compared, in some aspects of their style, with such bands and artists as for instance King Crimson, Penguin Café Orchestra, John Zorn, Frank Zappa and Birdsongs of the Mesozoic. ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA http://www.cuneiformrecords.com MICHAEL BYRON: "AWAKENING AT THE INN OF THE BIRDS" Cold Blue Music By combining minimalism with New Music and Chamber Music, Michael Byron experiments with a variety of concepts in this album. Piano and violins sustain the greatest performing weight, although in some parts the synthesizer intervenes so as to provide the music with a more ethereal texture. VALERIANO GUIOL JEAN ROUTHIER: "ENDURANCE" Aurore Nocturne In this album of sound experimentation, Jean Routhier follows the approaches of Concrete Music, and creates all sorts of acoustic collages with voices and other sounds, preferably from an urban environment, at times manipulating them, and keeping them intact at other times. He also makes use of architectures typical of Electroacoustic Music, and even of Ambient, so as to develop some passages. DOMINIQUE CHEVANT VARIOUS: "CACHE 2002" Canadian Electroacoustic Community In this compilation of compositions of Electroacoustic Music, organized by the Canadian Electroacoustic Community, we find different sound proposals, ranging from Concrete Music to architectrues near to the darkest side of Ambient, all of them oriented towards experimentation. This is the contents of the CD: Dominique R. Bassal: "Rites d'oiseaux pensants", Carey Dodge: "Sound for Emporter du Naufrage", Brian Garbet: "Ritual", Terence Huang: "Birth of Eternity", Adis Husejnagic: "Sand", Martin Messier: "Tiaré", Dan Nyborg / Andrew Watson: "198.3 Ashcroft Subdivision", David Paquette: "Un million d'instants - Le matin", Jean-Michel Robert: "Les enfants d'Éole", Andrew Wedman: "Breath", Brett Ziegler: "Graveyard Shift" DOMINIQUE CHEVANT VARIOUS: "STRCH PRST SKRZ KRK" kRkRkRk Recordings A sampler by underground artists from the city of Christchurch, in New Zealand, where the label kRkRkRk Recordings has its headquarters. The themes, openly experimental, flow as a general rule between noise and alternative Pop-Rock. The artists participating here are: Brainlego, MiG-21, Wormwood, Antibody, Nick Hodgson, Lahar, Strap Ons, NoTV, KYN, Megan Gallacher, Drawing Room, Placenta Cookbook, Full Force Loving Machine, Sirlordme, Early Bioneers, Peter Wright, Ed Wilson, and Laudanum. ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA |
| August
5, 2003 PROGRAM@: "PHOENIX" At-Mooss Records The duo Program@ suceeds in surprising us once again with a number of compositions that turn out to be imaginative, fresh and daring. Starting from a general approach near to Synth-Pop, each one of the pieces engages its own way through the frontiers of diverse genres related to electronic music and general avantgarde. The wide variety of shades provides this work with a great musical wealth, yet without it meaning an excessive dispersion, as the album presents a very coherent line, a clear reflection of the duo's artistic personality. Their musical ideas are powerful, crystal-clear, while at the same time leaving space for the listener's imagination. The rhythms are sophisticated, often with a percussion of a remarkable originality, which intimately intertwines with the melodic structure. The melodies, full of strength, range into a broad spectrum, from the symphonism of a space orientation to the incursions within the most electronic side of Jazz-Rock. There are passages brimming with energy and optimism. Others are hued with a romanticism at times subtly melancholic. Likewise, the themes and passages that explore avantgarde areas of electronic music are noteworthy indeed, yet the music never falls into useless experimentation, and it also keeps the artistic sensitivity at all times. "Phoenix" is no doubt an album that will set an important point in the artistic trajectory of Program@. JORGE MUNNSHE More information, here: http://www.at-mooss.com If you wish to purchase this recording you only have to click here. JOSEPH LOIBANT: "C1E2C5 (QUATRE COLUMNES)" At-Mooss Records In this soundtrack, now released in CD format, Joseph Loibant shows his most symphonic side. With a solid approach, the music takes us to an exciting voyage through stories and legends of the past. Some of the themes seem to evoke crucial events in human history. Epic deeds accomplished by men and women perhaps forgotten by history, yet of whose actions the old stone of survivor buildings from that era was silent witness, if not an instrument of homage. The music transmits to us all the charisma of these architectonic constructions that defy the passage of centuries and become a palpable proof of human determination and strength of will. Majestic melodies, epic, with a certain air of romanticism at times enigmatic, crop up in all their greatness, impressive like monoliths, wrapped by sophisticated orchestrations. Rocky rhythms whisper teluric secrets. Other pieces turn out to be intensely near, like songs from childhood or teenage ballads that bring us memories of places, people and feelings already far away from us in time and distance. There also are passages dominated by the vertigo of space, which confront the listener to the vastness of the universe. Also remarkable are the passages and themes full of light, of a crystaline beauty, between the human essence and the divine. The imaginative use of synthesizers stresses the personality of the music. The soundtrack includes as well a new version of the theme "Electra" by Loibant, originally released in his album "Regression Alpha". JORGE MUNNSHE More information, here: http://www.at-mooss.com If you wish to purchase this recording you only have to click here. RICHARD AMOS: "DANCING IN THE DESERT" Exhibit Music The Synth-Pop that Richard Amos makes in this album counts with an important presence of melodies often with a transcendental air, or emotional in nature, as if they were narrating thrilling adventures in faraway lands or situations where the warmest emotions flow freely. An intense creative task can be appreciated throughout the entire album, as well as in the electronic orchestrations. ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA http://www.richardamos.com |
| July
15, 2003 PETER FROHMADER: "ANUBIS DANCE" Nekropolis Records This is a spectacular album where Peter Frohmader shows his talent in the creation of complex themes with powerful rhythms, mysterious melodies and unusual accompaniments. The approach of Frohmader in "Anubis Dance" takes the music to a terrain near to Gothic, with a wealth of psychedelic elements, as well as others typical of Trance or the most Industrial side of Techno. When listening to the tracks in "Anubis Dance", one can't help but think that he is attending an ancestral esoteric ritual, brought up to date by means of electronics, and adapted to the cultural identity of today's Western society. The music by Frohmader has something "genuine" that makes us perceive it as a sort of direct message sent from the enigmatic regions it refers to. JORGE MUNNSHE http://www.peterfrohmader.de VALERY SIVER AND KIRYLL TREPAKOV: "MIDWAY" Electroshock Records Themes of a surreal sound, where acoustic guitar is wrapped within electronic effects. Rhythms near to classical Techno, the Industrial or the Ethnic. Melodies of an enigmatic nature at times, and romantic on other occasions. These are the main traits of "Midway", an imaginative album which can be more or less labelled within New Instrumental Music, although with the peculiarities already described. Both artists succeed in shaping a very personal, unmistakable style. EDUARDO FONTANA http://www.electroshock.ru/ ROMAN STOLYAR: "CREDO" Electroshock Records Roman Stolyar surpasses stylistic barriers and builds compositions where we can appreciate traits from Jazz, from Pop, from New Music, and from World Music - all this under a free focus, without ties, where there is no lack of space for experimentation, either. ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA http://www.electroshock.ru/ RICHARD BONE: "INDIUM" Electroshock Records The music in this album by Richard Bone explores new, imaginative regions of Ambient, yet it never falls into chancy experimentation. Although there are static passages, many others possess complex orchestrations, and even rhythmic sections that, even if they are slow, they do provide the music with a strong vitality. The melodies range from the space atmosphere to the romantic, at times with a triumphant air, while at other times it presents a subtle melancholy. http://www.electroshock.ru/ VICTOR CERULLO: "VISIONS" Electroshock Records Impressive, this album - homage to the departed film maker Andrei Tarkovsky. Victor Cerullo reflects in his music some of the main elements from the best known movies by this genius. Edward Artemiev, who composed sountracks for several of the most remarkable movies by Tarkovsky, has praised this album. "Visions" is electronic music that flies among the darkest side of Ambient, wondrous space symphonism, and a melancholy romanticism of a great strength, which acquires the connotations of a Greek tragedy. "Last Scene" is, most probably. the most impressive theme in the entire album EDGAR KOGLER http://www.electroshock.ru/ VARIOUS: "ELECTROACOUSTIC MUSIC VOLUME VIII" Electroshock Records In this eighth anthology of Electroacoustic Music, artists from very diverse geographical origins are gathered, each one of them contributing their own focus on Electroacoustic Music. The musical journey takes us, for instance, from Space Music to sound collage, going through many other areas of avantgarde experimentation. The contents of the CD is as follows: Lisa Walker: "Transients", Claire Laronde: "Matiers de Piano I", Milica Paranosic: "Lulla", Vivain Adelberg Rudow: "Racing Inside the Milky Way", Jukka Ruohomaki: "Neuromancer Suite", Robin Julian Heifetz: "Slings & Arrows II", Christopher Andrew: "A is for Andiamo", Diego Minciacchi: "Who's Responsible in Here?", Gary Di Bendetto: "A Drop in the Bucket", Chaos As Shelter: "Death of Bellflower". DOMINIQUE CHEVANT http://www.electroshock.ru/ MICHEL CHION: "DIX-SEPT MINUTES" Metamkine / Cinema pour l'oreille An only composition of 17 minutes integrates this mini-CD, pertaining to the collection Cinema pour l'oreille devoted to Concrete Music, one of the pioneering styles that were born with the first electronic gadgets capable of manipulating sound. In this recording, made in the year 2000, Michel Chion inserts different sounds of daily life and experiments with them. DOMINIQUE CHEVANT MICHELE BOKANOWSKI: "L'EOILE ABSINTHE" Metamkine / Cinema pour l'oreille In this piece of Concrete Music of 20 minutes in length, created between 1999-2000, Michele Bokanowski presents us with a disquieting minimalist music, abounding in pulses and waves that come and go, as well as echoes that vanish with different rhythms. DOMINIQUE CHEVANT LIONEL MARCHETTI: "TRAIN DE NUIT (NOORD 3-683) Metamkine / Cinema pour l'oreille This mini-CD contains two pieces created by Lionel Marchetti in 1998-1999, with a total duration of twenty minutes. Devoted to the pioneer of Concrete Music, Pierre Schaeffer, the work is based on collages of sounds created from an assortment of noises, some easily recognizable, and others quite alien, which serve as the basis for experimentation. DOMINIQUE CHEVANT ZBIGNIEW KARKOWSKI: "CONSCIOUSLY UNCONSCIOUS, "UNCONSCIOUSLY CONSCIOUS" Metamkine / Cinema pour l'oreille This new mini-CD of the collection Cinema pour l'oreille devoted to Concrete Music, presents a recording of twenty minutes made by Zbigniew Karkowski in 2001. By using various sources of noise, Karkowski weaves minimalist cycles of distorted sound. DOMINIQUE CHEVANT KURT ANDERSON: "PANGAEA" Working sound in a minimalist manner by means of his guitar connected to various electronic devices, Kurt Anderson projects dense music beams into immensity. His style, mysterious, near to Space Ambient, is mainly based on complex architectures, which favor the perception of the themes as unique sound entities, without individualized elements. EDGAR KOGLER ANDREAS AKWARA: "SOLAR ECLIPSE" Groove Unlimited / AA Music "Solar Eclipse" is a work where the personal focus of its author stands out. Breaking barriers, it merges space symphonism with the densest passages of Ambient and the rhythms of a percussive appearance typical of Techno or Synth-Pop. The notes, rather than forming concrete melodies, build suggestive sound kaleidoscopes, which evoke the immensity and the majesty of Space. EDGAR KOGLER http://www.groove.nl GERT EMMENS: "WANDERER OF TIME" Groove Unlimited Developing daring ideas, Gert Emmens builds a magnificient epic of Space Sequencer Music. Overwhelming rhythms, of rather unusual sonorities, melodies that evoke beauty and mystery at the same time, as well as the superb wrapping of synthesizers that weave a complete, remarkable, unearthly tapestry around the soloist instruments. JORGE MUNNSHE http://www.groove.nl VASCO MARTINS: "BENLIBEM" Vasco Martins proves once again his artistic talent as a composer as well as his ability to take sophisticated orchestrations onstage. "Benlibem" is a magnificient album of New Instrumental Music, brimming with emotional melodies of a great strength, warm synthesizer accompaniments that emphasize the ethereal aspects of the music, as well as impressive acoustic guitar solos or piano in several passages. VIRGINIA TAMAYO |
| June
18, 2003 VARIOUS: "ELECTROACOUSTIC MUSIC VOL. VII" Electroshock Records This double CD presents a series of pieces by composers from various parts of the world under the common characteristic of electronic experimentation, mostly around Electroacoustic Music, but also with incursions into other trends like for instance the precious, impressive track "Message from Space" by Michal Bukowski, which explores the most avantgarde, most daring strain of Space Sequencer Music. Many of the tracks are recent, though there also appears in the album an interesting work by Jorge Antunes, created in 1969-70. The contents of the album is as follows: CD 1: Claire Laronde: "Les Particules de la Perception". Vidna Obmana: "In Memory of Morton Feldman". Geert Verbeke: "Old Peach Tree". Roderik De Man: "Air to Air. Part I". Rodrigo Sigal: "Tolerance". Robin Julian Heifetz: "Flashpoint". Lukazs Szalankiewicz: "Glodne Duchy". Michal Bukowski: "Sen Paranoika 28". CD 2: Jorge Antunes: "Historia de un Pueblo por Nacer o Carta Abierta a Vassili Vassilikos y Todos Los Pesimistas", "Vitraux MCMXCV". Jose Mataloni: "Tempo Dos". Oophoi: "Dissolving in the Void". Arie Shapira: "Gustl in Theresienstadt". Mirjam Tally: "Mythos. Part I". Eternal Wanderers: "Message from Space". EDGAR KOGLER http://www.electroshock.ru/ UNIVERS ZERO: "CRAWLING WIND" Cuneiform Records A re-release, in a masterized version, which has been widened with previously unreleased themes, of this legendary work by Univers Zero. Fusing the heritage of Classical Music with the elements typical of Rock with great skill, the band shapes an interesting, enigmatic series of compositions, where there is no lack of passages centered in experimentation with electroacoustic airs. In all, this is an album that will no doubt appeal to the followers of this band, and which deserves to be listened to by any follower of the avantgarde musics. ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA http://www.cuneiformrecords.com/ RICHARD LAINHART: TEN THOUSAND SHADES OF BLUE" XI Records In this double CD, there are several compositions by Richard Lainhart, developed between 1975 and 1989. The electronic pieces range from electronic Minimalism to the most static aspects of Ambient. Each track is, in a way, like a picture painted with a different palette of colours and illuminations. Thus we have, for instance, the landscapes of "Bronze Cloud Disk", dominated by layers of industrial drones, or those of "Staring at the Moon", elaborated with crystaline, ethereal brush strokes. As a whole the music is subtly mysterious, with a certain nocturnal air, and very apt for meditation and to let imagination soar free. EDGAR KOGLER GINKGO GARDEN: "BACK IN TIME" Prudence / BSC Music Ginkgo Garden offers us, in this album, a collection of songs which can be labelled within Atmospheric Pop, with ethnic touches, shades of Rock ballads and brush strokes of Jazz. The music is warm, with melodies possessing a certain romantic taste, as well as primarily agile rhythms though without disturbing the soft air in most of the tracks. DEREK DOARN http://www.bscmusic.com/ NAUTILUS: "NORTH POLE PILGRIM" Prudence / BSC Music Starting from an approach typical of soft Atmospheric Pop, the music in this album also explores areas near to the Synth-Pop of an agile rhythm, New Instrumental Music, and even Rock Ballad. Most remarkable is the protagonism that the band give to melodies, as well as the warmth achieved with the electric guitar. DEREK DOARN http://www.bscmusic.com/ ADAMS / COX / FINK / FOX: "ADAMS / COX / FINK / FOX" Cold Blue Music This album gathers compositions by John Luther Adams, Rick Cox, Michael Jon Fink and Jim Fox, basically performed with a clarinet, accompanied by a string quartet and piano. The themes, of a rather experimental nature, are slow, meditative, and, on occasion, mysterious. The melodies possess a certain Classical air, not lacking in romanticism. DOMINIQUE CHEVANT RICK COX: "MARIA FALLING AWAY" Cold Blue Music Rick Cox opens us the doors to ghostly landscapes, icy, imperturbable. His music, of ethereal, foggy sonorities, re-creates this kind of feelings of mystery that are inseparably intertwined with the perception of beauty. The fascination for the enigmatic floats on each passage in this album. EDGAR KOGLER VARIOUS: "COLD BLUE" Cold Blue Music An interesting collection of pieces by well-known avantgarde composers, with a wide variety of experimental styles. Originally released in 1984, this anthology has been an object of cult ever since, which has caused its re-release. Such a re-release has been made including as a bonus track one previously unreleased piece. The artists present in the anthology are Eugene Bowen, Harold Budd, Michael Byron, Rick Cox, Michael Jon Fink, Jim Fox, Peter Garland, John Kuhlman, Daniel Lentz, David Mahler, Ingram Marshall, Read Miller, Chas Smith, and James Tenney. DOMINIQUE CHEVANT CHAS SMITH: "ALUMINUM OVERCAST" Cold Blue Music The music by Chas Smith is an intriguing sound adventure, brimming with subtle metallic textures, echoes that are prolongued beyond what is natural, as well as an indefinable nocturnal atmosphere. Far from overwhelming the listener with boring distorted stridencies, the pieces flow in an imaginative, sharp sonic ambience which constitutes the perfect channel for the air of mystery dominating the entire work. EDUARDO FONTANA DEAN DE BENEDICTIS: "A LONE REPLY" Fateless In this album, which Dean de Benedictis dedicates to Native Americans, the basis is formed by elements of the most Space aspects of Ambient. Starting from this approach, the artist introduces, step by step, traits typical of New Instrumental Music, which include subtle melodies. The music is profound, wrapped in beauty and in mystery. EDUARDO FONTANA |
| May 30, 2003 VARIOUS: "MANIKIN RECORDS FIRST DECADE 1992-2002" Manikin Records Commemorating their first ten years (1992-2002), the label Manikin Records have released a wonderful double CD, where the main stars of the most innovative trends within electronic music related to the label are gathered. With Space Sequencer Music as the dominant current, their impressive musical trajectory includes the following artists and tracks: Spyra: "Post train to Bayreuth", Harald Grosskopf: "Nostalgia76, Fanger & Schonwalder (feat. Lutz Ulbrich): "Echo Gods", Klaus Schulze: "Manikin Jubilee", Fanger & Kersten: "Terraforming", Arcanum vs. Otarion: "The Overdub", Mario Schonwalder: "Lightyears before....", Nightcrawlers: "Broken Symmetry", Beatboys: "Scaling the Moon", Digital Mechanics: "Triduum", Fanger & Schonwalder: "Electronic Mirrors Chapter Seven", Rainbow Serpent: "Radiotrips", Keller & Schonwalder (feat. Bas Broekhuis): "Devil´s Run", Ramp: "What´s the point of eating concrete?", Steve Hug: "Dances of the Nymphes", Rolf Trostel: "Kyrie 777", Detlef Keller: "Different Faces Rehearsal", Electric Orange: "Dedicated to M.K." EDGAR KOGLER http://www.manikin.de UNIVERS ZERO: "RHYTHMIX" Cuneiform Records A music brimming with suspense, which tends a magical bridge among future, present and past. Completely a-typical Instrumental Rock, embellished with Classical elements, passages with a surreal sound, and even medieval reminiscences. A very elaborated work that will not go unnoticed, and which reveals a great imagination. ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA http://www.cuneiformrecords.com/ VARIOUS: "BUDDHA-LOUNGE II" Prudence / BSC Music Following the steps of the first volume, this new anthology of atmospheric Pop is also enjoying an unexpected success within and outside of Germany at the moment of writing this review. Like in the first release of "Buddha-Lounge", the second has its own release in the United States. The contents of the European version is: Karunesh: "Hidden Places", Armen Chakmakian: "Distant Land", Nasser Kilada: "Tarmina", Toires: "Tali", Tya: "Coming Home", Ginko Garden: "Blossoms from India", Rudy K: "Cosmic Island", Potsch Potschka: "Baila Verena", Yulara: (feat. Brian Hugues): "Tibetan Hope", Althea W.: "East Meets West", Jolly Kunjappu: "Tibetan Sunrise", Gleisberg: "Indian Garden", Opera to Relax: "Hidden Forces All Around" DEREK DOARN http://www.bscmusic.com/ DEBORAH MARTIN / GREG KLAMT / MARK ROWND: "CONVERGENCE" Spotted Peccary Music In this recording collaboration of Deborah Martin, Greg Klamt and Mark Rownd, we find a symphony of crystaline Ambient, ethnic reminiscences that mainly point at the native traditions of Noth America, and diverse elements more or less identifiable with the contribution of each one of the three artists. All this takes us into a refreshing voyage to magic worlds and far away eras. SARAH TOMBLIN http://www.spottedpeccary.com TOM SECHE: "STEP BY STEP" Rocket to the Moon Tom Seche shows with a great skill that it is possible to make soft electronic music, as opposed to the pre-conceived idea that a number of people usually have of electronic music as an exercise of devastating power turbulent atmospheres and strong sequencer rhythms The themes in this album are brimming with romantic melodies, orchestrations of a Classic air and delicate rhythms, which fluctuate between Atmospheric Pop and New Instrumental Music. HECTOR JORDAN KLANGWELT: "WELTWEIT" Gerald Arend / Ohrwerk / Spheric Music With a clear dominance of melodies, often of an emotional nature, the themes in this album range from the most symphonic side of Synth-Pop to New Instrumental Music. Far from the coldness that is sometimes attributed to the music made with synthesizers, this album has all the warmth of an acoustic performance. VIRGINIA TAMAYO http://www.sphericmusic.de/ AGNUS DEI: "LEMURIA" Indigo Music Agnus Dei is a duo consisting of keyboardist Gerald Krampl and his wife Hilde, the author of the poetic texts in the booklet accompanying the CD, and about which Gerald has worked like in a movie soundtrack The good artistic chemistry between both of them is translated, musically speaking, into a collection of nice melodic pieces, with a strong presence of the piano, and of marked romantic airs. SARAH TOMBLIN AGNUS DEI: "MERLYN" Indigo Music The pieces in this album flow within the New Instrumental Music, in its side most influenced by European Classicism. The piano is the soloist instrument, wrapped by electronic keyboards of soft textures. Gerald Krampl, a keyboardist with a Classical background who began into music in the 1970's within Symphonic Rock, is the musical member of the duo, whereas his wife Hilde writes the poetic texts in the booklet accompanying the CD, and about which Gerald composes his music, as if it were their soundtrack. SARAH TOMBLIN VICTOR NUBLA: "HAMMERHEAD: THE SECRET JOURNEY OF ELIDAN MARAU THRU THE MILKY SEA" Testing Ground A disquieting, imaginative CD including two tracks of six and thirteen minutes. Victor Nubla is able to surpass barriers and shape music alien to any conventionalism, and without falling into sterile experimentation. Both pieces have a mysterious character, oniric, surreal, where sound collages and audio distortion take an important role. "The voices of ancient travellers" has an intentionally machine-like rhythm, robotic, as if it were made by a machine in a factory. "The voices under the sea" is a slow theme, though it is not static, but rather turbulent, like the wild waters of an ocean struck by a raging storm EDGAR KOGLER IO CASINO: "MUNDO DAS FERRAMENTAS" Gracia Territori Sonor An impressive, smashing journey through some surreal post-industrial ruins that this composer and plastic artist evokes in her apocalyptic music. Turbulent pieces, pouring rough metallic textures, where the dominating electronics is not the one taking us to contemplate the world from the clouds, but rather the one permitting us to see it from the ground. Wondrous indeed.. EDGAR KOGLER PSICODREAMICS: "ETERNAL ANGEL" Witches on the Radiowaves In this album Psicodreamics takes the myths and universal beliefs about angels (both the heavenly and the fallen ones) as a guiding thread to build an impressive musical adventure, with a great melodic strength and a remarkable wealth in orchestrations. With a style flowing from Space, to Synth-Pop of romantic airs, to New Instrumental Music in its most symphonic side, "Eternal Angel" is an album that will not pass unnoticed. Powerful emotions seem to be amongst the creative means that have resulted in its release, and spring towards the listener in numerous passages. HECTOR JORDAN http://www.psicodreamics.com |
| April
30, 2003 JOHN LAKVEET: "EPIKUS" Groove Unlimited In his second solo album, John Lakveet has succeeded in creating an epic symphony, intense, full of warmth, beauty, stormy atmospheres, and also mystery. With a first hearing the listener already perceives the effort there are behind this project. In successive hearings, the range of this CD appears in all its greatness. The music is impetuous, risky, able to evoke situations where the emotions are given a free run and adrenaline floods all our entire being. The dramatic melodies and strong sequences that appear in certain passages, provide some of the compositions with an apocalyptic atmosphere. This album takes us towards the unknown eras of yesterday, but also towards the unknown tomorrow. In short, this is a magnificient album, which no doubt will contribute to increasing the reputation of this artist. JORGE MUNNSHE http://www.groove.nl/ DOM F. SCAB: "FACTA" Groove Unlimited With an obvious mastery of electronic technology, Dom F. Scab paints convincing soundscapes that lead the listener to let imagination fly freely through the musical universe this expert composer suggests. "Facta" is a impressive sonic adventure, between the majestic and the enigmatic. The nine themes in this CD possess a very impressive strength. The rhythms are ellaborated mostly with powerful, complex sequences. The melodies are dense, emotive, and intertwine with the very structure of the rythms. The rhythmic diversity, the melodic inventiveness, as well as the brilliant character of their imaginary quests to distant places and times make of this album a must in the collection of the followers of Space Sequencer Music in particular, as well as that of the fans of New Instrumental Music in general. JORGE MUNNSHE http://www.groove.nl/ RUN 2: "MACHINERY OF LIFE" Neuronium Records A pleasant, melodic and very warm music, where the synthesizers and the fine arrangements have a fundamental presence. This CD is a marvellous collection of themes that can be framed within a Symphonic style with some Classical, Romantic and Cosmic elements. With majestic orchestrations, of a heavenly hue, ethereal melodies are being carefully woven. The synthesizers, performing the music in a crystaline, atmospheric way, provide the work with its quality of magic, unearthly feeling. JORGE MUNNSHE http://www.neuronium.info THE LAB: "HOMODIGITALIS" Neuronium Records This album contains the entire and unpublished music composed by The Lab for the Homodigitalis cybernetic audio-visual work. With a first hearing the listener already perceives the effort and the intentionality there are behind this project. "Homodigitalis" is an album with remarkable and varied stylistic textures that mix the Computer Age essence with industrial landscapes, or the meditative airs with electronic experimentation. The music evokes the essence of that Other Ecosystem, the one which has not been fruit of biologic evolution, but of technology. JORGE MUNNSHE http://www.neuronium.info Various: "CHILLING YOU...OUT" Neuronium Records In this special compilation made by Michel Huygen, there is a varied stylistic content, although more or less it can be framed within the Chill-Out Music. The sampler gathers pieces from albums by different artists released in the label. The themes explore both the orchestral, acoustic aspect of this style, and the more electronic side. This is the content of the album: "The colours" by The Lab, "Simply you" by The Lab, "L'autonomie" by Smoo, "What's impossible" by Smoo, "Azizi" by Neuronium, "Vivre" by Pascal Languirand, "Les mots enchantes" by Pascal Languirand, "Lumia Nights" by Jonn Serrie, "Doubts and fears" by Run 2, "Like an Autumn leaf" by Santi Picó, "Reencuentro" by Jordi Isierte, "La cuchara alada" by Jordi Isierte, "Waltz for Julia" by Suzanne Ciani, "Turning" by Suzzane Ciani, "Jungle Jam" by Constance Demby, "Mano (Nono song)" by La Crem, "Horama" by Amir Baghiri, "L'extase" by Cybernium. JORGE MUNNSHE http://www.neuronium.info JIANNIS & LAMBERT: "TIMELESS VISION" Spheric Music These two composers combine their respective styles very well, thus achieving that their music possesses an unusual personality, very imaginative, capable of attracting the attention of the listener at once. The general style of this work can be placed between Space and instrumental symphonism. Some passages are cold, mysterious. Others turn out to be warm, emotional. There are slow themes and other lively ones. The rhythms are sequencer-based mostly. The melodies are very emotional, with romantic and also solemn traits, yet without falling into an excessive sweetness. EDGAR KOGLER http://www.sphericmusic.de JIANNIS: "PLUGGED" Spheric Music This CD is, in a certain way, a homage to the adventurous spirit that characterized the musical creativity of the synthesists in those times when they only had analogic equipments available to them. The spectacular cover of the album seems to symbolize this concept. The Space style present in the album is melodic and symphonic. The melodies are warm, emotive, epic, majestic. The powerful rhythms are strongly based on sequencers. A general trait of the album is the fact that the music happens to be very intense, vital, as if reflecting strong emotions. EDGAR KOGLER http://www.sphericmusic.de HOP-FROG: "THE SILK ROAD" URCKarm Recordings The musical collective Hop-Frog presents in "The Silk Road" an unusual approach, imaginative and defying, of World Music. Instead of favoring the more festive aspects of the ethnic elements as is typical in the CD industry, these musicians reveal the darkest and most dramatic side of World Music. They use this as a criticism of the unmoving attitude of the rich nations before the suffering of the Third World, and provide it with a certain futuristic air, apocalyptical, post-industrial, even more enhanced by electronics. MARCELLA CIRIGNOLA ANTANAS JASENKA: "DEUSEXMACHINA" Electroshock Records Experimenting with the lights and shadows of electronics, Antanas Jasenka offers us an electro-acoustic work with strong timbric contrast, brimming with surrealist architectures, sound collages and oniric ambiences. VICENTE GISPERT STANISLAV KREITCHI: "VOICES AND MOVEMENT" Electroshock Records Imaginative and impressive, the music by Stanislav Kreitchi is of a somewhat apocalyptic inspiration in this album. With the exception of "Spring", an exhuberant piece with crystaline melodies, sounds of fresh water and ethnic elements, the rest of the compositions draw us to a menacing, barren environment. "Autumn" and "Ruins in the waste" are wondrous in their desolation. DOMINIQUE CHEVANT ANATOLY PERESLEGIN: "FASTGOD: e-PSALMS_" Electroshock Records A daring, imaginative work, this album by Anatoly Pereslegin. Starting from liturgic music made with an organ, and inspired by the most severe, vengeful aspects of the biblical God, he creates a collection of sound cards which turn out to be disquieting and even frighteningly horrifying. To this end, he uses electronically distorted vocals, surrealist collages and synthetic orchestras derived from different variations of organ sounds. EDGAR KOGLER MARK JENKINS: "SEQUENCER LOOPS" AMP Records Synthesist Mark Jenkins makes in this album an agile. dynamic music, which can be labelled within the Space Sequencer Music, although it also has certain touches of Synth-Pop. The powerful rhythms, impressive, yet without unbalancing the music, are the basis on which melodies with a high emotional tension and a majestic structure, ranging from the enigmatic to the sentimental are well developed. This is no doubt a solid, lucid work. EDGAR KOGLER OOPHOI: "BARDO" Electroshock Records A dense ambience. compacted, metallic, as if it were created from the roars of enormous machines and cyclopean engines functioning non-stop day and night, regardless of human existence. An abstract kind of music, enigmatic, icy, nightly, it turns out to be rather remarkable indeed. EDGAR KOGLER |
| March
31, 2003 JEAN-PIERRE SACCOMANI: "MUSIC FOR TIME" MCP Productions Exploring new paths of symphonism by means of synthesizers, the artist achieves the creation of pieces possessing a sober, elegant classicism, with complex melodies that range from the cerebral to the sentimental. Some passages with a melancholy air possess a truly impressive strength. The music by Jean-Pierre Saccomani is a perfect example that the most legitimate of evolutions of Classical Music is in the new paths that electronics opens in symphonism, rather than in acoustic experimentation.. EDGAR KOGLER HARALD GROSSKOPF: "DIGITAL NOMAD" AMP Music Harald Grosskopf makes a thorough display of musical power in this album. With a global approach that mostly moves through pure Techno, Ambient and Atmospheric Pop, the music includes traits of ethnic music, yet not in the ususal way (as mere adornments), as they appear in many albums by an infinity of apparently innovating artists. Here, Grosskopf is skillfully opening a door towards a genre that could be defined as"cyber-ethnic music". EDGAR KOGLER VARIOUS: "THE GATHERINGS" Synkronos This CD is a magnificient compilation of live performances by various artists of Space Music, Ambient and electronic music in general. It has been released to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Gatherings Concert Series, events organized in Philadelphia, USA, and which allow for making music without commercial constraints regularly available to the followers of these genres, with all the power of a live performance. The artists that appear in the album are: The Ministry of Inside Things, Bionaut, Ben Neill, Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Kevin Bartlett and Jeff Greinke. JORGE MUNNSHE RICHARD PINHAS: "EVENT AND REPETITIONS" Cuneiform Records With the peculiar styles that characterize this artist, Richard Pinhas creates in this album a continent of sound shines, an ideal soundtrack to accompany spectacular images of the solar activity. Using an electric guitar linked to an entire electronic paraphernalia, the artist sculpts dense textures, majestic, symphonic, though not lacking in psychedelic traits. The five tracks are slow, but not static. The melodies are based on complex accords that come and go over dense choirs of sustained sounds. JORGE MUNNSHE LARRY POLANSKY: "FOUR-VOICE CANNONS" Cold Blue Ususual architectures of sound,electro-acoustic collages, and the use of silence to enhance the apparition onstage of the different sonic events that come one after another, these are the main elements where this experimental work relies on. DOMINIQUE CHEVANT CYBER ZEN SOUND ENGINE: "AUSLANDER" Starting from a stylistic basis shaped between Techno and Atmospheric Pop, Cyber Zen Sound Engine sculpt a series of innovative themes, where traits of New Instrumental Music and even some epic, dark passages that could be the main theme for a movie of sorcerers and knights, can be appreciated. EDGAR KOGLER DAVID WRIGHT: "WALKING WITH GHOSTS" AD Music The fifteen tracks included in this album offer a clear perspective of the style of this composer. The melodies, mostly luminous, optimistic and vital, are one of his main successes. Also, his successful fusion between traits of Atmospheric Pop, Ambient and New Instrumental Music, is likewise remarkable. Special mention must be made of "No more Angels", a piece with a great strength that has a certain symphonic and psychedelic air. EDUARDO FONTANA VARIOUS: "PRESENCE III" Productions Electro Productions / Concordia University A new compilation of experimental pieces developed by the Canadian Electroacoustic Community, it reflects the innovative work made by artists from several countries in the field of electro-acoustic music. The contents of "Presence III" is as follow: Kristi Allik: "Machine Symphony", James Bentley: "Double exposure", David Berezan: "In a Cold Light", James Caldwell: "Mechanism II", Grant Chu Covell: "Octet with Puzzle", Ian Chuprun:"I was very safe… in my dream", John Duesenberry:"WaveBreak", Martín Fumarola: "Estatismo", Martín Fumarola: "SC", Thomas Gerwin: "Fontaine de Vaucluse", Martin Gotfrit: "Balloon", Camille Goudeseune: "Rarae Aves", David Hirst: "Mon Dieu", Matthew Kober: "X-Ray Spex", Tony K.T. Leung: "When light first shone", Tung-Lung Lin: "Mirror of Time", sylvi macCormac: "penny: a process", Sophia Male: "Alarm Calls", Michael Matthews: "On the Outer Edge", David R. Mooney: "The Llama Strut", Adrian Moore: "Becalmed 1", Rick Nance: "This is Not a Model", Steven Naylor: "Irrashaimase", Dale Perkins: "Submarine", Laurie Radford: "Les ponts de l'espace", Ewan Stefani: "blue balloons", Pascale Trudel: "Soleil qui inonde mes mains", Rodney Waschka II: "Still Life with Castanets", Richard Zvonar / Robert Black: "Massif". DOMINIQUE CHEVANT PAU TORRES: "SONGS FOR NULA" Testing Ground As if it were a recording directly made from the sub-conscious, the themes in this mini-CD flow among currents from very different classes with a great ease, in the same way as in our mind we can go from a thought to another. From psychedelic Jazz to New Instrumental Music, to Concrete music, and many other genres. After "Songs for Nula", there is a very interesting creative work in this release. ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA JUHA VALKEAPAA: "SIBERIAN SUMMER" Testing Ground A hypnotic music ranging from Minimalism, to Ambient and to electro-acoustic collage.A surrealist excursion to a Siberian summer painted in the imagination of Juha Valkeapaa, it features metallic sounds, dry and creaking, which turn out to be rather remarkable. VICENTE GISPERT |
| February
24, 2003 PETER MERGENER: "CRUISIN'" Prudence / BSC Music Returning to the best of his style in the Space Sequencer Music, Peter Mergener draws the plot of an exciting story of futuristic action with strong brush strokes. Melodies which often turn out to be mysterious, powerful rhythms and cybernetic ambiences are the master lines where this brilliant album is based on. JORGE MUNNSHE MIDNIGHT SYNDICATE: "VAMPYRE" Linfaldia Records With their peculiar and fascinating style, Midnight Syndicate open the door of terror for us, once again. Fleeing from strident, abstract sonic constructions, the duo integrated by Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka build a spooky ambience, using mysterious melodies, not lacking a certain morbid romanticism. As soundtracks for imaginary films, the fourteen compositions are capable of re-creating in our mind disquieting situations, sinister places and ghostly characters. JORGE MUNNSHE RON BOOTS: "GHOST OF A MIST" Groove Unlimited This re-release of "Ghost of a mist", the second solo album by Ron Boots, is going to allow for many fans of the artist and followers of Space music in general to get a brilliant work to their collection, one which in its first edition already awakened a lot of enthusiasm. The synthesist succeeds in weaving intense melodies, of an oniric air in certain aspects, thrust by powerful sequencers and wrapped in crystaline, luminous textures. The original pieces are accompanied by an extra("Flowing Forces") The music flows among passages that are rather slow, though never paused, together with others at a medium speed. There also are soft touches of Symphonic Rock and Techno. EDGAR KOGLER More information on Groove Unlimited, here: http://www.groove.nl ROB ESSERS: "RAINCOLORS" Groove Unlimited In an inspired balance between almost classical symphonism and Synth Pop, Rob Essers makes a music underlined with strong emotions and cybernetic ambiences, not lacking in analog sounds. This album, a re-release that includes three extra tracks, is also quite near to Space Sequencer Music. Some themes or passages are fully within this genre. This is the case, for instance, of "The Ability to Dream" and "The Gateway". At other times, like the impressive track "The Trivial Round of Life" explore the most melodic and romantic paths of this style, while at the same time they add elements typical of Synth-Pop, all that with a very coherent approach, one of the identity traits of this artist. EDGAR KOGLER More information on Groove Unlimited, here: http://www.groove.nl RUDY ADRIAN & RON BOOTS: "ACROSS THE SILVER RIVER" Groove Unlimited The collaboration between these two composers, Rudy in New Zealand and Ron in Holland, is a magnificient example of how an initial musical idea can become enriched with independent contributions. The basic approaches were created by Rudy Adrian. On this recording, Ron Boots built complementary sections, favoring everything that attracted him the most, and giving freedom to the creative impulses that the listening to the music by Rudy caused in him. "Across the Silver River" is an album basically calm, with soft melodies, earthly ambiences sparkled with occasional nature sounds, and a percussion of an ethnic air in certain passages. HECTOR JORDAN More information on Groove Unlimited, here: http://www.groove.nl TRANZIT: "TRANZ-RAPID" Groove Unlimited Tranzit make a fresh, crystaline electronic music, full of light, energy and optimism. The fast themes range from Techno to Synth-Pop. The slow ones are like caleidoscopes of soft melodies that come and go, and changing textures of clear, splendid sounds. Likewise, some traits of Jazz and of symphonism can be noticed in some passages. The style of this artist is rather personal, and it reveals a remarkable imagination to create environments that are not those typical of much of the Ambient and the Techno that are currently being developed today. EDGAR KOGLER More information on Groove Unlimited, here: http://www.groove.nl REMCO HELBERS: "ON SOME ROAD" Groove Unlimited The seven tracks in this CD approach the most electronic trends of Ambient from a somewhat unusual perspective, since the sonic textures are sparkled with a certain air of a ghothic cathedral. Actually, one of the compositions is called "Cathedral I". The result of this approach is a magic kind of music, with subtle classical reminiscences, though it is not sinister at all, but rather of a heavenly air. EDGAR KOGLER More information on Groove Unlimited, here: http://www.groove.nl TOM HEASLEY: "AMBIENT TUBA" Innova As its title suggests, this album approaches Ambient from a perspective dominated by the tuba. Starting from this acoustic wind instrument, Tom Heasley builds an intrincate sonic structure, with magical reminiscences, using diverse tools to treat sound, which create an entire synthetic orchestra from the original acoustic provided by the instrument. EDGAR KOGLER OZONE PLAYER: "E" Visual Power Once again proving his skill to sculpt a very personal electronic style, full of original concepts, and not falling in crude experimentation, this musician shapes ten pieces that constitute ten musical surprises, of an agile rhythm and unusual melodies. This album turns out to be a gust of fresh air for the listener. EDGAR KOGLER PHILL NIBLOCK: "YPGPN" XI Records This double CD consists in several pieces, created between 1978 and 1994, where Phill Niblock experiments with minimalism and subtle transformayions in sustained layers of instrumental sounds. DOMINIQUE CHEVANT PHILLIP SCHROEDER / DUO SAVAGE: "ALL RIVERS AT ONCE" Capstone Records Starting from a basically acoustic instrumental approach, yet one shaped with the typical forms in which electronic Ambient tendsa to appear, in its most melodic trends, this album succeeds in getting an undoubtedly interesting result. EDUARDO FONTANA JOHN LUTHER ADAMS: "THE LIGHT THAT FILLS THE WORLD" Cold Blue This album explores the hidden regions between Ambient and minimalism. The three compositions that integrate this CD, mostly based on layers of accords and which, little by little become transformed, are of an atmospheric texture, and find themselves dominated by harmonies with a certain heavenly air. DOMINIQUE CHEVANT |
January 28, 2003
DOM F. SCAB: "ANALOGICAL CONFESSIONS" Groove Unlimited
J.M. CIRIA: "YLEM" At-Mooss Records
JONN SERRIE: "LUMIA NIGHTS" Neuronium Records
SMOO: "TRAFFIC IN MY SOUL" Neuronium Records
VARIOUS: "SEQUENCES 27" Sequences Magazine
SYN: "SOUNDWAVE TRAVELLER" Spheric Music
VICTOR NUBLA: "SEVEN HARBOUR SCENES" Hronir
ARTEMIY ARTEMIEV & PHILLIP B. KLINGLER: "A MOMENT OF INFINITY" Electroshock Records
ARTEMIY ARTEMIEV & KARDA ESTRA: "EQUILIBRIUM" Electroshock Records
ARTEMIY ARTEMIEV & CHRISTOPHER DE LAURENTI: "57 MINUTES TO SILENCE" Electroshock Records
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