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|
 |
|
------The
Glimmer Room - Grey Mirrors |
| STYLE |
|
Atmospheric
ambient music with rhythmic passages and environmental samples.
Grey Mirrors is a forty two minute, twenty four second long
narrative sequence opening with birdsong, soft synth drones
and church bells. The sounds of the English countryside
lead on into synth sequences, soft pads intertwining the
dawn chorus as gradually the mood changes. Choral voices
swell and blossom as though the church bells have drawn
us inward. The smallest amount of percussion gives direction
through the mists that engulf sections of Grey Mirrors -
in other places, beats roll in like the tide, rising up
even to a foot-tapping pace. Tonalities twist and revolve
from ethereal to darker moodier drones, melodies twinkle
and dissipate entirely, organic and synthetic colours merge
and run down the page - it seems that a lot of feeling has
gone into this work. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
The
mood of this restful piece shifts and morphs throughout
its length - but the overriding tone is one of pastoral
contemplation. One minute we're floating through clouds
that at times darken and swirl, then the sound of planes
overhead bring us down to earth, obscure atonal shiftings
and melancholy textures give way to circling rhythms and
clear melodies - there is a sense of the sacred bleeding
into the profane, the great outdoors sheltered under arches.
The cover art, title and electronic winds suggest wandering
an overcast landscape with time on our hands. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
The
Grey Mirrors CD is presented in a DVD case with a hand-sealed
insert. Artwork consists of a single olive toned photograph
of the English countryside - the picture is almost timeless,
with a sense of measured solitude that is reflected in the
music, possibly on the edge of a walled garden. The sleeve
notes are on a folded sheet of paper fastened with a wax seal
in a twining Celtic pattern. The information presented explains
the development of the music and the intentions of the artist
in approaching the piece. An unusual package that creates
a strong impression. |
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| OVERALL |
|
This
is a spacious, open recording where environmental sounds blend
with emotional keyboard work, rhythmic programming and choral
drifting. A single fluid journey through a series of seamless
vistas where horses, planes and insects pass by incidentally,
percussion ebbs and flows - enticing, lulling. The tenor evolves
through minimal panoramas through stately structures and gentle
warmth - but whether cloistered or wooded, hazy or clear,
walking or gliding - the journey is serene and engaging. |
| |
| WHO WILL
LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
Ambient
fans who enjoy emotive meanderings with rhythmic accompaniment
in places. If you're looking for a long-form piece of music
in which to immerse yourself - Grey Mirrors might be a good
choice. If you fancy something very English and atmospheric
- why not have a listen to the samples of this CD on the
Glimmer Room website. |
| |
|
 |
|
------Various
- Chilling Goddess |
| STYLE |
|
Ambient and downtempo psi-trance
compilation with a mystical slant. Chilling Goddess runs through
quite a range of styles within the genre, from the soft beatless
introduction from Aes Dana, via the sitars and ethnic loops
of Astral Waves into some darker, heavier pieces delivered
with a ritualistic fervour. Capsula blends electronic shudderings
and esoteric musings "...you see if you don’t remember
anything, you don’t know you’re there. A person
who has total amnesia and lived in a split second only, wouldn’t
know he was there.” Tracks fade from one into the next
- whispered or humming voices echo and reverberate among guitar
loops and cycling synth patterns, clay pot percussion and
finger cymbals blend with programmed beats, a few tracks are
rhythmic yet almost without any percussive elements at all. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
Otherworldly astral chillout
- dark in places, soft and caressing in others - but consistently
emotive and evocative. Peak Records have put together an album
that takes us on a journey through strange and foreign terrains
- where unusual synth voices, tribal pulsings and rhythms,
ethnic flutes and psychedelic sensibilities work together
to send our imaginations reeling. The Peaking Goddess Collective
perhaps typify what the album is all about with a track called
You Are One, where a strong bass, ambient effects and a sampled
voice are all swept up along with a smattering of world sounds
into a sharp shiny package. From pumping global dub to spacey
ambience, from organic waves to synthetic textures - Chilling
Goddess delivers a deeply colourful ride for the mind ....."What
I would like to see is the eye that knows me when I know that
I know that I know”. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
Sky blue tones
woven through with eastern motifs adorn the complete package,
creating a balanced unity. The effect is one of looking into
bright clouds where kaleidoscopic images form patterns of
light - or afterimages on the retina. Inside the words: "
- Equinox - Hope is the promise of spring - A petal blown
- In the wind of new beginnings - Where day and night meet
- In the quiet ecstasy of balance - The vision is alive -
The heart is pure - The soul is free". White text, glowing
against the cyan textures presents credits, thanks and a dedication
along with track details and relevant web sites. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Chilling
Goddess is the first of a series of chill out CDs planned
by Peak Records. The album has been compiled by Master Margherita
and mastered by Huby Sea and Vincent Villuis from Ultimae.
This collection is less tightly bound than some, allowing
for considerable variation within what is, nonetheless, a
smooth flowing whole. The sparse piano tones of Electrypnose
lean toward a new age sound, whereas Kickbong revel in a dark
tribal groove with a throbbing bass and menacing chords, where
circling voices fly through the air building to a ceremonial
climax. Moments of more traditional melodic beauty lie among
tracks that are seek to stretch the chillout formula beyond
the usual bounds. |
| |
| WHO WILL
LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
Chillout
listeners looking for something that strays purposely from
the beaten track. The usual regular beats are there in places,
but some less structured passages lurk among the shadows.
If you enjoy psy-ambience with Indian and Middle Eastern
flavours and you're not afraid of the dark - this might
be the CD for you.
|
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|
 |
|
------Omnimotion
- Omnimotion |
| STYLE |
|
Dreamily slow dub, ethereal pads,
vibes thick with distance and blurry, whispery voices combine
to pour out a heady cocktail on a shimmering hot day. This
restful yet evocative lbum avoids many of the clichés
of rhythmic ambient music focussing on layered textures and
subtle shades of tone. Ethnic voices occasionally float into
the mix conjuring visions of far away places and twice the
soft operatic singing of Jannica Hovenas invites us heavenward.
Beats are a prominent feature but not domineering, at times
dispersing or subsiding almost to nothing allowing the atmospherics
to swell up and carry us willingly away. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
Through the combination
of cover art, rich flutes and warm undulating chords there
is a sense of exotic heat haze and rippling sands. The dubby
bass lines are supremely leisurely and swells of percussion
wax and wane adding to the mood of idle peace. The low pace
and sparing mix also suggest a sensuality that invites the
listener to submerge and drift among the flowing liquid
sands. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
I
must say it was the artwork that first attracted me to this
CD - cracked, baked sandy textures deeply embossed both naturally
and graphically nestle within a generous black border (you
can't go far wrong with plenty of black can you?). The back
cover carries the words "Dreamy Scandinavian Designs"
- which sounds about right. Behind the CD is, presumably,
a photograph of Stefan and the inner booklet opens out into
three panels that are monochrome within. Along with the credits,
thanks and website details there is a page listing other Waveform
Records releases. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
This
is a gorgeous album of Scandinavian chillout that combines
live instrumentation and singing with lullaby unhurried
programming. Drones loop and revolve, thrumming under uncluttered
melodies, deep, deep basses weight the low end and interesting
percussive effects and voices hold our attention without
detracting from the overall languid restfulness. Writer/producer
Stefan Lundaahl has presented here a thoroughly understated
CD - credits include vocals from Linda Martio, Muhammed
Said Ali and flute/auto harp by Emil Lundaahl. |
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
I
suspect this album would straddle the different listener
groups that enjoy Enigma and world beat music on the one
hand and chillout/downtempo listeners on the other. If you're
looking for something very relaxing, something to drop off
to - Omnimotion could be just the thing.
|
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|
 |
|
------Collide
- Vortex |
| STYLE |
|
A hybrid collection
that ranges from club dance-beats and world-beats through
choppy, gritty, metal guitars, exploratory glitch and synth
work, orchestral decadence to moody ambience and tragic
darkwave - all the while lit up or else sweetly haunted
by kaRIN's emotive vocals. Vortex (and the second disc Xetrov)
is primarily a remix assemblage featuring the best of the
huge number of responses to Collide's open call for inventive
sound engineers to rework their back catalogue.
|
| |
| MOOD |
|
The overriding mood
is one of shady, industrial/gothic exploration with a very
contemporary edge. There's an ever-present twisting darkness
casting a shadow over trebly beats and electronica, thickening
the sensuality of the more languid tracks and adding a chill
to the pace of drum and bass. Darkness in all its forms -
creeping and menacing, warm and embracing, cabaret gloom and
decadence, futuristic cityscape murk - way down on those lower
levels where it always seems to be raining just for atmosphere.
So despite the vast spectrum of styles included on Vortex,
there is a unity that makes each new turn feel just right
(even if somewhat unexpected). |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
The
artwork is sharp and suitably wreathed in inky darkness. A
photo image of black twigs against a red sky appears in variant
forms on the front cover (behind kaRIN's face) on the inner
booklet (as a backdrop to white lettering) and on the CDs
themselves (pulled into circular form as if sucking down into
the vortex of the central hole). Atmospheric imagery of the
duo takes up two panels of the foldout booklet and the strong
Collide logo lurks behind the discs in the jewel case. This
is a well presented double CD package with all the appropriate
info, credits and thanks - including Mike Fisher of Amish
Rake Fight who got 'the ball rolling' on this remix project. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Vortex
presents Collide twisted and mangled under the expert hands
of professionals like Rhys Fulber (Conjure One mix of Tempted),
Charlie Clouser of NIN (Emirian Mix of Euphoria) and Mark
Walk of Skinny Puppy (Orchestral Mix of Somewhere) alongside
lesser known artists - such as Sensory Gate who have structured
a beautiful middle eastern take on Halo festuring arabic
percussion and luxuriant flutes (my favourite I think).
There are, of course, some delights direct from the duo
kaRIN and Statik themselves - a selection of cover numbers:
Funboy Three's "The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum",
Front Line Assembly’s “Predator”, Adam
Ant’s “Feed Me To The Lions” and Love
and Rockets’ “Haunted When the Minutes Drag. |
| |
| WHO WILL
LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
If
you like almost any form of current electronica set against
bitter/sweet female vocals - there'll be something here to
delight you. I guess perhaps you should avoid this CD if you're
into gentle, friendly music (but you knew that anyway) - Collide
present the gothic aesthetic for sure, but these remixes are
so varied that it's hard for anyone not to have a favourite
somewhere on these twin discs. |
| |
|
 |
|
------Angel
Tears - Way of the Mystic |
| STYLE |
|
Mid to downtempo easy listening
worldbeat with graceful breakbeats and smooth production.
With the opening track 'Angel Tears' - Indian singing leads
us through a scented doorway into a gallery of colourful sonic
hangings where interwoven voices, infectious rhythms and instruments
from around the world are on display. Heady flutes cut across
fusion grooves where hand drums and programming come together,
light guitar patterns and keyboard layers provide a backdrop
for Angel Tears' brightly lit samples and recorded performances.
The tracks here are less repetitive than much modern chillout
and trance tends to be - often feeling a bit like the structures
of songs but without heavily dominant singers. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
Worldbeat dreaminess or ethnic
chillout. Tribal grooves at times darken the comfortable lounge
lighting creating beguiling shadows and flickering sparks
of exotic strings and reeds bounce before the eyes. The mood
flows from that of a North African coffee shop, through an
Indian bazaar, to an Arabic gathering where all are welcome
to come and shelter, nod to the beat or dance - as the mood
takes you. A warm evening under a setting sun (like the one
behind the CD on the cover art), under the stars, under the
influence of the Angel Tears. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
A simple black
cover carries the ivory figurine common to all Angel Tears
releases - floating in mid-air - either stationary, hanging
or perhaps drifting past the viewer. Text again is simple,
making for an uncluttered front page of this digipack that
cracks open to reveal the colours and moods of the music.
On the back cover each track title is followed by a quotation
that encapsulates something of the intent of the music. Credits
acknowledge the violin work of Zohir Berada and vocals of
Adi Ochion and Sagit Even Chen. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
This is
Angel Tears' first CD, taking the listener on a whirling journey
across the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Good use is made
of Spectrasonics' and Zero G's ethnic samples and the well
travelled listener will no doubt find some familiar sounds
here - but I don't personally find this disturbing - instead
it's always interesting to note how another artist has made
creative use of shared source material. Voices from across
the globe intermingle and speak with each other through Angel
Tears - frequently the voices take the part of instruments,
acting as additional textures rather than singing to us in
words we need to comprehend. |
| |
| WHO WILL
LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
Global
fusion fans will find Angel Tears worth exploring - especially
if you're looking for something that could be danced to
or just as easily used for relaxation. Angel Tears work
on the softer, gentler side of chillout - possibly inhabiting
a middle ground somewhere between ambient trance and worldbeat.
|
| |
|
 |
|
------Spatialize
- Dryad's Bubble |
| STYLE |
|
Downtempo psychedelic electronica
with a strong ambient quality below the beats. Spatialize
weaves a variety of spoken voices among multilayered synth
arpeggios, break beats and lumbering basses in what is a fairly
dense mix. Cyclic melodies establish complex textures that
are established and repeated until the introduction of fresh
layers or different synth voices shift the texture into new
tonalities. There are gentle pieces with bird song and relaxing
synths, 'Lunar Space Dub' does what the title suggests and
the final track 'Antakarana' clocking in at over ten minutes,
presents a piece of rhythmic ambience reminiscent of Ishq
with the smoothness of Thom Brennan in places. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
The
mood is quite cerebral, one of exploratory mind trips with
the rhythms occasionally hinting at tribal depths. Exotic
vistas also are suggested through the use of ethnic percussion
or samples - although this is done with subtlety as many of
the world sounds lie somewhat below the surface of the mix
rather than acting as lead voices. There is a sweetness woven
among the layers but never so prominent as to become sugary. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
Artwork
on this CD is simple and intentionally (I assume) low tech,
featuring a graphic swirl that looks like a posterised representation
of oil on water against a plain white background. The inner
booklet contains only a further 'swirl' and the legend "don't
burst your bubble". Additional musician Anna Naylor is
credited with Voice and Violin and the usual thanks are covered
in a list of names that will doubtless make sense to those
included. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Dryad's
Bubble has been produced in the grand tradition of Banco De
Gaia and the Orb, and the result perhaps is reminiscent of
a blending of such artists as Entheogenic, Rados and a more
beat driven Ishq. Dryad's Bubble stands up well and has plenty
to hold the attention with some interesting time signatures,
intriguing effects where the sound seems to surround the listener,
some deep basses and psychedelic imagery. Track titles lay
out what to expect - Moksha Journey, Lunar Space Dub, Somuti.
|
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
Dryad's
Bubble sounds like the kind of CD that would appeal to club
goes in search of some chilled electronica but the gentler
break beats employed across much of the album should also
suit non club environments. Instrumental programming for
those moments when you want something laid back but with
enough beats to hold the attention.
|
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