|
 |
|
------Spatialize
- In The Midst Of Myriads EP |
| STYLE |
|
Lush, liquid synthetic soundscaping
where fluid arpeggios and motifs are layered upon strong beats
and lilting basslines. In The Midst Of Myriads is generally
quite a pacey selection of tracks most of which are very rhythmic
and danceable, Catalyst runs as far as including some drum
and bass flickers whilst Cluster Dub and Star Seed Earth explore
rolling dub arrangements. Spatialize favours a 'live' sound
to the drum tracks as opposed to the strongly programmed approach
used by some other acts working in the chill/electronic genre.
The synthesiser voices are rich and crystal clear, constantly
altering with plenty of depth to the sound - these are accompanied
by restful vibes, effected voices, various manipulated world
elements and some deft, clean guitar work on Catalyst. The
global material is a mixture of some synth settings, some
samples and some that are hard to tell - most are removed
from their original state through gating, reverb or other
effects. The wide array of electronica has quite an improvised
feel to it, loose lead lines and melodies held in place by
a strong rhythm section. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
This
is a heady exotic brew calling to mind dancing lights on hot
nights. The clever use of effected sounds and well employed
global material leaves everything steeped in deep colour and
rich spice. Spatialize has something of a concert feel - I
imagine that this is a powerful live act, having the sound
of a performing band rather that that of an artificially structured
studio project. The title track features some Asian instrumentation
and an Indian vocal bedded into some broad ambient washes
- a brief interlude at two and a half minutes maintaining
the international atmosphere before rolling back into the
strongly percussive sitar and electronica driven Solma-Ri. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
As
an EP In The Midst Of Myriads comes in a slimline CD case
with a two page folded insert. The front cover image presents
a crimson-magenta kaleidoscopic computer-graphic swirl on
a black background. The reverse repeats the swirl in reduced
form below a timed tracklist. Credits and contact details
are also here. The insert opens out into pure flat black with
a quote from Shunryu Suzuki straddling the fold. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Spatialize
is the project of Neil Butler based in the English West Country.
In The Midst Of Myriads is a six track EP - more of a mini
album really since it has a running time of over thirty four
minutes. The disc comes via Spiral Sounds as a follow up to
2004's Dryad's Bubble which was released on Third Stone Records.
Both can be ordered directly from the band web site. |
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
This
compelling release will appeal to fans of chilled electronica
that like a downtempo dance beat to their music. The energetic
luxuriance of all of the tracks here will suit Banco fans
as well as anyone into the likes of Androcell and Mystical
Sun. |
| |
|
 |
|
------San.drine
- Histoires D'eau |
| STYLE |
|
Electronic
and guitar structured trip-hop, chill and europop songs. San.drine
sings to quite a range of instrumental set-ups, there are
cool lounge moods, quirky drum and bass arrangements, gritty
electronic downtempo tracks and a bit of uptempo dance - all
softened and warmed by San.drine's beautiful voice and intimate
singing style. Most lyrics are French, adding to the sensuality
of the sound, often multi-layered in harmonies or with peripheral
vocal effects. The beats are for the most part relaxed and
deeply chilled, often programmed with lo-fi elements, muted
loops or crunchy hits. Additional instrumentation includes
violin, accordion, acoustic guitar and piano - different approaches
bound into a tight unity by a clear vision and distinct vocal
thread. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
The
front cover of this jewelcase presentation features an urban
photograph of the singer, slightly soft focus, slightly muted
approaching twilight. The lights of approaching traffic bright
and stark. Another portrait is at the rear - almost monochrome
sepia, a long exposure, light effects trailing diagonally.
A simple tracklist appears here below the image. Inside is
a three panel fold-out with lyrics printed for each track
- these are backed by rain pooled paving slabs photographed
in strong perspective. Also inside we find an expanded track
list with full credits and timings. A thank you page with
website details for all collaborators makes up another panel
and another city portrait fills the last - this time hazy
with camera movement, framed by a wire mesh tunnel. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
This
is a strong debut album from a clearly talented singer/songwriter.
Sandrine Ligabue has recently appeared on albums by Sleepthief,
Govinda and Suisse Modular. San.drine is joined here on her
own release by Govinda (who remixes the opening track), Bitstream
Dream, Christian "wicked" Wicht, Angina P, Heckle
& Jive and Summer Kelly along with a number of other musicians.
The different styles all seem to suit San.drine's sultry vocal
approach, my personal favourite being the almost ambient,
cinematic soundscaping of Aller Vers Demain where distorted
percussion and glowing synthetics work in achingly beautiful
juxtaposition against soothing, half whispered words and melancholy
chorus. Listen to the album and decide for yourself HERE.
|
| |
|
 |
|
------Max
Corbacho - Vestiges |
| STYLE |
|
Gliding
ambient serenity with hypnotic hand drumming. Max Corbacho's
first CD drifts over the listener like soft sand and silk,
weightless wafts and gossamer veils of synthetic tone rising
and falling in delicate harmony. The tone is light and dreamy,
floatational and airy - atmospheric rather than oceanic, skybound
rather than subterranean. The percussive content is confined
to the first four pieces - here gentle loops comprised of
organic beats with an ethnic flavour roll round evenly, trance-inducing,
repeating until a part of the fabric of the environment. As
the album progresses the introspective nature of the music
increases - the beautiful Erosion lulling and spacious leading
into the final three beatless tracks. The shadows pull in
somewhat toward the end, Vestiges opening with a twilight
moodiness that seems to open into a clear night - the listener
a solitary presence in a vast panorama. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
Desert
scenery, blue skies and windswept grass patches support
a huge red rockmass transported from elsewhere. The craggy
surface is engraved with an enormous square spiral - a hint
of tribal mystery, a futuristic symbol calling to the distant
past. The rear cover holds another desert scene where track
titles and credits sit in a lightened oblong panel. Inside
a two page booklet opens out to extend the front cover photograph
- track titles fading into the picture at the far left.
The innermost panels are black and white - another desert,
pale and drained forming a backdrop to an explanation of
the project. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
The
artwork on Vestiges intentionally places the album in the
desert ambient genre - a style that Max Corbacho develops
with considerable skill. The album was produced, written,
performed, recorded and mixed by Max Corbacho, at Max´s
Studios in Sabadell (Barcelona) in 1998. Released on Freerecords,
the CD consists of seven mid-length tracks around six to
eight minutes each totalling 53 minutes 54 seconds in all.
This album will appeal to anyone looking for something buoyant
and expansive with tribal beats and smooth synthetic polish.
|
| |
|
 |
|
------Ryan
Farish - Everlasting |
| STYLE |
|
Tripping piano melodies with
mainly synthetic instrumentation in support. Everlasting
provides a series of memorable themes, chilled moods and
lively beats - at times uptempo dance beats drive the music,
then low key downtempo tranquillity or melancholy takes
over, yet always with Ryan's friendly, gentle approach.
In general the accompaniments are delicate and pretty arrangements
where liquid arps, smooth keyboard work and bouncy basses
work against bright sparkling beats. Flutes, low choral
voices, keening synths, strings and acoustic guitar broaden
the sound palette making for a varied sonic spectrum. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
Warm
and inviting - Ryan Farish openly explores all aspects of
the light rather than investigating the shade. When shadow
is present it is as a foil to the brightness, twilight hues
present as a subdued backdrop to twinkling pianos or lustrous
synthesisers. Occasionally there is a bitter sweet tone, a
tender sadness or a daydream laziness - but Everlasting is
mostly an album of abandoned joy, feel good music, blissful
reverie. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
The
album comes in a jewel case with a sharp card sleeve - the
title embossed in blue against white. Portraits of the artist
are the main imagery this time - broad white borders with
monochrome photography, Ryan sitting alone on a dark sofa.
On the front he meets the viewers gaze, on the rear, introspective,
lost in thought. Scrolling pale graphics climb almost unseen
across both border and image adding a subtle touch of ornamentation.
Track titles are on the rear along with Neurodisc contact
information. Inside are a series of artist shots laid out
along a negative film strip. Here the titles are presented
again along with thanks, credits, website addresses and discography
pictures. Ryan also includes a quote from Psalm 100:2. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Everlasting
is Ryan's third official release through Neurodisc records,
consolidating the sound he has mastered through Beautiful
and From The Sky. The sound now is more compact than before,
more confident, yet still eminently accessible and instantly
attractive. Ryan has moved recently to Los Angeles where he
has been providing music for film and TV wth increasing success,
his music also proving popular with a number of satellite
and digital cable radio stations. Everlasting will surely
continue to build on Ryan's reputation as a strong writer/musician
with a flair for effervescent melody. |
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
If
you enjoyed Beautiful or From The Sky and would like more
- Everlasting continues to deliver. This is an album for anyone
wanting instrumental music to cheer their spirits and brighten
the atmosphere. |
| |
|
 |
|
------Sirisat
- Celestial |
| STYLE |
|
Tranquil new age songs with restful
beats and chilled instrumentation. Singing lyrics sourced
mostly from Indian texts and traditional materials, Sirisat
places these words in a comfortable modern context delivering
them softly, tenderly and with Western expression. Gentle
pianos, flutes, strings and acoustic guitars provide melodic
focal points that intersperse Julia Claire's vocals - synthetic
washes and marginals thickening the mix. The music is all
downtempo, relaxing drum tracks combining Eastern and Western
sounds in a smooth blend. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
Light
and clear - Celestial aims to relax the listener and to provide
uplifting vibes. The sound is very easy going with pleasant
harmony holding centre stage throughout, synthetic atmospheres
and spoken words create a lulling tone at times. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
Suffused
with light, the whole package is backed in white - soft, tangerine
hued images carefully combined with orange/brown text. The
front cover image shows the artist with hands outstretched
among falling petals, the rear picks out just a hand reaching
skyward track titles diagonally running alongside. An eight
page booklet sits inside the jewelcase with an explanation
of the project in both Spanish and English. Lyrics to all
tracks are also provided spread across four panels. The final
page holds credits and contact details. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
This
album is primarily the work of English born Julia Claire
(AKA Sirisat) whose musical career has seen her based both
in the UK and Spain. Previously involved with dance music
and then lead vocalist and lyric writer with Carles Reig's
new age group, “Terra” - Julia and Carles eventually
set up the current project Ohm Spirit Sound. Through this
arrangement musician/composer Reig has helped bring the
current album to fruition, providing instrumental and production/arrangement
assistance. Celestial is twinned with the album Mantra Chill
out that provides abbreviated "radio" versions
of the same songs plus a few extras. |
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
New
age fans with a preference for Indian philosophies and melodic
delivery. |
| |
|
 |
|
------Bella
Sonus - Enamoured |
| STYLE |
|
Serene electronic instrumentals
featuring Spanish guitars and enigmatic atmospheres. Interfaded
tracks establish warm, hazy atmospheres of soft electronica
with dreamy beats and various worldbeat hints. The tempo is
primarily subdued, relaxing and chilled, rising occasionally
to a low dance beat - various peripheral percussives broadening
the rhythmic spectrum with effected hits and hand drum sounds.
Although acoustic guitar is a prominent instrument on Enamoured,
the album is by no means a guitar CD - many pieces are lead
by synthetic sounds or are less strongly melodic, with Gregorian
chants or feathery, whispered female vocalisations drifting
on the breeze. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
The
air here is one of mysterious romance and charming colour.
Bella Sonus work carefully on the mood of their tracks, giving
atmosphere equal footing with melody - as a result there is
a sensuality and gently theatrical mood that hangs like incense
across the whole album. The Spanish guitars inevitably suggest
Latin imagery, shored up by castanets and clapping. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
The
Neurodisc repackaged version of Enamoured captures the Latin
chill and timeless beauty of this album by fronting the package
with a sunset beach faded into a white stone arch entwined
with graphic curlicues. Indeed these same pictorial elements
recur on all panels - darker on the rear, the sun having recently
set, here track titles hang under the stone curve. Within
the architecture and waves spread across two panels flanked
by another tracklist to the right, thanks and credits to the
left. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Bella
Sonus is a project consisting of producer / multi-instrumentalist
/ programmer Robert Smith and Flamenco Guitarist Angel Suarez.
The name means Beautiful Sounds and is indicative of the
duo's intent to provide an attractive and soothing soundscape.
Enamoured is a re-release, the original appearing back in
2000 and having been out of print for some years. Neurodisc
promotional material describes the album as " a unique,
exhilarating and uplifting blend of modern electronic ambient
music, Spanish / urban rhythms and sensual guitars layered
in mysticism." Robert Smith will be known to many fans
of the genre also through his work as Blue Stone. |
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
If
you enjoy Blue Stone, Bella Sonus worked the same ambient
groove territory and will probably appeal. For those unfamiliar
with either, this is an album for listeners that might enjoy
worldbeat music with a Spanish emphasis. |
| |
|
