Reviews and Comments
John Sherwood who is responsible for the Awakenings series of
concerts in Leeds has put
together another compilation for us (the first being 'Awakenings
2005') featuring both known
and lesser known acts. Much of the music is exclusive to this set.
The opener 'Maametalli'
by Chaos Research certainly covers a lot of ground. Peaceful
shimmering tones develop an
oriental / classical feel then we move on to a melodic sequencer
line. Overall the track is
gently rhythmic with many a twist and turn. Modulator ESP donate
'Gynomatik', a slowly
bubbling sequencer based number mixed with metallic tones. The first
of the bigger names,
Skin Mechanix, are represented by a live version of 'Dimension
Jump'. The sequences and
Arc-ish rhythm burst into life along with a bass beat. As with the
studio version the foot is
full down on the accelerator and its impossible to keep the body
still but the live setting
gives it more of a fun feel. The leads, if anything, have greater
bite here than on the original.
Another of the more known
names is The Glimmer Room who give us the previously
unreleased 'One Room Flat'. After a spoken intro we get a series of
stunningly beautiful
melodies accompanied by sedate put perfectly placed rhythms. It is a
track that would
have been very much at home as part of his classic 'Grey Mirrors'.
Simply wonderful.
Ramp's fantastic 'Ozone' is from their latest album 'Oughtibridge'.
It has a tremendously
powerful feel but with an evil twist. There is a growl to the
pulsations and depth that will
shake the floor. Another sequence joins the first, as do fascinating
little melodies that
at one moment seem quite bright but then morph to a more ominous
refrain. Sonic growls
add to proceedings almost sounding like distorted laser fire, as if
heard from a great
distance. Another sequence is hurled into the pot fizzing with pent
up energy taking
things to almost apocalyptic proportions then there is a steady
stripping back as a tinkling
sequence, like a warning beacon, becomes the main feature. 'A
Call to Arms' by Cult of
Ashand is a slow relaxed track, subtly melodic but also with an
excellent atmosphere.
At around the half way mark a guitar enters to give extra bite and
we get a rhythmic
flourish to finish.
'Lost Dreams' by Create is a
rather sedate track beginning with melodic echoing tones.
Mellotron takes over then a shuffling rhythm. A jaunty tinkling
sequence is next up, mingling
nicely with more tron. The Omega Syndicate are always entertaining
and they donate yet
another new track 'Out of Hibernation'. A superb sequence slowly
emerges through
reverberating sonic growls- and what a superb one it is too, the
best on this two CD set.
Some lovely little melodic motifs add another lovely element until
the lead line proper raises
its head- and very effective it is too. More sequences are added as
the music continues its
spellbinding, hypnotic build. 'Good Wolf' by Awen starts off
superbly with infectious rhythms
and anthemic melodies. A bit like T Bass (UK), but then I thought it
fell apart a little around
the half way mark which is a real shame as it showed great promise.
Gert Emmens'
'Rendezvous with 2004 MN 4' rounds off the first disc. In the third
minute a pleasant melodic
sequence emerges through brooding atmospherics. Another sequence and
rhythm are added
and we are soon moving along at a nice steady pace with dreamy lead
lines floating over the
top, ideal driving music for a summer day.
Disc two gets off to a
fantastic start with 'Space Junk' by Rogue Element. A slow sequence
provides a little structure around which spooky effects come and go.
The sequence departs
and mellotron choir becomes the main feature taking us to a classic
TD, mid 70s sounding,
atmospheric section. A bit too close for comfort maybe but so
wonderfully done. With five
minutes to go metallic clangs herald another sequence. This one has
much more substance
than the first, rumbling along nicely and combining excellently with
a splashing one as it slowly
moves into formation. 'Spring' by Nick Robinson was pleasant enough
but not really my thing
so probably best left to another reviewer. Starseed Transmission
give us 'Live in Melbourne
(part 2)', a curious mix of sequencer line and more contemporary
clicking stabs- the sort of
thing I would expect from Surface 10. Rene van der Wouden's 'Blue
Traveller' is a laid back
relaxing meditative number until the fifth minute when a high
register sequence then rhythm
comes in- not bad but just a tad too plodding maybe. 'Icethrone' by
'Hyper Ex Machina' is a
very pleasant crystalline tinkling atmospherics track ideal for
chilling out to (no pun intended-
honest!). Astrogator come up with the longest track on this double
album with the 16 minute
'Standing Waves'. It begins with windy sounds accompanied by
electronic twitters and effects.
In other words a fairly standard intro but effective and very
pleasing nevertheless. A slow pulse
can be heard low in the mix. Some nice relaxing string sounds are
added then in the fourth
minute a sequence starts to form but it isn't for another four
minutes that it develops into
something of any substance and it is around the same time that a
second sequence is brought
in and it is here that things start to become a little more
interesting. It's OK I suppose but didn't
really grab me as much as their debut album. The last proper track
is 'Alien Landscapes Part 1'
by Glen Alexander and a very enjoyable piece of music it too with
some excellent foot tapping
rhythms, first class melodies and blistering solos. It's sort of
like a cross between Synergy,
The Nightcrawlers, Stephan Whitlan and 80s Ian Boddy! One of the
best tracks on the album.
There are then two final
indexes on the CD. The first is simply a minute's silence for Bob
Moog
whilst the second, I assume, is the man himself sharing some of his
thoughts. I must admit
that even though I am sure that this was all done with the best of
motives I am a little uneasy
about these inclusions on a project such as this. Maybe it's just
me.
David Law / Synth
Music Direct
|