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WINE
SONGS
1.
Locust Swarm
2. Harp
3. Inundation
4. The Goddess Nekhebit
5. Persia *
6. Scarab,
7. Lilyhead,
8. Boat Of The Goddess Maat
*
bonus track originally recorded in 2003
IN
THE HEART OF THE OLD CITY...
1.
Nothing Is Still (Intensify Mix)
2. Bendir’n’Bass Club
3. A Man Plays Arghul Drone
4. Ripples On The Indus *
5. Mother Ganga *
6. Ur *
7. Perpetual Loop Commission
8. Nothing Is Still
9. Dream Of The Nile *
10. Chill-Out Courtyard
*
bonus tracks originally recorded in 2003
Both
albums remastered by Steve in 2004
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Blue
Lily Commission
MySpace page
Sample the tracks
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Reviews ...
"Reviews of Wine Songs"
The debut solo album from the leader of the ambient music group Mooch, this sees Steve coming up with a varied and
consistent set of tracks that you just can't fail to enjoy. Each of the seven tracks lasts around nine minutes, so you get
something to really dive into but nothing overdone or overly long for the ideas on offer... With the rhythms travelling
deliberately through the mix, it is left to the electronics and bass undercurrents to provide the textures... middle-eastern
sounding synth melodies create a sort of mystic eastern Tangerine Dream like quality that builds into something
symphonic and majestic... emotion and exoticism in perfect harmony; the mix of West and East never sounded
so good.
(Andy G, CD Services)
Brilliantly produced... (Future Music, January 2001)
A true trancey little number with loads of atmospherics and samples fading in and out. This is a great album
to chill to... (Twenty4Seven, December 2000)
Obviously Steve Palmer is greatly influenced by Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk, though he has seamlessly melded
these influences with his interests in middle-eastern instrumentation to achieve his goal of middle-east trance fusion.
On 'Harp', the sequenced parts throb nicely, drawing you in, then you start to become aware of slightly unfamiliar
and unexpected though not unwelcome sounds. There are seven tracks spread over an hour or so and none outstay
their welcome. A lot of care, effort, knowledge and expertise have gone into this project, which I feel fans of music
produced by Loop Guru or perhaps Muslimgauze fans seeking that sound without the strident politicisation would
really enjoy.
(Gordon Elcock, Acid Attack Webzine)
Blue Lily Commission is the latest project from musician Steve Palmer, who also heads up the band Mooch.
According to the promo sheet, Palmer created Blue Lily Commission to release more uptempo music drawing on
influences including trance, classic German electronica, and the ethnic music of North Africa, the Middle East,
and India. Like Mooch, the music is primarily electronic but also includes saz, bouzuki, flutes, and a variety of
percussion.... The music on Wine Songs is spiritually uplifting, yet by NO means in a fluffy New Age manner.
The disc opens with "Locust Swarm" on which we're introduced to syncopated synth patterns, but also a strong
drifting quality that recalls Tangerine Dream and even Ash Ra Tempel. "Harp" includes a similar combination of
synth patterns, but a prominent keyboard melody takes the lead with a spacey Egyptian feel. I really liked the
keyboard sound on this tune that is both pulsating and orchestral. The combined orchestral and more mechanically
patterned synths make for a good contrast that works well together. The saz also crops up intermittently to give an
added ethnic boost to the music. "Inundation" is a quietly floating piece that combines droning and patterned synth
lines with various percussion instruments. "The Goddess Nekhebit" is similar but with lots of competing synth
patterns, percussion bits, and sounds. A bit like Shadowfax. "Scarab" is a standout track with tribal percussion
and wailing Rick Wright styled keyboards. "Lilyhead" is similar, but the percussion is more light and trippy, and
the keys have a more lush orchestral quality. And "Boat Of The Goddess Maat" is like "Lilyhead" but combines
a spiritual horn call with a playful synth pattern and percussion, and some cool Ash Ra Tempel guitar to go with
the electronics... Fans of Tangerine Dream and electronic Ash Ra Tempel who like an ethnic flavor will enjoy
Blue Lily Commission, as will Shadowfax fans who enjoy ambient electronic music.
(Jerry Kranitz, Aural Innovations)
Reviews of "In The Heart Of The Old City..."
Another fine cd from Blue Lily Commission, one that builds upon the strengths of the first release... Of course
what places Blue Lily Commission ahead of thousands of others is the organic sounds Steve brings through his
own playing of various ethnic instruments; the saz, bouzouki, flutes and various bits of percussion... In a recent
online discussion where people were searching for music with a Middle Eastern air I had no hesitation in
recommending Blue Lily Commission. I only hope people took me up on it as I'm sure they wouldn't have been
disappointed. (Gordon Elcock, Acid Attack Webzine)
A blend of Middle Eastern influences and TR-909 beats, and it ain't bad.
(Future Music May 2001)
It would be difficult to overstate the importance of percussion in this music, the rhythms and beats often standing
equally prominent among the synths and ethnic stringed instruments. Imagine Manuel Göttsching teaming up with
Shadowfax and you'll get a notion of what Blue Lily Commission is about... "Bendir 'n' Bass Club" is similar to some
of my favorites from Wine Songs, recalling some of Manuel Göttsching's guitar and electronics explorations, though
here we've got heavy doses of rhythm from Palmer's quietly intricate percussion. I love the combination of space
atmospherics and almost salsa-like drumming. What seems like an odd contrast goes together nicely making for
a unique sound... "Chill-Out Courtyard" is another highlight, featuring pulsating high-pitched keyboards and a bit of
a Rick Wright Floydish sound, quietly tinkling bells and percussion, and mucho trippy synths. The percussion
doesn't serve a rhythmic role here. Rather, it provides little focal points among the meditative music. Dreamy
landscapes, all-out space freakiness, and slightly avant-garde percussion makes for an enjoyably strange but
mind expanding ride. And my favorite track on the disc is "Perpetual Loop Commission". Lots going on here.
Steady dancey percussion, more of those Rick Wright styled keyboards, church-like keys, flutes, Middle Eastern
horns, ethnic stringed instruments, all amidst an uplifting cosmic atmosphere. Wheewww... it sounds overwhelming
but it's easy to get peacefully lost.
(Jerry Kranitz, Aural Innovations)
This release is more wide-ranging than the debut "Wine Songs"... Overall, sounding absolutely perfect,
immaculately played and produced - an album of essential listening and ultimately long-lasting enjoyment.
(Andy G, CD Services)
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