Artist...: Solarstone
Title....: ..---
Label....: Black Hole Recordings
Genre....: Trance
Quality..: VBR kbit/ 44,1 kHz
Source...: CDDA
Ripdate..: Mei-05-2018
Encoder..: LAME 3.98.4 (VBR -V0 --vbr-new)
Tracks...: 08
Tracklist:
01.Solarstone - Midsummer Nights 07:23
02.Solarstone - Shards 04:42
03.Solarstone - Thank You 06:47
04.Solarstone Ft. Thea Riley - I 06:19
Want You Here
05.Solarstone - Shield PT. II 07:39
06.Solarstone Ft. Jonathan 05:51
Mendelsohn - This Is Where It Starts
07.Solarstone - Motif 06:35
08.Solarstone Ft. Meredith Call - 07:55
Without You
95,7 MB
Notes:
The opening months of 2017 brought the
release of SolarstoneÆs . - - - -
album. Widely praised as a standalone
item, its ultimate purpose was (and is)
yet to be fully clarified. With one
less dash, but an extra Morse dot, one
album becomes two next month, and with
it another sizeable clue to its
endgame.
From shocking pink, we go into the
blue: so whatÆs changed and whatÆs
maintained between the albums? One
constant is that æ2Æ is again made up
of eight pieces of music, trading
between instrumental compositions and
vocal ones. As with all musical series
worth their salt, continuity and
balance is key. In regard to its
overarching feel, æ2Æ interlocks
seamlessly with æ1Æ. That aspect in
fact goes farther still - threads from
SolarstoneÆs wider canon are picked up,
with track arcs continued and open
single loops resolved.
The mark of a true artist, Rich
progresses album matters in many ways,
while ring-fencing the core elements of
his musical culture. And yes, the
ability to surprise and catch the
listener unawares is still one of them.
Thematic strands are drawn from
numerous time periods, influences and
disciplines - both musical and
otherwise. Each is woven, with
differing degrees of presence into the
albumÆs fabric. Some stand totem tall.
Others become apparent only over time.
Each though provides micro-clues to
what is undoubtedly now an album
sequence. Tonally, the release also
pushes the needle into what Rich
classifies as ôthe second half of a
Solarstone club nightö. The tempo
receives a kick, prog-trance elements
ebb, while uplift û both vocally,
musically and spiritually û flows.
The album opens on the promise of
æMidsummer NightsÆ. Over nigh-on eight
minutes, hovering piano notes, rich
pulsating bass and reflective guitars
brilliantly set the album in motion.
Musically, lyrically and vocally, Rich
hits an introspective note on its
second track, æShardsÆ. Backed by his
classical instrumentation, he reaches
deep within. With its love redemption
theme, it constitutes a record as
personal as anyone from his quarter has
ventured.
æPleaseÆ, from 2012Æs æPureÆ album was
always projected to be one of
SolarstoneÆs multipart track arcs.
æBrighter days aheadÆ in feel,
forthright in pace and spurred by
tactical, yet innate key shifts, it was
composed as a final tribute to RichÆs
late father. Loosely based around
HandelÆs æLargoÆ û a composition with
which they shared a considerable mutual
appreciation, æThank YouÆ retains all
the emotion and uplift of its six-
year-old counterpart. Between its
vulnerable lyrics and impassioned,
resolute delivery, Thea Riley walks a
tightrope-like balance on æI Want You
HereÆ. Emotionally laying it on the
line, Rich musically reflects each
twist of its song through his studio
work. As the album shifts into its
second phase, another Solarstone outing
receives its sequel. The second coming
of æShieldÆ, Rich once again delves
into his string section for æ(Pt II)Æ.
Finding that infinite equilibrium
between acoustic guitars and other
string family associates, he frames
them around an initially filmic intro
and latterly, surging, FX-flush trance.
Jonathan MendelsohnÆs history in
vocal-ling tracks from the electronic
music quarter is almost as extensive as
that of SolarstoneÆs in producing them.
Together on æThis Is Where It StartsÆ,
the two have conspired a track so
instantly memorable, itÆs an instant
æone more tuneÆà anthem candidate.
ThereÆs only one of the albumÆs number
that can lay claim to its æmost epicÆ
tag though and thatÆs æMotifÆ. Big of
riff, bold of pace & bass, it builds
without pause over 5 minutes to deliver
a drop thatÆll leave clubber gasping
and floor reeling. Extraordinarily
perhaps, the albumÆs valedictory track
has been in production development for
20 years. Beginning life many a Solar
cycle ago, æWithout YouÆ has gone
through more honing and refinements,
than even he can recall. Its critical
tipping point though came through
Meredith CallÆs song - an exceptional
tour de force deliverance that û backed
by SolarstoneÆs breaks - is achingly
painful in its beauty.