Stephen Parsick - Traces Of The Past Redux -Remastered- (c) 2007 Do
Artist....: Stephen Parsick
Album.....: Traces Of The Past Redux
Type......: Album
Source....: CDDA
Tracks....: 10
Genre.....: Electronic
Label.....: Doombient Music
Catalogue#: SP002
Encoder...: LAME 3.97
Quality...: VBR kbps / 44.1KHz / Joint-Stereo
URL.......: http://www.discogs.com/release/998341
Tracklist:
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01 Submerging 06:59
02 Close Beneath The Surface 10:35
03 Cosmic Jellyfish 01:51
04 Green Depth 02:55
05 Hydra 07:22
06 Ashram 05:37
07 Totem Poles 16:45
08 The Keeper Of Time 03:00
09 Quicksilver Sea 09:25
10 Traces Of The Past 10:30
Total:104,6 MB/ 74:59 min
Release Notes:
--------------
Remastered Release of the 1998 Traces Of The Past
The original of this album has gone down as something of a Berlin
School classic - deservedly so. It was so good that the initial
pressing (released about ten years ago) sold out almost instantly and
then was never seen again. To many this is the best album that Stephen
Parsick ever had a hand in - even better than the first two Ramp CDs.
Stephen has since moved on to producing somewhat darker music but even
so he has found time to tenderly remix and remaster the original as
well as adding some new tracks which as far as I can see were also
recorded around the same time. As is often the case Stephen is aided on
some of the tracks by his friend Klaus Hoffmann-Hoock. 'Submerging'
starts the album in a state of atmospheric drift. The choice of sounds
are simply exquisite - all very analogue, constantly changing and
gently pulsating, bringing up all sorts of images with a large dollop
of melancholy thrown in for good measure. This is atmospheric music of
the very highest order.
The next track 'Close Beneath The Surface' could well find a place in
most SMD customers' top ten tracks ever. The sequencing is simply
stunning in both power and pattern. The guitar playing at one moment is
of the most beautiful space guitar variety and the next becomes more
upfront and increases in intensity as the sequence builds and builds
but without ever becoming too dominant, leaving the synths to tell the
story but still taking on an essential supporting role. If you like
sequencer music and don't think this is one of the most amazing tracks
ever I would be greatly surprised. 'Cosmic Jellyfish' and 'Green Depth'
act as short laid back tracks and are rather welcome in order to regain
ones composure after what has gone before. As with the opener however
the choice of sounds chosen is exquisite especially the mellotron and
flutey synth in the latter. We now have the first of the new tracks
'Hydra'. Electronic twitters shimmer over a deep space throb. Two more
delicate sequences emerge accompanied by the most wonderful deep
echoing flute lead. The second new one 'Ashram' bounces along at quite
a rate, the sequence giving it real energy emphasised by some excellent
guitar. It has a real Ashra feel to it. Next we have the amazing (now
sixteen minute) 'Totem Poles' After a minute of drift a lead line like
a solar flare exploding from the sun brings the track to life. Close on
its heels we have a bass sequence which really does make the floor
shake. I am reminded of late 70s Schulze and fans of this period should
surely be sent into raptures. A moody soaring lead line brings the
track to its conclusion.
'The Keeper of Time' is the third new piece and what a superb addition
it is too as massed mellotrons do their wonderful thing creating quite
a melancholy mood. 'Quicksilver Sea' is another very restrained and
moody number, initially coming over like early 70s Schulze. Gorgeous
space guitar provides a little delicate melodic detail over the top.
Stephen, as well as being a master of the sequencer can put together
some of the most stunning relaxing tracks I have ever heard. Finally we
have the title track. Windy effects mix with more gorgeous mellotron.
Later on angelic pads are introduced creating quite a spiritual feel
but are also very haunting and full of sorrow. This is one instance
where the reissue is even better than the original, and that is REALLY
saying something. Miss this album at your peril! (DL)