Syn - 61 Cygnus_Alpha (c) 2007 AmbientLive
Artist....: Syn
Album.....: 61 Cygnus_Alpha
Type......: Album
Source....: CDDA
Tracks....: 05
Genre.....: Ambient
Label.....: AmbientLive
Catalogue#: ALR3021
Encoder...: LAME 3.97
Quality...: VBR kbps / 44.1KHz / Joint-Stereo
URL.......: www.ambientlive.com
Tracklist:
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01 61 Cygnus-Alpha 19:57
02 Sea Of Orion 20:29
03 Crystal Dreaming 26:59
04 Silbury Hill 06:19
05 Northwind 04:10
Total:70,7 MB / 77:54 min
Release Notes:
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Some lovely deep analogue cosmic twitters reverberate and then echo
into the distance as the fantastically spaced out 'Cygnus-Alpha' gets
underway. If I were to put on more planetarium concerts I think I would
play this over the PA as people were coming in. It would set just the
right atmos. Close your eyes and let your mind take you to the depths
of uncharted space. There is a warmth to it all though, a sort of
comforting environment enveloping and protecting us on our journey.
Some of the effects were so bass laden my speakers could hardly cope.
From the eighth minute a lovely retro organ sound comes in giving
things a rather 'Zeit' feel but this is more the backdrop than the main
thrust, as a sort of slow moody guitar lead line takes the main focus.
This is the only track on the album not to use sequences and the same
laidback feel initially continues through 'Sea of Orion'. A suitably
watery scene is set as waves break on the shore. Sonic shimmers add to
the peaceful setting and seabirds fly overhead. Wonderful lush analogue
drones rise through the mix. A slow relaxed rhythmic loop appears in
the sixth minute driving things forward. A lovely ethereal melody
dreamily plays over the top. It really come to life however when the
sequence makes an entrance. An aggressive lead line completes a
compelling oomph laden picture.
'Crystal Dreaming' has a very effective organ lead that is played in
quite an aggressive percussive way, repeating a rather staccato melody.
This forms the backbone for the entire track. A delicate ticking rhythm
falls into formation accompanied by some excellent high register
splashes then angelic mellotron choir. The wonderful mesmerizing brew
seems to become more intense by the moment. Things get even more
powerful and awe inspiring as yet another excellent sequence is
launched into this fantastic bubbling cauldron of sound. A new lead
line meanders over the top. What a superb track! The first three
mammoth pieces on this album totalled over sixty seven minutes of music
and many would have been happy to leave it there but not so on this CD
as we have two extra shorter tracks as well. The first 'Silbury Hill'
explodes into life on the back of a hundred mile an hour sequence, a
lead line sort of skipping over the pulsations. A slow snare is added
enhancing the depth of frequencies deployed.
A burst of tron introduces 'Northwind' and a really nice sequence
starts in its wake. A slow moody lead contrasts the energy oozing from
the rest of the track. We finish as we started with a burst of
mellotron. There is an honesty to this album. I don't think Syn was
trying to do anything too clever, instead just enjoying making the sort
of music he loves on the sort of retro pieces of kit that seem equally
as close to his heart. He does have a natural feel for 70s based
sequencer music and to me this comes over more on this album than any
other I have heard by him. (DL)
SMD
http://www.synthmusicdirect.com/