Javi Canovas - Red Metal (c) 2007 Javi Canovas (self)
Artist....: Javi Canovas
Album.....: Red Metal
Type......: Album
Source....: CDDA
Tracks....: 12
Genre.....: Electronic
Label.....: Javi Canovas (self)
Catalogue#: n/a
Encoder...: LAME 3.97
Quality...: VBR kbps / 44.1KHz / Joint-Stereo
URL.......: http://usuarios.lycos.es/javicanovas/
Tracklist:
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01 Circadian Rhythms 05:05
02 Radiometry 06:19
03 Conmutation Q 04:02
04 Cibercafe 04:56
05 Dark Memory System 04:27
06 Liquid Crystal 05:40
07 Circadian Algorhythm 07:26
08 Red Metal 03:46
09 Sphinx 04:02
10 Radar 10:20
11 Voices In The Space 05:06
12 Epilogue 03:04
Total:77,6 MB / 64:13 min
Release Notes:
--------------
Like its predecessor, Javi's latest album is available as a download at
Synth Music Direct. The first track "Circadian Rhythms" is straight
into business with upbeat rhythms, sequencing and an effective melody.
This is dynamic Electronic Music that comes off as something like a
cross between Tangerine Dream and the ballsy upbeat Laserdance! Froese
& Co jamming together with Michel van der Kuy in hyperspace anyone? Can
you imagine such a combination? I couldn't. Before I've heard this
track, that is. I am sure this music will appeal to a wide audience,
but it does demonstrate pure class! All the sounds, rhythms, melodies -
everything is close to perfection. This is cosmic music of the highest
order that I loved to death! "Radiometry" is next. Bell-like melodic
sequences cast their spell while undulating bass synth washes lure you
into an electronic haze of sound. A slow rhythm appears, along with yet
another sequence. Everything is kept to a necessary minimum and yet the
music bears a richness rarely heard in any type of music, not just EM.
"Conmutation Q" calms things down with ambient washes of synth and
hypnotic drones. This is one of those rare Javi Canovas tracks with no
sequences. However, "Cibercafe" soon "rehabilitates" this album with
upbeat sequencing, electronic rhythms and a catchy theme. This is one
of the most "commercial" compositions Javi has ever created (sounds
very much inspired by 1980's Kraftwerk). "Dark Memory System" starts
with bell-like sequences that dance around the stereo spectrum, while
bright synth pads play underneath. Soon more psychedelic sequenced
keyboards are added before it all comes to an end. "Liquid Crystal"
takes us to a mysterious place, with its slightly abstract proceedings
of melancholic notes. Reminds me on those early 1980's atmospheric
pieces that Klaus Schulze played on his CS-80 and GDS computer.
"Circadian Algorythm" returns to the style of the first track, although
in a more laid-back, less upbeat mode and with Tangerine Dream
influences to the fore. Great Berlin School music ala early 1980's TD,
with a rich sound and a spacey atmosphere. Some great screaming solos
on this one! The title track is next, with its mysterious synth-based
drone. It's nice to see Javi trying a hand at more ambient styles of
EM. "Sphinx" suprises with quite heavy rhytms and nice melodic
sequencing. There are some great melodies here and overall the track
sounds like a mixture of Kraftwerk's "Computer World", Tangerine Dream
and typical moody minimal synth music of the 1980's. Next we get
"Radar" that starts with a deep bass drone. Soon an excellent (and I
mean it) sequence appears, with sounds jumping back and forth across
stereo channels. Another (upbeat) sequence joins as a weeping lead line
just floats on top. We then get a beautiful electric piano interlude
with auxiliary synth backing. Towards the end, heavy synth drones
return along with whooshy effects and various echoing sounds. "Voices
In the Space" has galloping sequences combined with digital pads.
Another bleepy sequence joins the galloping one to form an infectious
and curious electronic brew. Excellent psychedelic sequences and
pounding rhythms are then added, making this an intense and driving
track. Unfortunately, the track ends rather abruptly just when I
started to "get into the flow". "Epilogue" closes this album with
ethereal synthesizer textures and heavenly pads. A moody piece and an
excellent closer. Overall, I think that "Red Metal" is Javi's most
diverse album to date. He tried a hand at many genres here, sometimes
with stunning results. However, the album as a whole feels more like a
collection of songs or ideas and lacks cohesion. Also, I did miss
Javi's trademark long suites, "Red Metal" being a showcase for shorter,
more compressed tracks that sometimes end all too abruptly or are not
given time to fully develop. Having said that, I did find some of the
tracks here to be utterly terrific.
æCircadian RhythmsÆ gets straight into an infectious groove that should
get your whole body moving to the wonderful beats. Things get even
better as the strongest melody Javi has come up with on any of his
albums so far weaves through the wonderful pulsations. A rolling
percussive sequence provides a rather reflective start to æRadiometryÆ.
Slow drums take up this mood. A second sequence comes in, upping the
pace a little but even so thereÆs still an edgy moodiness to it all.
æConmutation QÆ quietens things down a bit as shimmering drones bring
up images of sunlight reflecting from gently undulating water.
Sequences return with a vengeance for æCibercafeÆ as two blast forward
wonderfully, heavy bass pulses shaking the floor. The pulsations
themselves are quite melodic but are also accompanied by subtle lead
lines. The sequences surge forward from time to time in increasing
waves of devastation.
æDark Memory SystemÆ features an appropriately moody swirling sequence.
This is underpinned by another, this time full of rumbling bass. There
are so many pulsations flying around here that it is all rather
mesmerizing. Fantastic stuff! We journey through the dark and brooding
æLiquid CrystalÆ to æCircadian AlgorhythmÆ. It only takes about 30
seconds before a melodic high register sequence and awesome earthquake
of a bass sequence strike up. A laser sharp lead line flashes over the
top and a real kick ass rhythm makes those foundations shake even more.
The sequences dive this way and that like cruise missiles darting over
enemy terrain, one awesome lead after another joining the mayhem. What
a brilliant track- one of the best, if not the best, Javi has ever
composed and probably the most exciting piece of music I have heard all
year. The title track uses deep swirling drones to bring up images of
an early morning fog shrouded landscape. Crashing heavy rhythms and
sequences burst onto the scene again for æSphinxÆ. A sublime little
melody contrasts all the power, leading the way for other lead lines to
weave their wonderful spells. The ideal combination of force and
beauty.
A very low reverberating drone, almost like a snarling animal gets
æRadarÆ going. Sequences emerge forming a wall of notes; with a subtle
beauty all of their own, like a waterfall scattering spray as it lands
in the lake below. In the third minute things subside to a delicate
bell chime melody. ItÆs simply gorgeous stuff but with a moody twist
near the end. æVoices in the SpaceÆ features yet more superb ballsey
sequences. They morph wonderfully, another lovely melody skipping
amongst the pulsations. Things become more syncopated as we reach
another pinnacle of the album- very nearly as good as the incredible
æCircadian AlgorhythmÆ. æEpilogueÆ finishes things in a pensive,
slightly melancholy mood. Ideal for steadying the racing heart just
enough to get up and press play once more.
Yet another excellent album by Javi that from time to time reminded me
a little of Rainbow Serpent. (DL)
www.synthmusicdirect.com