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----------Outersect
- God Love The Fool |
| STYLE |
|
Genre blending
downtempo electronica. God Love The Fool brings together a
number of surprisingly diverse elements: psychedelic chill,
bluegrass, tribal-ethnic music, seventies style progressive
and yet somehow manages to combine these peculiarities into
a coherent whole. The resultant sound is a vibrant, springy
mix with plenty going on and a sense that almost anything
is welcome here in this digital melting pot. Outersect employs
an approach that often has the feel of a live performance
- the acoustic instrumentation, keyboard improvisations and
the frequent use of a 'real' drum kit sound surely contributing
to this. That said there is an abundance of studio and synthetic
content here, Outersect preferring a bright, wiry sound for
the synths and clearly enjoying establishing electronic atmospheres
and employing an arsenal of sharp marginal effects. |
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| MOOD |
|
God
Love The Fool, whilst maintaining a relatively downbeat tempo,
has a strong upbeat nature that is sometimes reminiscent of
lively folk music. Vocal performances from Betsy-La and flute
lines from Agalactia's Philip Khripkov develop the acoustic
content yet the drive of the music is unswayed from its psychedelic
trajectory. The mix is bright and danceable with capering
hook lines and repeating melodic phrases that seep into the
consciousness so that you find yourself inwardly singing along.
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| ARTWORK |
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The
artwork for the album maintains the drawing together of diverse
items found in the music. The front cover shows a card game
in progress, the players all iconic figures from world religion.
The viewer finds himself taking the part of the near player
as a single card is held out in the foreground - the character
of the fool. The rear cover presents a track list on the surface
of an indoor wall above a dado rail - more religious icons
hung in frames alongside. Here are writing and collaborative
credits as well as web site details for Outersect. The inner
panels hold a double page image of a mock home-shrine - playing
cards and sacred paraphernalia strewn upon a small shelf.
A quote from M K Gandhi and brief thanks fill an insert to
the left. |
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| OVERALL |
|
Outersect
is the solo project of San Francisco based Rob Rayle who
has also released music under the aliases Caldera and Bufo.
Rob has an abundance of musical experience, having spent
much time in the world of rock before broadening his soundscape
in a more electronic direction. The Outersect website points
out that apart from being the name of the project, Outersect
suggests "to attempt an informed out-group perspective
towards an in-group you are a member of," or "a
cult for people who refuse to join anything". The current
album is the follow-up to the debut Caldera from back in
2007. This time Outersect are working with up and coming
label Beats & Pieces. There are eleven tracks here that
can be sampled at the label
website or at right at the source of this review - Morpheus
Music. |
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| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
God
Love The Fool is an album for psy-chill lovers that enjoy
a rich sound unrestricted by traditional genre distinctions.
Give this album a listen if you like something of a 'live'
feel to your music. |
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| AUDIO |
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----------Psyfactor
- Futurised |
| STYLE |
|
Lush,
spacey electronica. Psyfactor looks outward once more on
this new twelve track release, the composition titles giving
a clear idea of the musical direction: Discovering Andromeda,
In Space, Cassiopeya, Neptune's Waves. Here smooth pads
and lustrous washes form colourful canvases for crystalline
sequences and tinkling lattice works. Beats are vigorous
and dynamic programmed affairs running a fairly high bpm
for a chill album. Psyfactor uses the varying beats and
rhythms of the music to hold the attention as much as the
melody; percussive grooves layer and alternate with arpeggio
forms bristling with sparkling effects, buzzing, electro
bass lines rippling beneath. Frequently these driving regularities
break apart into gleaming atmospheric expanses where the
softness and liquid clarity of the synths can be appreciated
by contrast. |
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| ARTWORK |
|
Futurised
comes in a sharp, glossy two panel card wallet - no unpleasant
plastic - disc neatly held in a simple pocket within. The
front cover image is of a glassy fractal helix made up of
myriad bubbles rising from a dense orange cloud mass into
a bright sky. There above the cloud a beaming star illuminates
distant planets partly obscured by immense distance. This
design runs across both front and back panels, the rear section
holding the tracklist with times alongside. The briefest of
credits are here too as well as the Ajana website address.
Inside the space is text free - the orange sky of the outer
cover here leading down to the surface of a planet where alien
foliage stretches upward unfettered. |
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| OVERALL |
|
Futurised
is the second chilled album from Russian chill artist Dmitri
Korablin in his role as Psyfactor, the previous Endless
Universe having been released on the same Ajana label
back in 2006. This latest offering is billed by Ajana Records
as a 'psychill' album - and despite being loosely catagorised
as chillout, the music is relatively uptempo, although clearly
less so than Dmitri's other two uncompromising psytrance
releases. There are sound samples of all the tracks to explore
at Ajana
if should wish to listen to the music there, as well as
one free track to download. The digifile version of Futurised
comes as limited edition of only 500 copies, so you might
want to make a decision on this one relatively quickly. |
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----------Bluetech
- Love Songs To The Source |
| STYLE |
|
Vocal
and instrumental downtempo dub. Love Songs To The Source
sees Bluetech taking his sound in a new direction - the
effervescent dub elements are still here, the clean electronica
too - but now a much stronger organic reggae/funk influence
is present. There is something of the early 1980's reggae
movement reflected in these new songs, many featuring female
and some male vocals. In keeping with this new emphasis,
there are a lot of brass sections, wah guitar effects, organ-like
stabs and beats structured like real drum kit rhythms including
the odd stark rim shot. The combination results in a delightfully
sleek, smooth dub sound in contrast to some of the dark
lumbering albums of the genre. Some bouncy electronic instrumentals
and dreamy chillout compositions more in keeping with past
releases are also present - the warm, relaxing 'Escape'
suggestive of a gentle sunny afternoon reverie. |
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| ARTWORK |
|
As
always Bluetech imagery is sharp and engrossing. The front
cover montage is full of intriguing detail: a human torso
reminiscent of a Rembrandt dissection painting combines anatomic
elements with graphic embellishments that rise and burgeon
upward, outward into a splash of colour that centres on a
bright human eye ball. My promotional copy is a digital download
and so I can't really be sure of the exact layout of the hard
copy - however, the pdf file indicates around 8 panels of
high quality graphics with complete lyrics, credits, website
details and an inspirational verse. |
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| OVERALL |
|
With
Love Songs to the Source the prolific Bluetech presents
his latest studio album and follow up to the 2009 release
The Divine Invasion - two EPs having filled the gap between.
This time in keeping with the more dub/reggae centred sound
the music is delivered via Canadian label Interchill. It
appears that having fully established himself as a top notch
artist of notable quality, with various aliases to satisfy
his more ambient and techno yearnings, Bluetech feels free
enough to stray further from his signature sound and experiment
with collaborative recordings. Love Songs To The Source
features vocal performances from Dr. Israel, Katrina Blackstone,
Mari Boine, Lady K, Tina Malia and Lynx. In addition Jamie
Janover plays dulcimer, Russell Scott and Luke Solman play
horns and KiloWatts shares some production and programming
duties. There are fourteen tracks here in total with audio
samples available at the Interchill
website. |
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| SOUNDS |
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----------Solar
Camel - Roots and Wings |
| STYLE |
|
Classical
new-age electronica. Solar Camel delivers a collection of
well executed compositions that employ an acoustic approach
mostly, with a supporting electronic palette. Some pieces
have a percussive accompaniment with various levels of complexity,
whilst many others are uncluttered recordings of solo keyboard.
Lead voices come in the form of piano, synthetic strings,
smooth pads, brass voices and other synthetic orchestral sounds.
Additional layers range from the chilled electro-groove and
subtle washes of Ballad of the Autumn Leaves through the timpani,
cymbal clashes and full-on imaginary orchestra of Unexpected
Snow to the delicate simplicity of pieces like Elisa where
Agostino's deft finger work allows the beauty of the piano
to sing unobscured. |
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| MOOD |
|
Roots
and Wings for the most part has a bright and optimistic air,
warm arrangements inviting to the ear, harmonious and sensitive.
There are some delicate tracks of an introspective nature
touched with wistful melancholy, there are some rather grandiose
pieces too as well as some passages of dazzling keyboard work
such as the intricate Scherzo for the Coming Spring - there
is no doubt that Agostino is an accomplished pianist. |
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| ARTWORK |
|
Roots
and Wings comes in a jewel case with a single sheet insert.
The imagery consists of some attractive sunset photographs
where the brightness of a deep orange sun is caught on the
glass of a flat roofed building. A single gull wheels in the
air silhouetted against dusky crepuscular skies. Text is minimal,
only essential information is presented: titles on the front
panel; a tracklist at the rear along with an email address. |
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| OVERALL |
|
Solar
Camel is the project of Italian composer/performer Agostino
Mascarello. Roots and Wings builds on a discography that includes
Train in a Rainbow and Signs of a Civilisation under the same
project name. Agostino also records music under the alias
Polar Camel (indeed many of the pieces on this album were
previously presented under the Polar Camel moniker) - both
projects can be found at Myspace with a variety of tracks
to sample. This album is a self released disc consisting of
fourteen recordings of high quality audio demonstrating striking
clarity of sound and skilful production methods. |
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| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
Roots
and Wings is a CD for lovers of relaxing classical music with
a playful new-age flavour. If you enjoy emotive piano work
with electronic embellishment then it might well be worth
you visiting the Polar
Camel Myspace page to listen to the example tracks offered
there. |
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----------Eitan
Reiter - Places I Miss That I Haven't Been To |
| STYLE |
|
Electronic
chillout and intimate ambient exploration. This album is
a musical journey that progresses unself-consciously through
some very personal musical territory, full of pleasant wonderment
and unfettered by genre distinctions. Smooth beatless passages
of synthetic drones morph gradually into lazy downtempo
where the beats are muted yet crisp, pleasantly individual
affairs. Rich sonorous flutes overlay sharp digital textures;
dreamy guitars contrast musing speech samples; violin, piano
and various voices broadening the sound palette. There is
something of a retro feel among all the modernity here -
I'm reminded of some of the better instrumental concept
albums of the seventies with perhaps less emphasis on melodic
themes and a greater opening for ambient space. |
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| MOOD |
|
Places
I Miss That I Haven't Been To has a warm sense of ingenuous
tranquillity running throughout. A relaxing exploratory nature
with the unusual distinction of appearing un-influenced by
trends within the field and the need to draw a specific audience.
Eitan Reiter doesn't come across as trying to sound like anyone
else or wanting to fill a specific niche. This album quickly
establishes itself as a blissfully idiosyncratic meander through
the moods and sensations of the artist, shifting form and
character as the whim arises. |
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| ARTWORK |
|
Steeped
in warm earthy tones Places I Miss That I Haven't Been To
is a jewel case presentation with three panel fold-out insert.
The various sections feature some hand drawn artwork as unique
and unusual as the music itself: a leaf shrouded figure perched
on the bough of a bare tree, the tree itself re-appearing
silhouetted or overlaid upon textured surfaces. There is a
tracklist on the rear and within, a third extended version
showing writing and performance credits. Website details and
contact information are present for both label and artist.
Eitan provides a paragraph of explanation revealing the deeply
personal approach taken in the telling of this story. There
is a generous pair of paragraphs given over to relevant thanks
- one from the artist, one from Aleph Zero. |
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| OVERALL |
|
Although
Places I Miss That I Haven't Been To is presented as Eitan
Reiter's debut solo album, it is by no means his first release:
he recently enjoyed being half of Unoccupied for the album
Everyday Life as well as having released a range or dance
music under his own name, and psytrance under the LOUD project.
This twelve track disc is delivered via Aleph Zero and shows
that the label is happy to foster creative music that sits
beyond the usual spectrum. |
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| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
If
you appreciate music that reveals a personality rather than
conforming to a stylistic standard then this might well be
for you. Meandering ambient downtempo for lovers of musical
narrative that enjoy being transported. Try out the E-Flier
if you want to get the flavour and read more info before purchase
or else have a listen to the samples at Aleph
Zero. |
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| AUDIO |
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----------Solar
Camel - Train in a Rainbow (Reissue) |
| STYLE |
|
Warm,
inviting new-age electronica with strong emphasis on melody
and thematic development. Many compositions here, such as
Sailing and Solemnis are formed around carefully constructed
lead lines where the melodic arrangements take centre stage,
whereas tracks like Hunting, for example, are more rhythmic
at heart, allowing layered phrases and sequencial patterns
to drive the music.With percussive content often to the
fore, Train in a Rainbow sees each track unfold to a different
programmed beat, most of which are bright, lively synthetic
affairs of mid to uptempo pace. Sometimes, as with The Lake,
grooves are accompanied by percolating arpeggios, other
pieces feature fusion rhythms with ethnic percussion.
|
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| MOOD |
|
Train
In A Rainbow has a positive, light mood for the most part,
combining the warmth and overt passion of new-age music
with the electronic mechanism of much Berlin school electronica.
There are some dramatic pieces with orchestral or string
sections, whilst at the other end of the spectrum there
are some dance tracks with something of an 80s synth pop
feel. The liquid clarity of the sonic palette and the uncluttered
nature of the arrangements give the album a rather high-tech
sound with a peaceful, lucid quality.
|
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| ARTWORK |
|
The
updated album arrives in a jewelcase with single sheet insert.
The front cover image features a colourful graphic locomotive
apparently travelling along a twisting rainbow. This same
image is repeated on the rear cover only here it is faded
away into ghostly pallor with track titles overlaid. At
the foot of this back panel can be found website details
and an email contact address.
|
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| OVERALL |
|
Agostino
Mascarello's solo project Solar Camel released the Train
in a Rainbow album (previously reviewed at Morpheus
Music) in 2009. The disc has since been given an overhaul
with attention paid to providing a more consistent track
list focussing on electronic sounds. The classical side
of Agostino's personality can be experienced through the
Roots and Wings album
also reviewed recently at Morpheus.
Once again Agostino's digital piano/synth/vocals
are accompanied by the voice of Brazilian born Déia.
The new disc consists of no less than eighteen tracks and
can be found at CD
Baby or alternately you can sample some tracks and keep
up with new developments at the Solar
Camel Myspace page.
|
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| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
Train in a Rainbow is an album for lovers
of synthesiser music with a new-age pop sensibility. Working
a similar territory to Zer0 0ne, Vitaly and Mythos - this
music might well be appreciatd by listeners enjoying gently
energetic modern sounds with electro-groove beats. If you're
wondering whether this is one for you - why not sample each
of the tracks at CD
Baby?
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