SYNAESTHESIA 
166191
CD
EPHEMERAL (3RD ALBUM)

BERLIN SCHOOL (SYNTH)

‘Ephemera’ is slightly different but it is also a 100% certified gem! A magnificently spectacular, hour long album, one which carries masses of pent-up, harboured power – 7 tracks with a level of power that is never normally unleashed, and to such an extent, that it obliterates everything around it! – The Mellotron and synth soaked music just flows within a solid rhythmic force of bass and percussion; growing on you each time it's played. It's mighty and adventurous, familiar to a certain extent and powerfully rhythmic, but it has a curiously hypnotic, almost relaxing feel that you might not expect from an album of this type! It’s a joy to experience, it’s sound is brilliant and it has a production that'll inject new life into even the most tired of stereo systems and test those that think they are built to handle it. J  Interested… Want to know more? Read on…

The opening track; 'Nomad' sets the tone with lashings of flowing synths, space effects and combinations of Mellotrons and string synth layers. Drums, and not just any drums, form the majority of the rhythmic bases, and they are similar to the percussive foundations used by Mike Oldfield on the ‘Ommadawn’ album, in that they are similarly paced, albeit slightly slower, and the multi-percussive undercurrent they create sets the scene for the whole album. A magical river of rich synth sounds flows majestically throughout, with an undulating bass adding to the massive sound panorama. It's a transfixing album full of massive soundscapes that can intensify to becomes almost symphonic by the time they climax - A fascinating mix of symphonic and cosmic synth sounds on tracks that emerge from the darkness with gorgeous lead lines that fly high above the solid and powerful rhythmic base. There are many streams of penetrating bass chords coupled with heavenly Mellotron choral textures (as used by '70's-era TD). Track 4: ‘Entropy’, at just less than ten minutes long, is one of the best on the CD - Massed choral Mellotron layers and gentle tinkling percussion open the piece with sequencer rhythms and drums being sent further back in the mix for the opening three minutes. After that, Mellotron strings join the ethereal Red Shift style choral voices, then, the drums suddenly erupt with a central rhythmic heart. The hypnotic rhythmic beat gradually builds as keyboards and bass help take the music on its dramatic course, with string-synths and more Mellotrons wailing away on top. The combination of choirs and synths on top of the multi-layered rhythmic percussive base is absolutely magnificent, with the incredible production showcasing the perfect meeting of percussion rhythms, synths and Mellotrons in full flow.  In sharp contrast, 'Naked Sun' starts quietly as atmospheric tinklings dance over a stark landscape of synth effects, then massed keyboard / Mellotron samples merge and rise up with rumbling bass sounds and heavier tinkling percussion, to lead the track into a more echoed and dynamic passage. 'Descartes', closes the CD with a fantastic four minute piece where the drums have disappeared over the horizon to leave a simply gorgeous display of symphonic space synths combined with beautiful choral voices to bring the album to a more relaxed conclusion, and it’s nothing short of magnificent.

Weight: 150.00 g