Syntonic Waves Vol. 8

This is the latest in the Syntonic Waves sampler series. Containing 13 tracks and over 70 minutes of music this is a good CD for hearing what artists on the Spheric Music label have to offer. The artists featured are: Klangwelt, Michael Obermeier, Jonson, Wild Element, Gunnar Spardel, Gianfranco Grilli, Erik Seifert, Deep Tune, Palantir, Carola Kern, Lambert, Faralley, and Foreign Spaces.

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Rather than try to provide an all too brief review of every track I'll focus on a handful that appealed to me in some way. This doesn't mean that I disliked all the other tracks, it's just my way of trying to provide a useful review.

Gerald Arend recording under the name Klangwelt has delivered a lovely melodic track called "Blue Planet." He was influenced by J.M. Jarre and Vangelis, as many listeners will probably realise. Combining melodies one would expect from Jarre and some majestic synths like Vangelis uses this is a lovely piece, it breaks no new ground but is pleasing to the ear.

The piece "Sonic Space" by Wild Element is very rhythmic verging on trance style music. It's definitely for those who like their music upbeat with lots of energy combining rhythm and melody. One to be played loud!

At a much slower pace is the lovely track "The Nile" by Gianfranco Grilli. Some of the effects in the first couple of minutes made me think of spacemusic. However, after that water sounds come in with a synth theme complemented by some drums and effects (including occasional voices) giving the piece an eastern flavour. This is relaxing and evocative.

As soon as the next track by Eric Seifert started up I thought "Hang on, this is Vangelis". Eric has used music from at least two Vangelis albums (I recognised The City and Soil Festivities) along with his own composition to create a pleasing laid back piece. It does come across as a montage though.

Carola Kern's "Return To Forever?" is an atmospheric, almost formless, piece that instils a sense of wonder and unease. A kind of rhythm in the background forms a base which one wouldn't be surprised to hear in a thriller or chiller film. On top of this synths and some effects add to the atmosphere, at times making this a little gothic in tone.

"Passing Images" by Lambert is somewhat reminiscent of Tangerine Dream. It contains plenty of sequencing with that highly processed voice you hear on some albums which sounds like someone drawing out the non-word "Arrrrrrrrr". As well as the sequencing there are melodies making the whole piece hang together well.

All in all Syntonic Waves is a great introduction to music on the Spheric Music label. There's a good variety of music from atmospheric and ambient styles to melodic and rhythmic. Of course, being a German label plenty of sequencing can be found too.

…..E arriva Gianfranco Grilli con “The Nile”. Brano ambient con sostegni etnici, si sviluppa in un’atmosfera delicata e ben costruita. L?inserimento di effetti completa l’immgine che porta la mente a comprendere ciò che l’autore vede nelle sua composizione.

Fantàstica recopilaciòn de material inédito con algunos de los mejores capìtulos en la musica elctrònica actual. Desde Klangwelt, banda alemana que confunde en su sonido la calitez melòdica de Vangelis y el esquematismo ritmico de Jarre. La mezcla es perfecta. Otros nombres como el espacial Gianfranco Grilli (ya experimentado pero desconocido sintetista), el minimalista Jonson, la nueva personalidad, tanto musical come sexual de Jùrgen Kern, ahora transfigurado en Carola, el cosmicismo renovador de Faralley…Hasta 13 temas de otros tantos sintetistas de nueva generaciòn.