Gideon
I saw the comments by Endogenous regarding this album, so I gave it a quick listen and WOW! This is a hidden gem and in my opinion, one of the best sequencing albums I have heard.
Emancipators
Chanced upon this gem while listening to Javi's catalogue, after a couple of his recent releases caught my interest. This a series of impressive sequencing sections separated by equally enjoyable slower parts. 16min in is a revisit to 70s Berlin School. Each part is equally enthralling and testament to his skill at layering sequences and creating emotive crescendos. There is even a 'dirty' (in a good way) sound that drives the music at the later stages. An enjoyable ride.
JAVI CANOVAS - 'IN THIS MOMENT, IN THIS PLACE'. This is a concert and completely improvised as one long piece of music. It starts with a 'pre-autobahn Kraftwerk-like' collage of sound effects and noises! This rather interesting strangeness disappears and atmospheric sounds flow, and a 'glass-bottle' sounding rhythm starts, then a metallic sequence joins in establishing a steady flow of cool music, lead lines come and go and another sequence joins this piece, building very nicely. At 7 minutes a powerful sequence hurtles forward, and this hypnotic brew builds to a peak. My 'graphic EQ' is now at full volume across the whole analyzer spectrum! After over 11 minutes we drift into heavy atmos' and it evolves, reminding me of Vangelis. I feel like I'm sat in the depths of hell, then it fades away and a mean sequence comes forward with effects at 16 minutes, a flute starts playing like mid-70's TD. Great effects are added and I imagine being on a futuristic train hurtling through the desert. The sequence builds to a frenzy with a second one joining in to berlin school super-heaven. Improvised music doesn't get any better than this! I know that a lot of Javi's contemporaries would be in awe of this! Several minutes more and it peaks again and again and is totally euphoric, and has me in a trance-like state. At about 25 minutes the layers disappear to a rapid sequence with effects, and then heavy atmospheric ambience takes over, phew! I think I need a few minutes to recover. Luckily, this is very relaxing and therapeutic, but not for long! At 30 minutes it takes a dark and menacing twist and I sense change, as effects come and go. After 34 minutes the atmos' disappears leaving the effects, then a light sequence positively bounces forward bringing a sense of optimism. A second one joins in and it builds up with rapid notes which is great on headphones! This is a very hypnotic experience and as good as Peter Baumann or Johannes Schmoelling at their best! Just lie back, close your eyes and go wherever you like! Great playing Javi. At 45 minutes another great build of layers, rhythms and effects, sounds like sonic bursts of energy. It subsides with a loud organ sound, sequencing becoming more background, leaving atmospherics and piano taking over at 50 minutes, very nice interlude! At 54 minutes a menacing sound marches forward along with a rapid sequence and synth noises and effects, then we are on another journey. A new sequence rapidly takes us on one of those 'alien world roller-coaster virtual reality rides' that I have experienced at the 360 degrees cinema-dome at the 'national space centre' in the UK. This is the best Javi album I have heard so far, how can he or anyone beat this? Amazing beyond description! Anyway, we are getting layers of sequencing, effects, lead lines and arpeggios of epic proportions, nothing is left out! At 65 minutes it fades out into heavy atmospheric sounds and we return to another Vangelis sounding section, ending at 70 minutes. This album made me so happy that it gave me tears of joy in my heart. Music is made to touch your innermost emotions and move you. This album is euphoric, even at 3AM - In This Moment, In This Place. This is one of the great EM albums of all time, my favourite!. Review by Geoff Mason.
supported by 24 fans who also own “In This Moment, In This Place”
I think Cosmic Ground is a exciting band. Old fashioned and with nice vibes and rhytms. But I miss something. Many compare with TD. Maybe, but I lack the crescendo at the end of the songs. It becomes boring when the end lacks a Froeselike guitarsolo. Something is missing, the crescendo is missing, the songs just exit out with no proper end explosion. Roger Adler
A majestic yet delicate album from Berlin school-style synth masters Node, recorded in 1994 but unreleased until now. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 21, 2023
Hushed and lovely electronic music from this Washington musician with a stateliness that borders on classical composition. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 22, 2020
Willaris. K’s latest EP shimmers with textural synths and a newfound sense of sonic spaciousness in its arrangements. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 16, 2020