Hannes Folberth
Adamas Shat Chakra Nirupana
Name seem familiar? Well if it does like me you might have been into a German rock band called Eloy in the past. Hannes Folberth was the virtuoso keyboard player involved with them for a few albums. Here we have a, for the most part, fairly relaxing CD making careful use of textures and melodies but there are also some more upbeat tracks to be found. We start with one of these, 'Muladhara'. It begins with tinkling note droplets then swirling pads provide a lush carpet over which a flutey synth lead line plays. A drum pattern then comes in and a new lead line plays a fantastic melody. More melodies are added supporting the first and we get into a brilliant groove. This is beautiful and completely irresistible stuff. What a superb start to an album!

'Svadishthana' uses cosmic wind effects over which a very Tangerine Dream like melody plays (off 'Tangram'?). Just float and chill out. 'Manipura' begins with more undulating drones then we get an Eastern sounding lead that combining with the underlying pads gives a rather swirling effect as if looking at something whilst under the influence of some iffy substance. As with everything on this album however, it is melodically first rate. 'Anahata' is the most meditative number so far. Each note and pad is picked with care to provide that perfect state of drift. The temptation to over clutter things is resisted and the space between the notes is just as important as what is actually played. Near the end white noise is allowed to slowly increase in the background giving the impression of a gentle rain gradually becoming heavier. This impression is increased still further as a thunderstorm can be heard in the background. 'Vishuddha' is almost too gentle, its as if we are watching a pool of water, the wind causing the occasional ripple, the ripples then merging to cause yet more complex effects.

'Ajna' is another rhythmic number. In fact it is the closest on here to what you would find on an Eloy album. The melodies and drum line are again spot on, got my whole body moving making it rather difficult to type. A cracking track! Finally we get 'Sahasrara' which starts with repeated bell tones fading into a deep bass drone. Other effects come and go but basically it is a very abstract piece of picture music which I wouldn't have been surprised if had been done by Robert Rich. At just over the half way mark we get a slow melody, each note being left to hang in the air and fade away before the next one replaces it. This album has a perfect balance between rhythm and relaxation, melody and drift. (DL)

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