Various Artists Best of AD Music Vol 1 DVD (Ocean of Light)

This is the DVD version of an album reviewed by Steve Roberts a few months ago. As the cover states 'The music is blended seamlessly with relaxing video images of sunlit lakes, mountain streams and gentle seas'. Just to make it clear these are moving video images, not stills. It is really designed as an aid for relaxation and as such does an extremely good job with some excellent images fitting well with a selection of wonderful soft melodic music from the AD Music label. The track listing and order is exactly the same as on the CD except that two extra ones have been added. Below you will find a review of the music provided by Steve plus a review by me of the two extra tracks tagged on to the end. (DL)

A superb compilation featuring artists from the AD Music Label and an essential introduction for the uninitiated with a couple of previously unreleased tracks to tempt those with more than a couple of these albums already in their collection . Bekki Williams' previously unissued 'Sub Aqua' starts proceedings with a lushly evocative tone poem before 'Ocean of Light' by Cobalt (D.Massey and P.Massey) also exclusive to this release, makes its mark, reminiscent, not surprisingly given the personnel, of a stripped down Callisto.

'Ocean of Light' is an infectious melody impeccably performed and recorded. '24 AM' from Timecode follows. An exquisite Wright/Fox composition that will have you stacking up those Code Indigo albums for heavy rotation. Cinematic, with jazz tinged textures adding to the air of world weary melancholy. Sheer class. This is then followed by Robert Fox's sublime 'Queen of Hearts'(remix) which is taken from the undervalued Trance AD album. Fox's magnificent melody and subtle sense of dynamics still send shivers down the spine. 'Beyond Paradise' from David Wright's outstanding 'Walking With Ghosts' album is joined by 'A Certain Malaise' and the title track 'Walking With Ghosts', more than enough to confirm the album's status. Bekki's 'In The Arms of Morpheus' (remix) demonstrates her work with effective light and shade and ambient textures.

Robert Fox is further represented by 'And All Shall Be Well' from 'The Fire and the Rose' and 'Water Music' from 'Talking Heads, the former being more representative of the composer's epic flourishes and the latter another sublime track demonstrating Fox's compositional skill and rich sonic textures and increasingly keen sense of dynamics. Code Indigo tracks 'Code 14' from 'For Whom the Bell' and 'Stasis' and 'Snow Paths' are timely reminders of how great this band is and really deserve greater crossover success and acclaim. AD Music's best kept secret, Witchcraft, is also represented here and offers an interesting alternative to the above with 'Ultraviolet' from 'Scattered Areas of Invisibilty' and 'We Rest' from 'As I Hide' demonstrating the versatility and diversity of the AD stable of artists with some rare vocal contributions. I remember reviewing Raviv Gazit's 'Shapeshifter' album and suggesting that he would be ideally suited to join the Froeses to give an infusion of freshness and innovation to Tangerine Dream compositions. 'Ovi' demonstrates these qualities admirably and is not even the best cut from the album. 'Postlude', probably included as much for the suitability of the title and its running time represents the brilliant 'First Breath' album by Catalin Marin, an essential album if you are a fan of Vangelis at his melodic best.

There you have it, quite simply a first class compilation of melodic electronic/ambient music from an innovative label that more than deserves your attention and patronage. An ideal starting point for someone unfamiliar with the label and the artists and of considerable interest to completists as well. (SR)