Church
Play: Mid-Fi Hi-Fi
(Excerpt from track 'Torch')
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Arc Church Play: Mid-Fi Hi-Fi (Excerpt from track 'Torch') Please go to the Store to buy this item. |
This is all new music recorded live at a Gatherings concert in November 2009. We begin with the title track. A church bell chimes out then an ominous three beat rhythm and high hat create quite a chilling feel. The rhythms solidify over mellotron backing. Unusually though, instead of the comforting warm tones associated with that instrument a rather unsettling mood is created. This is a highly impressive start to the album, making me wonder where we go from here. The rhythm disappears and we descend to swirling misty effects. A deep pulse which morphs this way and that is joined by a sequence and lovely lead line. The growling sequence explodes. We are now hurtling forward at breakneck speed, another sequence joining the first. There is no sense of improvisation. Every note seems to be carefully composed though the excitement and energy created is quite amazing. Things then started to subside and I thought we were winding down for an atmospheric interlude but no. Instead more sequences enter, coming in waves. A fresh lead really lets rip and if anything the excitement level is cranked up still further. Absolutely amazing stuff right up to the rather apocalyptic sounding ending! So ‘Bliss Plane’, has rather a difficult act to follow. The opening moments are very encouraging though as a brace of sequences, one rapid and tinkling, the other incredibly bass laden making for a forceful start. The more high register of the two is quite melodic, morphing this way and that fitting in beautifully with a stunning but quite mournful lead line. The sequences are in constant flux, rising and falling, morphing as they go, weaving their own wonderful melodies. Brilliant, just brilliant. ‘Torch’ has a brief atmospheric opening section then a deep bass pulse enters, being felt as much as heard. This is replaced by an equally devastating sequence, the beefiest on the album so far (and that is saying something!). The pure energy that is created as we are surrounded by an avalanche of pulsations is quite awesome. As with all the tracks here there is plenty of movement, things are never left to just run. This number packs one hell of a punch. ‘Veil’ sets the scene with echoing note droplets then in comes a big twangy bass line which is contrasted by a shimmering silken lead. All is then change as a rapid no nonsense sequence bursts through. There is a sort of brooding menace to it all juxtapositioned by almost whimsical piano lead and sighing pads. Then things get even heavier with the introduction of crashing beats but once again we get a lighter contrast with a rapid higher register sequence, symphonic flourishes and a lead melody that would not have been out of place on ‘Crash Head’! Yet another absolutely awesome piece of music. ‘Falling through to Rapture’ initially mixes cosmic twitters with string type pads. A wonderful understated melody hovers in the middle of the mix. Every sequence on this album is amazing but the one deployed now is probably the best of the lot, sounding a bit like a hurtling steam train. A new lead line accompanies it at a similar speed. It is as if they are fencing, one stabbing while the other parries. A quite amazing track on an equally outstanding album. Unbelievably given the quality of the Arc albums already released, this is the best so far. Quite simply, an essential album to have in your collection. DL
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