Various Awakenings 2008 Vol 2 DCDR 12 Tracks 155.50 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Invisible Boundaries')

The latest Awakenings offering of mainly Berlin School inspired tracks kicks off with 'Winter Sky' by sequencer meister Ruud Heij. Crystalline pulsations mix with a subtle bass line over gentle synth colouring. Next up is the first of two tracks by Ion. 'The Missing Link' has a rather 80s synth pop feel as it bounds forward energetically full of joy in a way that is bound to lift the mood and put a smile on the face. 'Brendon Pollard's 'The Redwood Trail' begins all spookily with lots of ace cosmic twitters and whooshing sounds. When the sequence arrives it is quite a contrast, bouncing along in a melodic and even slightly playful way. Lovely little understated shimmering melodies appear along with lush mellotron. More sequences emerge during the last few minutes, keeping the interest going until the end. Really lovely stuff. AEM donates 2 tracks 'Hinterseite Symetrie Part 1' has a very effective atmospheric opening section before a rapid sequence materialises. Initially it is kept quite low in the mix but it keeps trying to surge as if testing its restraints. Eventually it does become the main focus, morphing as it goes though still retreating from time to time, sometimes completely disappearing. Its final return during the last few minutes is the most impressive section of the track. 'Part 2' starts with lovely soothing drones before more rapid note patterns storm forward. As with the first part however these ebb and flow in and out of the atmospherics to try and give a sense of movement and change. In some ways these interludes have an even greater impact than the faster sections. Peter Tedstone gives us a 22 min version of his track 'Vortex'. We begin with tranquil running water; moody dark bass string sounds giving an uneasy edge. Eventually we bed down to tron refrains and a slow pulse. The pace quickens and a high register sequence lets rip. A little melody keeps coming and going, as does the sequence over a frequently changing backing. More forceful leads enter in the second half. Entity's 'Berlin' continues in sequencer mode, introducing them almost immediately. At first they are quite restrained but as the track progresses they slowly but surely gain added power, and even a snarl. Chromengel starts the second disc with birdsong. Beautiful soft pads add to the tranquillity. A deep slow bass line slowly develops giving a little oomph with a contrasting delicate lead over the top. A storm can be heard brewing in the distance but it stays there, melody and bass line combining together exquisitely. This is a wonderful composition and one of my favourite on this double album so far. Modulator ESP's 'Slowburn' introduces itself with a collage of excellent sonic whooshes. A slow sequence emerges in the fourth minute. A second then a third fall into formation, combining together excellently. The track builds well, lovely melodic sequences combining instinctively with moody backing. Another highlight of the album. An echoing piano melody and mellotron herald the excellent 'Invisible Boundaries' by The Omega Syndicate. The sequence is pretty damned good too, picking up the pace until it is joined by a classic organ line then further sequence. In the eighth minute the band really crank things up with heavy rhythm and lead solos. This is one of the band's best tracks and my favourite here, even over the other tracks already singled out. 'Annoying the Neighbours' is the second by Ion. I was expecting it to be a loud number on the Heavy Metal side of EM but in reality it is exactly the opposite, quite a melancholy and reflective piece, and all the better for it. HyperEx Machina round things off with 'Compost Mentis'. Soaring guitar flies above steady moody rhythm, dominating all else and really letting rip, providing quite an in yer face finish. (DL)

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