Axess
Time Traveller

Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband   Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb
(Excerpt from track(s) 'Mirror of Illusions')

CD / 10 Tracks / 73.41 mins

This is the third solo album by Axess. The title track gets straight into a rapid twangy sequence and chugging rhythm which really motor. More drums are added giving even greater oomph. Some lovely little dreamy / breathy touches provide excellent contrast combining with a repeated melodic motif. 'The Uncertainty Principle' uses an infectious slow loping groove which finds a perfect companion in an excellent melodic sequence. Get those air drums out and give them a good bash! You will have to switch to air keyboard though a few seconds later to play along with the superb lead line. 'Cuba Libre' has a rather odd distorted echoing beginning before developing a sort of trancey / dancey quality but with a slow moody ethereal melody providing a fascinating juxtaposition with the rhythms. There is even a slightly Jarre type sequence thrown in their for good measure!

'Fly Away' if anything is even more dance orientated than the previous number. It is handled with real skill, full of many lines of shifting pulsations with some little sublime melodies that drift softly but exquisitely over the top. 'Mirror of Illusions' has real attitude, the drums slowly rolling, with almost a snarl. A fast fizzing sequence exudes between the beats. A blistering lead completes a perfect picture as it flashes from the speakers. A second moodier melody alternates with the first before joining forces. I can't praise this track enough- simply awesome! 'Pharao' uses insectile twitterings as a background to ethnic chanting. A slow rhythm enters in the second minute. The whole thing has a rather lush dreamy feel. 'Bombay Fruit Market' begins with some rather 'odd' vocoded text but a rapid metallic sequence soon takes over and for the third time on the album a mild dance rhythm can be heard. The melodies and sequences combine together to make an extremely catchy piece that you will find it hard to keep you feet still to.

'Lost in Space' is another slow body moving number with a lovely uncluttered feel where the melodies are again spot on. 'The Voyage' has a rather breathy whimsical beginning out of which a shuffling almost squelchy rhythm develops. A melodic sequence / loop then additional drums kick the track into life, becoming more syncopated all the time. As with most of this album however it is the melodies that take it way above your average dance tinged offering. This is beautiful but also energetic at the same time. We finish with 'World of Secrets'. Initially it is all tranquil, even cosmic, with some 'on the edge of a dream' type sounds. Ethereal pads make things seem even more spacey. A rather Berlin School sequence pulses to the surface, accompanied by subtle rhythmic touches. More sequences / loops are added and we are soon chugging along nicely. We finish with quite a long atmospheric section making use of lovely wordless vocal type pads. (DL)

This page is part of a frame set. If you can't see the information strip to the left of the screen then click on the smd logo above.