Cyscape
Deep Sea Explorer
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(Excerpt from track 'Frontiers')
CDR / 10 tracks / 65.19 mins

This is the second Cyscape CD I have had the pleasure of reviewing. The first was Alignment, which was an interesting release of floating ambient music.

This new release Deep Sea Explorer has a bit more form to it and even runs into rhythmic beat territory. Cyscape is the brainchild of British musician Phil Riches.

The album starts with gentle washes of pulsing electronic sound, mysterious and scene setting for the rest of the album, the track being called The Descent aptly conveys the feeling of entering the depths of the vast ocean.

A two-part composition is up next and is entitled Crossing The Plains Parts 1 and 2 and this is where the difference between this new album and the previous release starts to be heard. A slow sequence enters the mix and echoed effects punctuate the sound field then the beat becomes almost like a electric tribal sound that really takes on a life of its own, a very compulsive listenable experience. More atmospherics follow and more pulsing sounds enter the mix almost like a piece of sophisticated machinery taking some important reading!

The pulsing sequences play an important role in this recording and for me was the important factor in making this album a fresh sounding recording. Infact half way through listening to it on my computer I applied my Windows Media player and just enjoyed the spacey graphics along with the music!! An interesting recording that should appeal to the ambient music lover who likes the mixture of atmospherics along with the hypnotic groove of the pulsing sequences. (Gary Andrews / Ambiant Visions)

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