Gert Emmens The Nearest Faraway Place Vol 1 CD / 7 Tracks / 70.52 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Part 7')

Right from the gorgeous opening with lush swirling backing and lovely flutey synth then melodic loop and bouncing sequences this album overflows with pure class. Gert has always been able to combine his skills for sequencing and melody (and there are loads of both here) better than almost any other solo artist. Some excel in one department, some in another but he has the full package. This isn't heavy stuff, just exciting, positive, body moving music that will get under your skin and demand to be played time and time again. Subtle guitar work courtesy of Jan Dieterich gives those moments where he appears individual character that separates it from the other Gert Emmens tracks. Jan imparts just the right amount of colouring without ever really letting rip, enhancing Gert's own leads rather than battling against them. There is a great deal of syncopation but as with all the other elements here it is pitched at just the right level so as not to bludgeon everything around it. This is an album to simply enjoy, ideal for a summers day or to take on holiday. In some ways it reminded me a little of Chris Franke's 'Pacific Coast Highway' but with the tracks being longer here there is more time to develop and really get into each piece. No great effort is required on the part of the listener, just lie back and enjoy. File under mellow pulsations and rhythms. (DL)

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