Erik Seifert Astronomical Unit CD / 9 Tracks / 55.50 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Distance 7')

All new music recorded live at Bochum Planetarium. The atmospherics chosen for the 'Prologue' were really quite awesome, gentle shimmerings and soft pads mixing with cataclysmic explosions. Personally I could have done without the synthesised speech explaining the concept to the album but I know some people go for that sort of thing, the wordless angelic vocal backing however was lovely. Tracks role into one another creating a seamless journey through the cosmos. A slow sequence eventually materialises then fades as little melodic motifs punctuate a whole host of twitters and effects. A meatier sequence surges forward kicking up quite a storm. There are lead lines but the pulsations are the main focus of attention. After an interlude for a mystical vocal monologue then more stellar explosions a slow throb takes over then things become rather rhythmic, getting into a real mean groove. Things calm down as we enter another passage of atmospherics, treading a fine line between ethereal and spooky. NASA type samples and more cosmic effects lead to a really low rumbling bass line with a contrasting high register sequence skipping over the top. Percussion increases the excitement further while a lonesome lead drifts amongst the energetic staccato backing. More NASA samples and jet engine type whooshes bring us to the end of the album and our journey through space. I can imagine just how effective this was in the planetarium setting. (DL)

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