Ian Boddy
Future Tech
Library CD / 22 tracks / 57.23 mins plus 30 sec samples
An echoing pulse is augmented by a real kick ass rhythm as the title track belts forward oozing real attitude. Tracks like 'New Dawn', 'City Dreamscape', 'Memory' and 'Neutron' however are the antithesis of the previous number as soft pads swell then fade away with little tinkling shimmers over the top. Peaceful and relaxed. 'Tectonic' and 'Ambient Trip' are all rather contemporary sounding with very staccato beats mixing together creating a feel that is cool, chilled out and decidedly hip. 'Production' and 'Brighter Future' both have a rather industrial edge to them, all bleeps and clangs but developing a rather infectious groove, like robots working in a factory, dancing away as they get on with their work!

'Console' and 'Dissonance' are quite fun being a montage of electronic effects and trippy beats, a bit like Conrad Schnitzler meets Banco de Gaia! They left a broad smile on my face. 'Biocube', 'Ghost' and 'Bit Stream' are decidedly cosmic, little electronic shimmers and light metallic tones combining together to take us to galaxies far away. 'Static' is a very stripped down track, a cool rhythm being the main feature but the accompanying embellishments, though subtly used, are just as effective as the beats. 'Transmission' is all moody and tense, little beats mixing with a rather ominous melody. 'Evolver' and 'Travels' are the fastest tracks, simply exploding with energy. 'Cyber Driven' is very melodic with infectious beats contrasted by sparse backing. 'Algebraic' and 'Electricity' are decidedly weird and avant-garde, just bleeps, scrapes and rumbles mixed together in an interesting way. 'Metropolis' is a fantastic track that belts along with wonderful rhythms and a lovely little melodic motif. It would be just as good live as it is here.

Library discs are all about setting moods to images. Ian is a master of this with quite a few such CDs under his belt. His music can regularly be heard on Film and TV. Commercial producers use these discs when they want to put a soundtrack to their creations. The discs form a 'Library' of music from which they can choose, thus their name. (DL)

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