Spacecraft Hummel

A slow melody forms over gentle synth pads. From time to time faint angelic vocal touches are added that just do enough to hold the attention before a delicate sequence starts up and the most fragile of melodies develops. The sequence cranks up a gear though still restrained in order not to shatter the fantastic atmosphere so carefully crafted. The lead lines and sequence are in a constant state of flux with each mutation taking us from one beautiful world to another.

The eight tracks on the album are individually titled though really they all come over as different movements from one long piece. We then move to what sounds like a rather noisy bit of the spacecraft. Another sequence forms and the music regains some sort of structure but it isn't long before we are back out in deep space, drifting quietly.This sense of drift isn't allowed to become boring however as a melody, sometimes accompanied by a sequence, sometimes not, conjures up images of passing through a series of solar systems. Vast synth pads swell, sometimes engulfing the lead line which is half sequence / half melody.

We then get a section which sounds like the ticking of clocks. A piano line is added and we hear what could very well be the clocks chiming. We return to the vastness of space and angelic vocal touches again provide the detail. The vocal returns but this time proper words can be made out though they are not in English. Latin perhaps? The backing instrumentation is particularly stunning as if it is a cushion, protecting a precious gem. People who have been reading my reviews for some time will know of my dislike for sounds that are too sweet or twee. The vocal here is like that precious gem but it is beautiful without ever remotely making me think of engaging the twee filter (the skip button). It is in fact one of the best sections of the album. The last part keeps up the quality which just oozes from this album.