Hemisphere
Liquid Mirror
A 1991 release by Ralf Knappe-Heinbockel which has been given the 20 Bit Remastering treatment by Ron Boots. This is a completely fascinating release. Hemisphere have demonstrated a remarkable ability to walk the tightrope between brooding atmospherics and accessible melody. More recent releases contain the ingredients enmeshed in seamless perfection. On 'Liquid Mirror' the raw constituents are still very much discernible, creating a wonderful variety of angles on a single album.

The opener 'Water - Colours' presents a slick rhythm and surprisingly optimistic synth motifs, the overall impression bringing to mind Patrick O'Hearn's smooth melodics. Track 3 'Northern Horizon' repeats the formula exactly - had these two pieces appeared as bonus tracks on O'Hearn's 'Indigo' I wouldn't have been suspicious or disappointed.

Contrast these pieces however with the epic 'Below Sealevel' which embarks on a 15 minute space journey with all the symphonics of Braheny and Demby rolled into one. 'We're Afloat' is the first hint that these are relatively early days for Hemisphere, lacking the expected spark and polish, however these moments are few and far between on this album and normal service is soon resumed as the magnificent 'Touch the Waves' takes over, full of latent energy with Vangelis '1492' touches. The picture is completed with the 4 part title track which occupies over 25 minutes of the album and provides a fascinating insight into how the darker edge to Hemisphere's work started to take shape. It's an epic drifter with so many aspects to enjoy.

And really that sums up the whole album. Brooding magnificence with a delightful twist. (GG)

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