Paul Ellis Into The Liquid Unknown Please go to the Store to buy this item.

Paul's prior solo work, 'Appears To Vanish,' was a great foray into both familiar territory and new electronic ground. Influences of Jean-Michel Jarre and Tangerine Dream were present, with more active and melodic elements. He ventures more into his own on this release, which he likens to baroque minimalism. And if it ain't baroque, don't fix it. Seriously, this is a nice diversion from typical Berlin school sequencing. Oh, yes, there are loops and sequences aplenty, but this isn't relaxed space music with a simple pulse or two. It is very active, always on the move. 'Bend In The River' and the title track begin with almost twenty minutes of rapidly shifting up and down electronics, surrounded by solid bass lines, and lots of synths and effects. Though energetic, it is also manages to be relaxed at the same time. The bubbly, cascading sequences are a familiar theme throughout. But the disc features some really cool atmospheric pieces as well, such as 'Moonlit Stream At The Mouth Of A Cavern,' a teaser that is almost shorter than the time it takes to read the title. It serves as the intro to my favourite track, 'Under The Waves, A Sky Of Water.'

This is so reminiscent of Jarre's active works, such as 'Magnetic Fields,' a real treat. The flutey synths are great. 'Slowly Rowing Through Ghost Melodies' has a meandering quality befitting its title. Next up is another favourite, "Undines," a tale of underwater nymphs that swirls in circular atmospheric textures. The rapid opening theme from the disc is revamped slightly in the next track, which then leads to the very pretty 'Glistening.' Crisp, clear bell tones bring Schulze to mind, but the composition seems tighter, not just loose improvisation. It's airy and beautiful but not at all schmaltzy. Wonderful stuff.