Ma Ja Le Dreams in the Orchards of Saturn

This is an hour of sonic experimentation, mostly in the ambient and tribal realm, but with a complexity that sometimes defies easy categorization. 'Vaniorum Domnus' sounds like the dark soundtrack to an arty sci-fi film, with its sweeping strings, haunting echoed atmospherics, and other assorted sounds. A melody is hinted at, but never quite coalesces. Immediately preceding it, 'Silver Lullaby' has soothing tinkling bells over a simple repeating pulse, which is vaguely oboe-like, giving a slight classical feel, but only slight. Fans of Steve Roach and Vidna Obmana should enjoy 'Platipus Epitome,' heavy on the rainsticks, in combination with light tribal beats and other worldly synths. This track changes directions midway through. It sounds a bit like acoustic guitar with effects, but only electric guitar is credited, so it's either than or a synth. Anyway, the gentle reverberating tones gives fans of more structured music something to enjoy, and I found it very pleasant. 'Buttons' has a beautiful flute, also heavy on the reverb, with long drawn out notes playing over light but rapid percussion. This one really conjures up images of bygone primitive cultures.

'Alley Cat Sings Midnight Blues' is a very disjointed, experimental piece, with intentionally dissonant sounding noises competing for dominance. This one was a bit too challenging for my taste, but if you lean toward the truly experimental you may enjoy it. Returning to tribal ambience is 'Dance In Sands,' with haunting, long wails of sound over more light tribal beats. The percussion is a strong point throughout, nearly always enhancing the music without becoming intrusive. With the exception of 'Alley Cat,' the mood is pretty relaxed throughout. 'X J 32' shows that band mates Paul Vnuk Jr. and Chris Short are willing to try just about anything. Bright synths mix with somewhat heavier beats, with a very distant guitar, rocking in the background. It sounds like this shouldn't work, but it does. '3 Spheres' emphasizes cymbals initially, giving it almost a cool jazz improv feel for a moment. 'Willow Creek' is another strong atmospheric track with some more primitive elements. This is followed in closing by 'Flecks of Ancient Amber,' with shimmering metallic synths, and hints of a light melody through an electric guitar haze. This album is full of complexity and rich with interesting and surprising touches. (PD)

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