Nautilus
Rising Balloon
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After the compulsory but finely crafted atmospheric opening minute it is straight into a slow sequence that wouldn’t have been out of place on a Rolf Trostel album. In the background are samples of radio broadcasts (appropriately for a track called ‘AirWaves’) that seem to be about nuclear tests. The title track is littered with melancholy melodies over a chugging sequence low in the mix. The guitar line during the last three minutes is particularly effective. ‘Playballs’ begins with a sequence that brings up images of light being broken up into rainbow colours as it illuminates a small woodland waterfall. The image slowly evolves and builds until the original delicate sequence is joined by one of the more robust variety. ‘The Mystery Jungle’ makes more use of samples but is mainly a very melodic number both in the sequences themselves and the lead lines. It is all change at the half way mark as insect sounds and strange noises dominate, we have now entered the jungle and things continue this way until a minute from the end when it is back to melody and sequence.

More Jungle type noises start ‘Prayers of the Wind’, the rhythm then takes over with the sounds of the said wind blowing over the top and vocal samples occupying the middle ground. The rhythm builds still further and a flute mimics the previous vocal line. The samples return with new vigour as do the drums and continue to the end. ‘Hypnotic Balloons’ makes use of a tubular bell sounding sequence but this changes through a multitude of mutations to something that sounds altogether more synthetic. The track basically consists of this “hypnotic” sequence gradually changing right until the end. ‘The River’ is a delightful melodic piece, simple but beautiful. The melodies are just gorgeous. Easily the best track on the album.

Mesmerizing tabla rhythms and suitably Eastern samples provide the backbone to another hypnotic number ‘Flying Home in Trance’. Second time I heard this was after a couple of lagers and it sounded absolutely brilliant. Speaking of lager the last track is called ‘Return of the Drunken Playballs’ but this one didn’t improve when given the amber liquid treatment. (DL)

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