Chris Harvey The White Sail

If you are looking for something a little different but still very accessible I highly recommend this CD. The first track 'Biomorph' starts off with cosmic sounds leading into a simple rhythmic section before a short repetitive lead line is introduced which is added to by a sympathetic sequence and the rhythm develops. It all comes together to give a very trance like effect. The rhythm dies away for a few seconds and then returns. The same themes, sequences and rhythms are repeated time after time but the track never gets boring as there always seems to be movement. The second track 'Allegiance' starts off very sedately and the sounds seem to be coming out of a fog or from far away. A simple melody gives it structure but the track is not cluttered and the resulting space gives it great atmosphere. We then move on to 'Paris' which is similar in some respects to the previous track, very laid back stuff and more strange than pretty, again the temptation to over clutter is resisted and this is what creates the atmosphere. I am reminded very much of the works of Roedelius. A tinkling piano sound and repetitive bass beat introduces us to 'Secrets From The Screen'. Again the use of very simple melodies given plenty of space and just the right subtle backing fascinates me drawing me further in. The melodies and simple rhythms weave in and out of each other relaxing every muscle. 'Liber Null - Part One' consists of "deep space" chords and drones which are replaced in 'Part Two' by a repeated bell / piano melody which is superimposed with a delicate sequence and the use of synth chords in the background give the track colour. 'Elation Sedation' has an almost funky feel to it and though that term would usually put me off a track straight away there is something here that fits the mood of the album perfectly; it certainly got my foot tapping. 'Plasmate' starts off rather ominously as if something nasty is about to happen, a piano sequence comes to the for then fades to the background again before coming a little closer to the surface, mutating all the time. A rather strange track which makes the Roedelius comparison mentioned earlier even more relevant. 'Pixelize' is one of the more energetic tracks on the album starting with a 'bright' sequence which is soon dominated by a bass dance beat . This track is certainly different to anything else on the album and it does add variety though that rather strange feeling still permeates. 'Jorg' sounds rather ethnic in both the sounds and rhythms chosen . As we have come to expect by now it is a perfectly crafted piece but to me is my least favourite on the album. The last track 'The White Sail' is a rather avante garde consisting of drones of varying volume and intensity. It sounds just like something from the Hearts of Space 'Fathom' label and might be very good as part of one of their albums, I'm not really sure it fits here. So to sum up, this album is certainly not for those that like their music to be rhythmic but for those who like atmosphere and invention this is for you. (DL)

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