Sonic Ambience Images 2 CDR / 11 Tracks / 55.52 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Take Off') Please go to the Store to buy this item.

Sonic Ambience create a beautifully laid back style of music that would settle in the more relaxed and melodic end of the Synth Music Direct spectrum though there are the occasional tracks which do have a little more oomph. Think of some of Peter Mergener's Prudence recordings or even a slightly more upbeat G.E.N.E. It most certainly isn't 'ambient music' in the traditional Brian Eno sense. 'Caravane' starts with effects of a hot landscape with little twittery insects. Rhythm and didgeridoo type sounds bring up images of Australia but it isn't all 'ethnically' inspired stuff, as more conventional and quite beautiful Western melodies weave a lovely spell over the gently syncopated backing. 'Tom Walk # 8' uses subtle tom tom rhythms around little percussive effects over which the most gorgeous of swelling melodies float. Lovely stuff. 'China Street' starts with tinkling wind chime type effects and chugging rhythms. More beautiful melodies, this time on flute and other ethnic instruments, sooth the soul. 'Don't let your Dreams let you Down' slows the pace still further whilst slightly melancholy pads drift through the air. Delicate piano and plucked string leads take turns to be the dominant feature, sometimes combining in unison. 'Sciencefaction' uses a really nice melding of sounds before getting into the heaviest and meanest rhythm on the album so far- a really infectious shuffling groove. From a jungle waterfall backdrop 'Take Off' develops into the best track on the album, a real foot tapping, hook laden (the main melody really is sublime) perfectly composed infectious piece of music- absolutely fantastic! 'Villefranche' and 'Lines' are fairly similar. Like most of the tracks here, they have a simple beauty, the melodies being uncluttered but exquisitely composed, just being allowed to create their own spell. 'Oriental Experiment' begins with quirky percussion and progresses to give us a super relaxed gently chugging five minutes of pure chill. 'Sound of Waves' has a rather appealing cello beginning, giving it a rather classical feel, emphasised still further by piano melody but all set in a sort of haze, as if heard from the edge of a dream.

So completely undemanding and fairly relaxed stuff, ideal for just chilling out to at the end of a hectic day. I have chosen the second volume of the three Images albums to review because it was my favourite (just) but if you like this you are also bound to like the other two. (DL)

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