Lakveet-Scab Silent Mars Play: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi   Download: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi (Excerpt from track 'Irradiatus')

This is a hugely enjoyable CD. Its very accessible in the way that some of Tangerine Dream's best 80s material was but with an even stronger melodic content. In places it even reminded me a little of the recent release by Otarion, 'Evolution'. 'Unlikely Thesis' gets straight into a bouncy sequence with wonderful bass undertones and a brilliant melody that you can actually hum. The rhythms then come in and even these have a highly melodic quality to them. Pretty much more of the same is served up for the next track 'Irradiatus' but if anything this one is even more dramatic and driving, but why so short! The first half of the third number 'The sands are running out' is a cosmic affair, soft pads being allowed to float in the air with shimmers of sound adding colour. A slow moody sequence starts up and the lead lines have a faintly Eastern feel to them, its all rather trippy actually.

'The Aisle Moves' has a sinister beginning then another superb sequence begins and gets into a real groove but just when it really seems to be getting going it finishes…..ahh! 'Pinatype Process' has an atmospheric beginning then we get guitar sounds followed by ,wizz bang, another superb sequence. Really much of this music is so descriptive it would go very well with movies, particularly dark, psychological thrillers. 'Tricks & Games of Mrs. Thumb' has a warbling feel to it with slapped bass type sounds. We get into a groove then another great melody is introduced using a tubular bell type sound, all very infectious. A train whistle and spooky night sounds abound in 'Preknowledge.com'. 'La Source Des Dieux' again shows that these guys are very much at home with producing spot on sequences and scintillating melodies, both taking equal billing. There is no aimless noodling here. 'Forge Nomads' would go well with an 'on the edge of your seat' type film as indeed would the final number 'Twelve Wishes' but this track has a more melancholy feel to it. 'Silent Mars' was a pleasure to review, next time though guys please extend the tracks a little, you have so many good ideas this album could have used up 70 plus minutes easily by just developing each track a little. Still a great album though, I'm just greedy. When I like something a lot, I just want more of it. (DL)

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