Syn Synphara Play: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi   Download: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi (Excerpt from track 'Delos')

Basically, if you liked the first two albums you will have to purchase this one as well. Right from the beginning of the opener 'Cydonia' sequences are the order of the day. Pulsations bubble over lush soft mellotron pads, amply demonstrating just how well David Dewdney, the man behind Syn, has mastered the art of seventies influenced retro Sequencer music. Things chug along beautifully, the sound palette being spot on, getting even better just before the six-minute mark with the introduction of a second sequence and another fine lead line. 'Valles Marineris' starts rather ominously. Reverberating stabs of sound underpin a little fleeting melody backed by delicate drones. This is superbly crafted atmospheric stuff. A rhythm enters in the fifth minute. It is rather hypnotic and wouldn't have been out of place in some shamanic ceremony. The last two and a bit minutes takes us back to pure atmospherics.

Echoing sounds mix with cosmic twitters and delicate leads- wonderful. A solar wind gets 'Utopia Planitia' underway and continues throughout this long journey through uncharted regions of the galaxy. Faint little sonic touches here and there emphasise the feeling of deep space superbly. Nearer the end a two-note sequence very gradually starts to seep its way into the consciousness. It is accompanied by a gorgeous flute lead line sounding as if it has come straight from TD's 'Stratosfear' period. We fade back to atmospherics to finish. 'Olympus Mans' takes us back to storming sequences, the sort that would get you driving far too fast. It really is wonderful stuff with just the right amount of melody to keep the mind occupied as well as the feet tapping. 'Delos' still deploys the sequencer but this time the pace is slower.