Dave Fulton & Giles Reaves The Range CD / 10 tracks / 60.33 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Fascination') Please go to the Store to buy this item.

The tracks on this album are separated into four Parts, the first of which 'Somedays Go On Forever' contains just one track, 'Endless Range and Time'. Lovely piano notes with loads of reverb and a long decay initially float above warbling electronics. The piano then becomes more energetic, coming in flourishes. Meandering organ makes its mournful progress. A sequence starts up for the beginning of the Second Part, 'The First Day' and its opening track 'Fascination'. Aggressive fizzing stabs and a lovely slow melancholy lead line join the pulsations which morph wonderfully, steadily increasing in pace. The drums then start up and the level of excitement increases. This is an awesome driving track with superb melodies- ideal for air keyboard playing. I must admit to have heard nothing like this from either of these artists before. 'Blinded by Time' quietens things down with some sort of ethnic wind instrument taking rather relaxed lead duties, punctuated by tinkling percussion. More rhythms strike up for 'Troubled Skies'. The drum sounds they use on this album are very realistic. I assume they are samples but they don't sound like it. A rather percussive sequence weaves around the beats wonderfully. There's a slight tribal feel but overall it's rather mesmerizing, full of energy and angst infused power. Another wonderful one.

'Part 3: A Question of.......' Begins with 'Enduring Time' which features some more impressive drum samples, this time beating out a more militaristic type rhythm over laid back dreamy melodies. The juxtaposition of these two contrasting elements really works very well. 'Being within the Range' starts with rather breathy electronic effects and deep brooding string sounds. This is really moody stuff enhanced by some sparse percussive piano. Spine tingling wonderful stuff. 'Feeling Hopelessly Drawn' initially carries on in a similar mood but then becomes rather reflective and 'thoughtful' as if looking out from a hillside, watching the passing of another day. The final part 'The long walk away' kicks off with 'The Range'. It has something of a brooding symphonic, massed strings feel with tinkling piano providing detail. Tension builds and builds only letting go in a sea of cosmic twitters right near the end.

'The Space Between' presses the piano into action once more and again it is used in a rather percussive way over lovely moody organ. The piano takes over lead duties and the mood lightens, though again still rather reflective with a hint of sadness. A new slow mournful lead soars above it all, reaching right for the heart then subsides as once again the piano takes over as the main feature. As the rhythms become more prominent the mood changes once more, moving forward positively with hope. This is a simply gorgeous track. Lovely little dripping tones drift into the distance as 'The Walk' gets underway. Flutey synth and strings create a beautiful dreamy atmosphere which is joined by slow drums and bass line. So we have a rather understated track to round up a wonderfully composed and highly enjoyable album. (DL)

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