Ian Boddy
Waterworlds
Ian's third library album sees a return to the ocean's depths and fans will be familiar with Ian's interest in this domain echoed on the 'Deep' album. However, some may be put off by the number and brevity of the tracks on offer here, but I beg to differ as this album stands up very well on its own merits.

To a great extent the reviewer's job is already done. For instance, the eponymous title track is described as being, "a peaceful melody with gentle expansive atmosphere" and that is, as they say , exactly what you get. Nevertheless, you do not get to experience the quality of the music unless you sample what's on offer here. Taking another example, 'The Abyss', "haunting vocals from the cold dark depths", is another superbly crafted and highly evocative piece. Laden with atmosphere, reminiscent of the Ligeti pieces on the classic 2001 soundtrack, Boddy creates a real brooding sense of mystery and foreboding. In direct contrast the next segment 'Ripples' is gentle, meditative and relaxing with Boddy deploying arpeggios with great skill. The album contains some fine melodic works as well as more esoteric, abstract tone poems. The quality control is very high throughout the set.

Boddy proves here, if further proof is needed, that he is one of the most skilled sonic craftsman around. A veteran of the U.K. synth scene, Boddy seems to improve with age and this album merely confirms that he is at a creative peak. Respect. (SR)

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