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review by Bill Binkelman From one of the members of the trio, The Amarnath Signal, comes this exploration of assorted electronic and ambient music. Michael D. Peck is the man behind redfadesbeforeblue and he displays artistry in both neo-Berlin EM (on the opening sequencer-driven "a vibrant awakening" which pulses with retro analog notes and waves of synths) and more floating ambient pieces, such as the starkly minimal "exit the nest" which floats along on whispy clouds of melodic washes and underlying whooshes and drones while evoking its title with the occasional mildly distorted bird call. Two tracks are longer pieces (in the twelve minute range), those two being the ebbing/flowing textural "cloud of inquisition" which hovers menacingly on slowly whirring synths before a lively pulsing contemporary electronica rhythm is introduced and the closing "only dust remains" which opens amidst a storm of wind-like effects (almost tornadic in intensity) before emerging from the storm amidst a blaze of swirling retro analog synths that morphs into spacy tones and twinkling notes, as if one had floated up into the night sky. "cloud of inquisition" also evolves during its duration, eventually introducing dramatic swells of strings, sampled flutes, and cyber-organic rhythms. The piece may call to mind the lush yet overtly electronic music of Crown Invisible/Laurel. The two shorter tracks on the CD are "johatu" which has a lighter (I'd almost describe it as "pretty") sound to its warm tones and horn samples before transmuting into whooshing washes, undulating drones, and high-pitched electronics, and "an echoing darkness," the second shortest track here (the opening "a vibrant awakening" is a few ticks shorter). "an echoing darkness" burbles and percolates with analog keyboards and SF-like effects, noises and textures. The mood is a compelling blend of the eerie with the inviting. It's an interesting mixture and Peck handles the juxtaposition handily. In fact, throughout the assorted soundscapes and more straightforward EM/beat-ambient pieces on compendium, I was impressed at how unforced and natural the wide assortment of electronics was presented by the artist. It's unusual to see an artist so comfortable with putting retro EM/Berlin school side by side with abstract darker ambient and getting away with it. On the other hand, since Peck is part of The Amaranth Signal, I shouldn't have been that surprised, since they are one of the more intriguing bands out there right now (fellow band-mate Mark Mahoney's solo effort, if dreams were clouds is an equally fascinating listen). While I experienced varying degrees of enjoyment during some tracks on compendium, I can easily recommend the CD to those who don't mind ambient music that traverses a variety of landscapes. Fans of retro/analog keyboards but who don't want just retreads of past glories (e.g. Jarre clones) and who have a taste for darker-tinted ambient should also consider exploring this album. Michael Peck is an EM/ambient shape-shifter and compendium reveals yet another artist to keep an eye on for future releases. |
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