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review by Dene Bebbington Here we have the second album by a pseudonymous and anonymous synth musician recording under the name MarryAnn. The Harmony of the Ecstasy could be considered a sister album to his previous release Intolerance. They both tread similar musical ground and even came in a package holding both CDs as though it were a double album. Both albums are essentially synth pop, and share a history of being released on the web prior to the CD version. The album gets off to a lively start in the first track "Life Escape". A stuttering drum beat, sunny twittering notes, and searing sounds sliding along all move at a pace to create a sense of being carefree and escaping from the hassles of everyday life. In the second track, "In the Name Of" the mood becomes mellow in contrast, here metallic sounds echo briefly like stones thrown to skim across water. A harp like sample delivers a pleasing melody while a bass rhythm and stick sound creates a beat of sorts, plus synth pads gild the layers. This piece develops to an extent, the melody in particular changing a little over the course of the track. Another noteworthy track is the mid-tempo "We Should Live Together". Possibly referring to people in general being tolerant towards each other (as opposed to a relationship between lovers) this piece opens with briefly harsh then softer synths. Soon after that, drum programming, percussion, bassy rhythms, and simple melodies played out on different tones and textures start up. The intriguing thing is how the melodies are like the musical equivalent of various people talking together. With influences such as J.M.Jarre and Depeche Mode it's not surprising that The Harmony of the Ecstasy is the sort of album with the occasional catchy tune, and likeable if not deeply satisfying songs. |
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