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review by Bill Binkelman Adam Sharp's (a.k.a. A.C. Sharp) Drifters is an enjoyable, if somewhat monochromatic, album of gently relaxing yet rhythmic ambient/new age music. By monochromatic, I simply mean that the twelve tracks share some similar musical motifs (a few keyboard sounds are the same, albeit pleasantly so, and the rhythms maintain a nice midtempo cadence throughout most of the album). Of course, reading through the liner notes, I think this thread of continuity was exactly the artist's intent. The recording is best savored as background accompaniment to your day-to-day life, as opposed to direct listening (where the sameness may eventually wear a tad thin). Again, if I deduce correctly, this (i.e. background listening) is the intent of the artist per the liner notes: "Play Drifters while you sit back and relax at home, in the car, someplace where stress drives you crazy…" Musically, the album is well-done (engineering is solid and the mix is particularly well-developed on some tracks) and I found myself liking the album the more I played it, especially if I started at different tracks during subsequent playings. The CD opens with "Sky Merchants" ushered in with synth strings, wood stick beats, and sparse piano. More beats are layered in (the sampled hand percussion is nicely handled throughout the album) and a gentle refrain on electronic keyboards is introduced as well as a simple up/down bass beat progression and cascading synth bells. Slower tempo percussion is featured on "Our Land" along with pan-pipe-like keys and sparkling triangle notes. The midtempo rhythm is counterpointed by the solemnity of the music, accented by the use of synth strings later in the cut. The remaining ten tracks (seven of the twelve songs are over six minutes long, by the way) feature many of the same elements (sampled hand percussion or overt electronic beats, lush synth strings, sparkling tones or bells, and piano-like keyboards) but they are all mixed and matched into varying patterns or arrangements. "To Begin With…" is more ethereal with an abundance of soaring strings set against a metronomish beat. "Due North" has a slower march-like cadence, anchored by drum-kit rhythms (snare, cymbal, bass kicks) and synth vibes. The title track, one of my favorites on the album, opens with twinkling bells, lovely strings, and wonderful sampled ethnic percussive elements. Analog-sounding keys are also featured to good effect, weaving a delicate web over the more grounded beats. "Intoxicated by Joy" is well-named for its light-hearted feel, induced by sparkling bells dancing at the outset, joined by harpsichord-sampled keys, church bells, and piano. "Celestial Highway" may be the only weak track on the CD, owing to a frequently repeated less-than-perfect string sound (the track aims for being spacemusic, but it never quite makes the leap). While not perfect, Drifters does display that Adam Sharp is an electronic keyboard player to keep an eye (and ear) on. He has a knack with a variety of electronic and sampled percussion and his keyboard work is a pleasing blend of flowing melodic music with some ambient and quasi-new age textures as well. If he trims the lengths of some of the longer tracks (the six-to-seven minute-plus ones don't develop enough to justify their length) and interjects a tad more variety, he'll soon be joining the more successful players in this genre. When played as background music for your daily activities, Drifters earns a recommendation from me. I'll be looking forward to A.C. Sharp's next recording to see where he "drifts" to next. |
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