| 'Time
Clouds Distant Memory' was recorded live at a pub called Peggars in
Nottingham on Sunday 25th March 2004. This was my third gig in as
many months and was in quite a nice venue. The previous 2 gigs had
been held upstairs at Bunkers Inn, just around the corner.
This venue had the advantage of being downstairs, so setting up was
easy.
The set featured 3 tracks, the first two: 'time clouds' and
'astral dreams' were improvisations with new sequences, whilst the
third was a new version of 'dark star voyage' with new, updated and
modified sequences. For a change, there were no technical
difficulties and everything ran according to plan, more or less. I
quite like the development in these tracks and for the first time
was happy to make the full recording available (CD available from
the Merchandise page). Obviously they
aren't perfect, but they do hang together quite well. Occasionally I
wished I had a third arm, to fade in or edit a sequence whilst
playing a 2 handed synth part, but I seemed to manage regardless. |
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Reviews
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Time Clouds Distant Memory
features sequencer-based music, vaguely in the Berlin
School mould. The sound quality is nice but I'd prefer more
reverb - the sound is a bit dry to my ears. It starts with "Time
Clouds" that has an atmospheric introduction with pads
and soundscapes, but after a while melodic motifs and,
subsequently, rhythmic sequences are introduced that drive the
rest of the track along in a relaxed, unhurried mode. You will
encounter some pretty tasty solos along the way. The second
track is called "Astral Dreams". There's an abstract
beginning with noises, soundscapes and stuff, but the
sequences ought to appear sooner or later, and voila! - they
do as we are nearing the 3 minute mark. Low threatening chords
are heard as we are propelled forward at a pace faster than
usual with Modulator's recordings. I think it's the best of
his live tracks (despite some use of preset choir sounds) -
the sequencing is very competent here - pure New
Berlin School, a bit trancey and yet more like prog EM.
The title of the last track is "Dark Star Voyage" -
the same as the first track on Reality Excursion Sequences,
but it's a totally different version. It starts with a
reflective piano part that gives way to rhythmic notes and in
the end it's another mid-paced sequencer track, in typical
Modulator ESP style.
Abridged review by Artemi Pugachov from:
Encyclopedia of Electronic
Music |
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