Vitaly - Looking At The Stars
1 rating since posting on Wednesday, January 16, 2008
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STYLE Ambient new age instrumentals. Looking At The Stars is an attractive selection of synthesizer compositions that range from spacey beatless sparsity to bright upbeat fairy tale melodies and even into some passages of almost driving rhythm. Indeed it is melody that Vitaly's arrangements centre upon - the layered electronica, the lowkey interludes, the constantly varying electro-grooves - everything works to highlight the passionate feeling and delicacy of the lead lines. Choosing unashamedly synthetic voices for most of his themes, the album delivers an impressively broad palette of programmed sound making for a lush pure atmosphere. Effected speech and alien environmental noises bring a touch of mystery maintaining the far from earth illusion. Beats are inventive when present - in fact these are actually one of the aspects that I most enjoyed - the fluttery laidback roll of Mechanical Feelings, the restrained lightness of Night. MOOD The mood fluctuates somewhat with the pace of the music - at times meandering almost floatational - at times leaning toward a more mechanical regularity of structure, softened somewhat by wispy pads and misty textures. Throughout everything though, the artist's interest in the universe is evident as is an honesty of approach - Vitaly seems genuinely engrossed in his galactic material, his view of the stars as 'an unsolved mystery'. ARTWORK As is appropriate Looking At The Stars comes packaged in a jewelcase adorned with images of stars, galaxies and nebulae. Fronted by a luminous circular formation dotted with effulgent star formations backed by the blackness of eternal distance. Track titles along with times are recorded or the reverse along with website details. Opening out - the case reveals a colourful disc laid against two more dark starscapes. Another tracklist is here above credits and mastering information and the legend - "No particular language was used for this recording. Any coincidence with the world languages is coincidental". The booklet finally opens out to reveal a glorious image of the Fairy of the Eagle Nebula - very fitting. Here too is a paragraph of the artist's musings that cast some light on the inspiration for the music. OVERALL Looking At The Stars is the debut album New Zealand based musician Vitaly Zolotarev. Presenting ten tracks ranging from the one to two minute interludes up to the eight and a half minute introduction - this is an album that has an unaffected honesty about it. Quite beautiful in places, especially during some of the quieter moments such as the wistful interlude Making Up that concludes with a beguiling exchange of feelings that transcend language. In his own words Vitaly explains "This album is my humble attempt to imagine the world of those who may look different but have the same feelings like you and me." it could have been cheesy - but it isn't, this guy pulls it off. WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM This is an album for lovers of electronica that enjoy something on the new age side - quite sweet and graceful - emotional even. Space music fans might find this to their liking especially if appreciative of melodic harmony. - Morpheus Music , posted 01/16/08 |
Vitaly - Looking At The Stars was recommended for:
- Tribe: AMBIENT CHILL
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- Tribe: Morpheus Music