PHAEDRA

"Phaedra" starts with a fabulous mysterious abstract wall of sound, allowing one to feel of floating in the outer space among the star constellations. Soon quiet sequencer loops start to create the rhythm and later this pulsing grows stronger. I must admit that I'm not a big adorer of the aesthetics related to this solution, as sometimes it sounds like there is not much progression occurring on the track. Some parts also sounded familiar for me from their following release "Rubycon". After ten minutes the song moves to much better direction, as the sequencers fade out, and musical landscape morphs to a big dreamy hazy mist. This element of the musical palette of this group is something I truly respect. Also the second track "Mysterious Semblance at The Strand of Nightmares" follows this style of not being much fenced with mechanical rhythms. The name of the track is very descriptive, and for those having Mellotron-fetish the listening of this track is possibly mandatory. "Movements of A Visionary" starts with magical whispers which lead the listener to another world of sequencer rhythmic realm with distant voices and dramatic organ chords. This shorter run of the similar theme of the title track works here better. The album closer "Sequent C'" is short but very, very beautiful and melancholic musical vision. Robert Fripp's solo soundscapes of the 1990's sound quite similar to this composition.

Thought the title track isn't the most wonderful piece of music I have heard, this is still very interesting and beautiful meditative record, which I would warmly recommend to anybody interested of relaxing and thoughtful vintage ambient-like music.