NEAR LIFE EXPERIENCE

And the music explored on this album is of a style and manner that most people will categorize as new age. Synthesizers and keyboards dominate, the compositions are slow moving and atmospheric, guitars are used mainly as an effect, the same can be said with most rhythms in the form of drums and various forms of percussion, and even the slight input of human voices now and again is one of effect rather than vocal performance as such.

Bartlett makes more complex creations than most though. Multiple melody lines, several additional layers of sounds and effects, numerous breaks and changes in mood and intensity; and exploring spacey as well as ethnic-tinged landscapes. Careful use of dissonances and contrasting melody lines adds textures and nuances to this production rarely seen elsewhere in albums like this one - and although there's nothing here that is truly stunning you won't find anything uninteresting either; as long as you find the general style interesting.