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Aes Dana - Memory Shell (Ultimae Records 2004) CD
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DeathPosture
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Sep 9, 2004 01:10
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Aes Dana – Memory Shell
Cover: http://img38.exs.cx/img38/5234/aesdana_memoryshell.jpg
Artist: Aes Dana (France)
Title: Memory Shell
Format: CD (digipack w/ 16 page booklet)
Label: Ultimae Records (France)
Cat. #: INRE 014
Distribution: Ultimae
Date: 22 September 2004
Track listing:
01. 03’25” Chernozem
02. 06’20” Iris Rotation
03. 07’15” Dusts
04. 07’11” Opalin
05. 08’49” Memory Shell (Lost Radio E-dit)
06. 07’42” Haze
07. 04’51” Shouting Valley
08. 05’53” Cities Update
09. 05’50” Sub Morphing
10. 04’09” Grounds Around
11. 06’28” Exposure (Aes Dana Rmx)
12. 03’08” Chernozem (Closing)
Review:
Sound corals and vast hypnotic beaches…
Ultimae – the number one ambient label, is now releasing its 14th album, and this time it’s by none other than big cheese label boss Vincent Villuis in co-orperation with Sunbeam, under the Aes Dana moniker… It’s the third full album by Aes Dana which was responsible for half of the brilliant H.U.V.A. Network album released earlier this year on Ultimae… That album was absolutely stunning, so my expectations for this are sky-high… Let’s see if they are met!
Let me take you thru the tracks…
#01: ‘It was raining in Vargö when we met the sandmen on the boarder of the ocean…’ Smooth organic intro – beatless, only soft, floating ambient soundscapes and the beautiful voice of Mahiane… Let the journey begin…
#02: The CD is mixed, so we drift seamlessly into ‘Iris Rotation’ which is another little ambient gem, though more focused, and up-beat… Carried by simple, familiar melodies… Dubby in nature, with a thick underlying groove… Lovely!
#03: And then it’s time for ‘Dusts’… Somehow Vince manages to take electro-sounds and make them sound organic – check out the beautiful mood he manages to set, just by some digital birds and what sounds like a human choir far, far away in the background… Add some subtle percussion, and you’ve got yourself an amazing, trance-inducing tune… This is psychedelic ambient at its best!
#04: And the groove gets even phatter now… This is the ‘fastest’ track on the album, and I don’t know quite how to label it - progressive ambient? Whatever it is, it sure rocks…Sweet, sweet track with a funky, downbeat groove and the lovely voice of Pascale Auffret… I really, really like this… Yummy!
#05: Time for the beach track ‘Memory Shell’ which was already released in a special Mindgames Festival Live Version last year on Fahrenheit Project Pt. 4… This track intelligently incorporates the sound of some of nature’s elements – wind and water… When you close your eyes and listen, your mind instantly takes you to the beach… Mahiane does more storytelling here, and we also get a subtle, fitting bassline to set the mood… Magic!
#06: A long, peaceful intro… And then the soothing, beautiful voice of Pascale Auffret … Oh my, this is stunning… So simple, yet so beautiful… The subtle, dubby percussion only adds to the flavour… Enough said – listen, and enjoy! ;o)
#07: This track is about the Shouting Valley of the Golan Heights in Syria where people have been communicating with family and friends across the border thru megaphones for the last 35 years… A bizarre situation indeed… The track itself consists of a bunch of elements… More sweet Pascale singing, walkie-talkie static, panpipes and long floating organic pads… A calm track – much calmer than the Shouting Valley, I reckon… Nice track!
#08: Straight from the Shouting Valley of Syria, to the sound of a hectic, pulsating, vibrant city – as portrayed by Vince himself… We get a lot more layers than in the previous tracks – beats, percussion, synths, etc… But don’t get me wrong, it’s still very much a chill track… The percussion here isn’t really my cup of chai though – somehow, they are a tad too ‘noisy’… It’s not bad; it’s just not as great as the rest… Decent track!
#09: Time for the aptly named ‘Sub Morphing’ which incorporates various industrial & electro sounds into an otherwise ‘normal’ downbeat track… We get hints of metallic hisses, tribal percussion and all kinds of indecipherable lyrics… And all that makes a very interesting combo… Nice little track!
#10: If ‘Memory Shell’ was the summer-track, then this definitely is the winter track… This is a stripped down, ‘dark ambient’ piece… Marching sounds, cutting sounds, radio static and an overall melancholy, eerie and cold atmosphere… Very interesting track – if only it was a little longer…
#11: This track was originally made by a dude called Konrad Gmurek – and this is the Aes Dana remix… I’ve never heard the original, so I can’t tell you what was changed… What I can tell you though, is that this kinda has the same ‘dark ambient’ feel as its predecessor… This is slightly faster though – and has a bassline… Subtle, but a bassline nevertheless… This is the soundtrack to a dark, peaceful winter-forest lit by the moonlight… Nordic exposure – you’ll love it! ;o)
#12: And finally the closing part of ‘Chernozem’ with Vince on hanging shells and kalimba… It picks up where track #1 left off … Virtually beatless, the sweet voice of Mahiane – and perfectly knitted bits and pieces for a sweet, floating ambient piece… I cannot think of a better way, to end this CD… Superb!
Where my expectations met? Yes – very much so… With only a few minor glitches, this album is absolutely brilliant… This album was a year in the making – and it shows! Or sounds rather: Everything just oozes quality – from the rich, extremely well-polished production to the beautiful packaging and the very impressive booklet… Every track has its own page with credits and stunning, art-photoes… I’m impressed! ;o)
If you’re looking for some of the finest, most well-produced and soothing ambient and subtle downbeat morning trance – look no further… This is an ambient/downbeat journey, that will stick with you for years to come… 2004 have already brought some amazing chill-out releases, and this is another strong Ultimae-contender for ambient release of the year… Enjoy!
DeathPosture
External links:
Ultimae Records: http://www.ultimae.com (Audio samples available!)
Virtual ‘e-flyer’: http://www.ultimae.com/memoryshell
Psyshop: http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/inr/inr1cd014.html
[Look out for this release in more online shops very soon!]
  On really romantic evenings of self, I go salsa dancing with my confusion... |
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kukan-dub-lagan/ItaiTaiko
kukan-dub-lagan/ItaiTaiko
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Posted : Sep 9, 2004 02:45
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great review as allways
cheers
Check out my music page - free music , new style and more :) |
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Goblim
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Sep 9, 2004 16:28
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Can't wait to get this one
Good review! 
Ut ameris, amabilis esto. |
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Fluxö
ZeroSequence
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Posted : Oct 11, 2004 23:22
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very good review,
I can't wait to dive on it 
ciao |
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DeathPosture
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Oct 13, 2004 22:35
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Dai
IsraTrance Junior Member
Dai aka Amatti
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Posted : Oct 13, 2004 23:59
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-Abatwa-
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Dec 17, 2004 23:26
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definetly one of the best releases of 2004. really smooth chill. you can never go wrong with aes dana or ultimae.
`Bottomless wonders spring from simple rules, which are repeated without end` Mandelbrot |
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Banel
Behind Blue Eyes
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Posted : Dec 18, 2004 00:11
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labyrinth
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Dec 20, 2004 03:30
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Beautiful emotional music. You can really lose yourself to this. Highly recommended no matter what style of trance or chillout your into. Much respect to Aes Dana. |
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Josko
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Posted : Dec 23, 2004 18:06
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nice review 4 a very nice album.
Congratulations to AesDana and all the Ultimae team.
Take care!
____________________________
www.myspace.com/giorgiogatti |
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D_Orasis
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Posted : Dec 27, 2004 20:37
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one of the most beautiful tunes u gona hear that year.....the soft sound and the deep kick that gives u to flow around for another spin of that cd (or its because of that damn joint....) i recommand on this cd i even play it around when i need to play in Underground night clubs with deep and groove music psy electro chill as i like...
this is one of my best and i really hope that one day i will make music like that Good luke with your music Aes Dana keep up that amazing work...
Amir [Dilitirio OraSis]
WE LikE RochEs..NevEr DiE... AlwayS LivInG..
_______________________________
.:: Metatron Production ::.
http://www.metatron-production.com |
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frisbee
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Posted : Feb 17, 2005 21:52
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great album!
i like it almost as much as the carbon based lifeforms' one.  |
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lucidpicnic
Lucid Picnic
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Posted : Mar 31, 2005 20:59
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a masterpiece
must have album who loves aes dana styley
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