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Hibernation - Some Things Never Change (Aleph Zero)
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Morpheus Music
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
94
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Posted : Nov 13, 2008 12:50:37
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STYLE
Deeply chilled electronic instrumentals. Some Things Never change is a powerfully immersive experience of multi-coloured electronica, lush sound collaging and imaginative downtempo beats. Literally brimming with a wide variety of synthetic sounds, liquid effects and a generous scattering of glitchy percussives, Hibernation comes across as a highly detailed, many-hued construction that somehow manages at the same time to convey an inviting sleepy effortlessness. Among the bewildering array of lucid digital structures are various organic instrumental and human elements - vocal slices, disjointed spoken fragments, smooth female vocalising, whispering; Seb's love of global sound still enhancing his music in places - subtle hints of international material drifting into the mix here and there. There are a number of jazzy sections with idle brushes sweeping across snares and lolling double bass suggesting late night lounge rhythms where muted trumpet phrases pierce the air, electric piano lines carrying the melody. The most extremely chilled tracks on the album are, for me, the most exciting pieces here - the opener Melt with its unhurried piano touches, loose percussion and floating pads; the deliciously nocturnal Reflect - fractured phrases and soft focus strings meandering over a silky sub-bass line.
MOOD
Very restful and strongly transportational - this is a sumptuous spread of low light exotica that could easily accompany those half waking moments or fill your headspace with beautiful images as you slowly sink under the surface. Fantastic headphone music - Some Things Never Change has so much to hold the attention - makes me think of a fairground in the dark - winking lights, whirling forms and dense colours, the air full of sound - but everything is in slow motion, almost weightless, otherworldly.
ARTWORK
The promo copy that I possess gives a good indication of the top notch artwork enveloping this disc. A burgeoning bouquet of graphically enhanced pink blooms and tightly furled plant forms bursts from the front cover, bright humming birds hovering at the edges. On closer inspection this floral arrangement can be seen to include shiny speaker rims and dangling jack plugs. The backdrop is consistent throughout the package - aged paper, worn and damaged at the edges, grunge marks and grey stains. Inside this fold-out is a tracklist footed by relevant credits and website details. The opposite panel holds a long paragraph outlining Seb Taylor's musical background and varied projects, leading to a few words on the development of this current alias Hibernation.
OVERALL
Seb Taylor is well known to fans of electronic and dance music - if not by his own name, certainly through his aliases Kaya Project, Angel Tears, Shakta, Digitalis and Somaton. Twelve albums into his career, Hibernation introduces a new approach taken by Seb for Aleph Zero Records - here more heavily steeped in the kind of rich, dreamy, low bpm experimentalism that the label is known for. If you are familiar with the Aleph Zero house sound - Hibernation will immediately have a familiar feel. Very hi tech, yet very human - exploratory downtempo for the more discerning listener. That said - although Aleph Zero has established a sonic ethos, this is by no means achieved simply working to a formula - Some Things Never Change has a clearly unique identity. Very contemporary, very atmospheric, very hypnotic.
WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM
If you have enjoyed previous Aleph Zero releases - don't hesitate to try this new release. Hibernation is ideal for lovers of evocative mood music that appreciate cutting edge chillout. Why not experience the E-flier and see hear for yourself or listen to some samples on the Aleph Zero website
  MORPHEUS MUSIC
www.morpheusmusic.co.uk
ELECTRONIC MUSIC MALL
http://www.electronicmusicmall.com |
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a3k
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
269
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Posted : Jan 30, 2009 19:07:10
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Title: Some Things Never Change
Artist: Hibernation
Label: Aleph Zero Records
Date: 10/2008
Tracks: 14
Mastered by: Yaniv Shulman @ Aleph Zero Mastering Studios
Cover Art: OrenSOB @ SOB Studio
Cat. #:ALEPHZ10
01 – Melt - 5:30
02 – Trickle - 7:24
03 – Lazy Radio - 3:59
04 – Empty Cities – 5:50
05 – Glitch Police - 5:11
06 – Are You Sure? - 5:26
07 – Reflect - 2:13
08 – Beautiful Sky - 5:33
09 – Seven Steps - 5:59
10 – Some Things Never Change – 6:45
11 – The Littlest Computer - 2:19
12 – Reflected – 5:36
13 - The Art Of Living & Dying – 7:47
14 – Colours – 6:13
Some Things Never Change is the album of Hibernation project. To speak about Hibernation is to make reference to Seb Taylor, the producer responsible for the projects: Angel Tears, Kaya Project, Shakta and Digitalis – so a big repertoire is on his books.
But better than to speak about his projects is to listen to this album:
Melt (T1) is the opening tune. It begins smoothly and some fresh sounds hit you like a soft breeze of wind. It grows slowly with some piano notes along with some experimental sounds. Everything in this tune is blissful and relaxed – there are some female singings in here that are top notch, they are like a cherry on the top of the cake; some of the chanting are in rhythm with the percussive elements. The vocals are from Natasha Chamberlain. Favourite.
Trickle (T2) is by sign one of the longest music of the album. Once more we are carried into experimental sounds, and everything keeps on a peaceful mood, mixed with analogical instruments – or so it seems, at least some sounds seem from a guitar, others from a harp and even violins. There are some tricks like the scratch effect, mixed with more female chanting.
Lazy Radio (T3) starts with a melancholic mood. One thing that is right away noticed on this track is the bass line – I don´t know which instrument or synthesizer is creating it, but is very good – creates a nice dark atmosphere. This music is rich in terms of sounds of instruments: flutes, guitar and trumpet – it is vast! Once more we have the collaboration of Natasha chamberlain on the vocals.
The first 2 minutes of Empty Cities (T4), are very minimalistic, but the track changes after this overture, in which the tunes gains another dimension, with the addition of more instruments – not that the tune changes its minimalistic composition – but it certainly expands to other realms. On this new direction, there are softer sounds, more harmonised leads and also a clarinet played by Susi Evans, which is simply fantastic.
One of the things that impressed me the most on Glitch Police (T5), is, obviously, the noise of the police sirens, and one funny thing that happened while listening to this tune was the fact I actually thought it was real police in the streets and I looked everywhere to search for them…only then I realized it was from the track. It has an interesting environment – it reminded me the lust of the beginning of the 20th century of the high class society. Some trumpets are the main energiser of that lust that comes to my mind, and of course the vocals of Natasha fit perfectly. Favourite.
And now THE favourite tune of the whole album. Are You Sure (T6) is a fantastic lounge track, it has some great flute sounds, mixed with experimental leads, which make a shiny, polished, dynamic track. It is an evolving track, in the way it is constantly growing till the end, in a continuum crescendo of magical landscapes. Favourite.
Reflect (T7) is the lady that follows. We continue our journey with experimental quirky music. This is the smallest track of the album with the duration of 2:13 minutes. It is very minimalistic, and vague; we can hear some piano notes, but resuming it: peaceful simple music.
Beautiful Sky (T8) begins with some Japanese sayings (or so it seems), and right away we enter our experimental territories, allied with amazing melodic sounds, and captivating sonic arrangements. I particularly like very much a lead that appears only sometimes like repeating two times every time it plays. Some percussive elements give a groovy feeling to it, touching lounge territories. Favourite
Seven Steps (T9) begins with some interesting glitch effects and violins along. Once again we have the participation of Natasha Chamberlain on the vocals and also on the keyboards. There is an interesting lead in this music – weird and distorted. This one has a very linear sonority.
Some things very Change (T10) the track that gave name to the album is also the longest. It is simply magnificent the landscapes it goes through. The abstractness, the weirdness, the experimental sounds allied with analogue instruments, mixed with some singings makes this music one of the best of the album. Top notch. This one has also Natasha giving her contribute on the keyboards.
The Littlest Computer (T11) tells a story of a computer and his relation with others, his intricate relationships. The guitars on this track are by Seb Taylor himself.
Reflected (T12) really makes just to the name of the tune, the way this one flows it is good for reflection, and inner exploration. It is very minimalistic with certain “chords” of this track flowing to deeper realms of the mind. Once more we are presented with a tune with a “fixed” mood, that doesn´t leaving too much of the line it began with.
The Art Of Living And Dying (T13) has a good appetiser mixed with the experimental sounds and quirky boundaries that this CD has shown us so much times: a violin, played by Deepak Pandit. This one is the longest track of the album, and more to the end I have the sonorities simply sublime, peaceful, smooth, relaxed, serene, calm – it is like embarking on a blissful sleeping voyage! Favourite.
And so we reach our final destination with Colours (T14). And what can I say? A wonderful track finishes this album; experimentation is the key word on this one. This one is a stress-free tune with an atmosphere of emerging from a trance state.
The mastering was made by Yaniv Shulman @ Aleph Zero Mastering Studios.
The cover and inlay artwork was made by OrenSOB @ SOB studio, and I must congratulate this project cause they really made a delight for the eyes – long time I didn´t saw such an excellent cover for a CD.
So to conclude my review, I just want to say, that this album was very good to review, although I have found difficulties in how to express in words the places this album has taken me. It was a great surprise to listen to this project, since I didn´t really know what to expect, but I was surpassed with what I have listen, this experimental sounds, mixed with analogue instruments made an excellent combination, and the result is one of the best albums I have ever listened in my whole life. I recommend this album it is money well spent.
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full_on
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
279
Posts :
5475
Posted : Feb 1, 2009 15:18
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Finally got some time to listen to this release in a proper setting. I must say it was a very expected release for me, I was waiting for it since the VA - Midnight Soul Dive, but when it finally came out I was hyper busy.
This is an absolutely relaxing release, packed with new sounds used on a diverse range of styles but still concise! In short, a great release!
Glitch Police, Are you Sure and definetely Some Things Never Change are between my favorites here: the whole album is a very pleasant journey. My girlfriend also likes it. 
Once again, my respect to Aleph Zero, for spreading such emotive, passionate and well executed music!
Respect!
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...Be gentle with the earth...
...Dance like nobody's watching...
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...I don't mind not going to Heaven, as long as they've got Coffee in Hell... |
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a3k
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
269
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Posted : Feb 2, 2009 19:04
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mk47
Inactive User
Started Topics :
118
Posts :
4444
Posted : Feb 7, 2009 07:39
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superb release & +1 with all the reviewers , thnx for the musics 
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3bop
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
6
Posted : Feb 13, 2009 04:28
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From Indiana, USA:
I just got a package from Aleph Zero yesterday. Inside was the highly anticipated debut of Hibernation, and a righteously kickass long sleeve black T. I took my shoes off, put the shirt on, put the album in my stereo and began the chillin. This album is worthy of being labeled 22nd century music. A careful and true blend of all electronic sounds imaginative and beautiful. These soundscapes encapsulate a myriad of emotions and become a wordless narrative for the contemporary human condition. Certainly, as the season cools and the fires and furnaces of spirituality shift inward, we are truly thankful to be guided by a master such as Seb Taylor. The world listens and all is better. As we evolve, we should always remember it's best to start from our beginnings, and cherish the reality that some things never change.
Also, this album fits Aleph Zero's flawless track record. I look forward to your next release. Hibernation will keep my musical passions stoked for an eternity. Excellent work, cheers!
~3bop |
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