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Shulman - Endless Rhythms of the Beatless Heart
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Morpheus Music
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
94
Posts :
165
Posted : Nov 17, 2007 12:50
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STYLE
Lush downtempo electronica laced with international instrumentation and vocal performance. Endless Rhythms of the Beatless Heart effortlessly strays across genre boundaries, drawing together elements of ambient chillout, contemporary jazz, downbeat psychedelia and global fusion. At times there are even suggestions of prog rock as keyboards or sax are allowed to luxuriate in extended improvisational breaks. There are acoustic and synthetic sound sources used throughout the album in tight complement - Middle Eastern strings, electric guitar, violin, soprano sax, shahnai, zorna, ney bedded into a smooth sound canvas of warm washes and digital tinklings, gutsy bass lines and bright drumwork. All of the tracks feature the expert sonic manipulation techniques in which Shulman excel, lending a polish and luminance to the music and filling the air with sparkling peripheral effects. The percussive arrangements especially benefit from the richness of all the various hi-tech blips, bleeps, squelches and pulses woven in among the more traditional drum sounds, making for an engrossing rhythmic side to the album.
MOOD
Shulman introduce a worldly/other-worldly dreamy vibe right from the outset. The interplay of sharp, swirling effects, laid back grooves and international elements establish a mood that is both on the cusp of the breaking wave between contemporary and futurist as well as being somehow enigmatic and timeless. Echoes of the past haunt this ultra modern aesthetic - acoustic wavs from distant memories, vocoder voices and multilingual singing. Unlike many chillout releases Endless Rhythms of the Beatless Heart doesn't rely upon morphing repetition and simple variation of motif - rather these tracks are strongly structured with plenty of melodic detail and constant digression from the central theme.
ARTWORK
I have a partial version of the artwork for this album hinting at the attractive quality of the full package. The front cover sports a moody surrealist montage where a sand timer endlessly flows, pouring the dunes of a digital desert down into a single mound. A one-eyed face glowers from the lower globe lusciously tinted a deep bottle green. The seemingly abstract background suggests further horizons, a Dali-esque figure barely discernible in the lower left corner. This cut-down promotional sleeve provides credits and instrumentation information for the various tracks along with an explanation of the project, band history and all relevant contact details.
OVERALL
The highly respected Shulman duo returns with a completely new album following last year's compilation of oddities under the title Random Thoughts. This latest offering, once again released by the renowned Aleph Zero label comes as the culmination of four years extensive work in the studio. The album has a crisp digital edge that gives everything a sharp punchiness, a fine, clear sheen. The international acoustic sounds sit comfortably amid the electronic programming, so carefully crafted that the listener is mostly unaware of the cross over from live performance into synthetic artifice. There are meandering passages of almost abstract ambience, some driving beat music and everything in between - Shulman at their creative best.
WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM
Shulman fans won't need me to tell them that this album is a must for them. For those not yet in the know - this is a keystone release on this year's downtempo calendar. If you enjoy blissful, ethnically oriented electronica from the cutting edge - don't miss this one.
More reviews at http://www.morpheusmusic.co.uk
Cheers
Paul
  MORPHEUS MUSIC
www.morpheusmusic.co.uk
ELECTRONIC MUSIC MALL
http://www.electronicmusicmall.com |
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insane
Silent Horror
Started Topics :
67
Posts :
1983
Posted : Nov 17, 2007 12:59
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Sooperb Production , New ideas since the last album, Indian elements make the trax amazin ...
( please telme if these are Samples or Live Recording sessions of artists ) ... very well done  enjoy it beginning of everyday
Big respect ! BooM!
------------------------------
NEMESIS - DEVILSMIND RECORDS - 2007
PATTERNS EP - DEVILSMIND RECORDS _ 2009
SEANCE - DEVILSMIND RECORDS - 2011
PATTERNS II EP - DEVILSMIND RECORDS _ 2013 |
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vaio
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
2
Posted : Nov 17, 2007 17:40
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well, as always shulman gives us a very well produced album,full with ideas,the indian samples dosn't do it for me but I guess it is a matter of taste,saw their live in taz festival was very impressive!
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cacofonix
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
29
Posts :
1955
Posted : Nov 17, 2007 19:15
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Alias
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
32
Posts :
984
Posted : Nov 20, 2007 16:56
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What can i say
Masterpiece!
When you listening to Shulman's music , you know this is Shulman and nobody else!
Melodies: Very complex and amazing melodies. Every moment there is new melodies, new acoustic compositions!
And of course there is emotional aspect. those melodies realy makes you cry( in a good way)
All those melodies built with brilliant arrangement.
Acoustic Instruments: Shulman boys did here collaboration with few musicians. One of them is - Amir Gvirtzman. He is the most respected wind player in Israel , and one of the most respected in the world! This guy playing on every possible Wind Instrument
In this album He plays on Zourna and ney(saxophone?) wich is very complex to play wood wind instruments.
One of the tracks that shows hes genius skills, is Mia Nihta Mono Den Ftani
The track is dubby remake for Sotis volanis song. this track is very different from the original. Amir not only plays the original Zourna melody , he also impovising. Ofcourse Shulman did here fantastic job with their unique style!
In this album you can hear Zourna, ney, Saxophone, Oriental bowed instruments, Pianos and Keyboard insts, Guitars and Strings!
@insane : As far as i Know , All those instruments not from sample cd's . I'ts Live recorded sessions!
Electronic sounds: One of the reasons that i love shulman's music , is synth melodies and sound experiments. When you listening to their synth sounds you know it's Shulman and nobody else, and in the same time their sound is inovative!
DrumsPercussions: Very complex work here. I just can say that this is the most complex DrumsPercussions work in Psy chill genre and may be in the whole ambientelectronic music!
This is Shulman's usual unique style.
Production: this is the next level of production together with YB latest album.
Artwork : Brilliant , as most of the Aleph Zero zero releases! Surealism is my cup of vodka 
As morpheus music said - Shulman at their creative best.
Thank you for this amazing piece of art
10/10
www.myspace.com/aliasix |
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bearpill
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
32
Posts :
166
Posted : Nov 22, 2007 23:13
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The first 2 tracks on the cd are good however the rest to me sounds like crossing a snakecharmer with Kenny G..... thats a pretty bad combo... |
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lara
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
116
Posts :
442
Posted : Nov 23, 2007 02:44
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sure_smoke_alot
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
45
Posts :
6874
Posted : Nov 23, 2007 07:51
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Quote:
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On 2007-11-22 23:13, bearpill wrote:
however the rest to me sounds like crossing a snakecharmer with Kenny G..... thats a pretty bad combo...
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 though i dont agree with u
the problem with valuing art is, till u dont understand it, it's worthless but wen u do understand it, it's priceless!! |
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mouka
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
383
Posted : Nov 25, 2007 22:41
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bluespectralmonkey
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
80
Posts :
1336
Posted : Nov 26, 2007 08:34
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i hear ya on the kenny g
at least there is too much emphasis on that horn instrument,,, it just goes and goes, makes those tracks unplayable by me djing or unlistenable at home
there are definitely some great moments that just define shulman as an artist. his name is now in the psychill dictionary in BOLD text. simply because its about exactly the same in feeling as his previous album...
mostly didnt surprise me as an album though im a picky old bastard now 
www.bluespectralmonkey.com
www.touchsamadhi.com
www.interchill.com
www.metacrew.com
www.nw-psy.com |
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Kanc Cover
Goasia/Opsy
Started Topics :
6
Posts :
368
Posted : Nov 26, 2007 23:47
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full_on
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
279
Posts :
5475
Posted : Nov 28, 2007 02:01
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This a groundbreaking release! 
Congrats to Morpheus Music and Alias for the really good reviews above!  My review is coming soon.
Meanwhile enjoin this interview with Yaniv and Omi, the two creative minds behind the Shulman project:
http://forum.isratrance.com/interview-with-shulman-isratrance-com/
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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NextWorld
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
397
Posted : Nov 28, 2007 10:01
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Arrrgh....hard to rate. Ive listened through it 3 or 4 times now, and can't really connect to it. It's not bad at all, but imho can't reach the magic of "In search...". I'll give it some more tries later, but i think i won't see is as groundbreaking as many People here.... |
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full_on
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
279
Posts :
5475
Posted : Dec 28, 2007 02:31
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Shulman - Endless Rhythms of the Beatless Heart ( Aleph Zero, Oct. 2007 )
Track List:
01. Retroscape
02. Transmissions in Bloom
03. Odd Reflections
04. One Step Closer
05. After Silence
06. Invention
07. Mia Nihta Mono Den Ftani
08. Eternal Bliss of the Grateful Souls
Aleph Zero is my favorite label, and has never let me down. It is clear from the artwork to the music itself, passing through webpages, e-flyers, sticks and everything else, that this label really has a compromise with quality.
Inside my original copy I found two different and very beautiful sticks, one of the release itself and the new Aleph Zero stick. The release comes with a 6 pages booklet displaying implausible surreal images, the kind of art very few releases present today. This artwork was created by Almacan and re-wired by Yaniv Shulman himself. As expected Shulman also is responsible for the mastering and it couldn’t sound better.
Check the cover artwork here:
http://212.227.206.198/cgi-bin/zoom.cgi?ale1cd008_b.jpg:CDs/ale/ale1cd008.html:;
I can’t find another way to review this release than a track-by-track release, because each track attach its own qualities to this fourth Shulman album, and I’ll avoid to commenting on the collaborators we have on each track, most tracks have their own special spice, like bass and guitar players, violin, alto and soprano saxophone players, and some other instruments I didn’t even knew to exist. All info regarding these special guests can be found inside the booklet.
As if a 6 pages booklet, splendid artwork and the sticks were not enough, those who actually got an original copy of this masterpiece will also get a beautiful high quality thick paper protection for their jewel case.
Retroscape (T1) set the pace of this journey into the realms of the never heard before sounds. An incredible good taste and careful handcrafting of each and every little sound makes this unforgettable track something near to perfect. It has a pinch of everything inside, from twisted spoken samples to faster passages, without loosing the focus and always delineating another aspect of the big picture. Years of feelings squeezed into a little more than eleven minutes. Simply essential.
Transmissions in Bloom (T2) is even longer than the previous track, almost 13 minutes... It posses an overall feeling of tranquility, and has the psychedelic aspect a little more developed than the previous track, with small details all around my ears, stabbing my heart every now and then. The atmospheres in the middle of the track, as well as the turn it causes in the whole universe, reassure my certain that I’m just a brain diving into a sea of feelings... This is a favorite track for sure, and when it comes down to elicit the emotional aspects of the introspective trips this is a really strong poison, that sort of poison that cures.
Odd Reflections (T3) is difficult to describe, at the beginning some sounds are just echoing, a pattern emerge and soon become surrounded by a deep bass. This is the canvas in which well chosen sounds will paint a complex panorama. The atmospheres in the middle bring back simplicity and tranquility, serving as intro to an almost beatless part. Many instruments, melodies and effects pursue us till the ending. Good one.
At the first times I listened to One Step Closer (T4) I had the impression that it could be performed by a band, because of the characteristic drums and percussion work. It added lots of diversity to the album, of course it has its own personality and vibe, but when seen in the middle of other such strong tracks it adds more to the whole release than it do as a stand alone track. It ends in a very peaceful way, a perfect match to the next track title.
After Silence (T5) is one of the short tracks of this release, clear it is that sort here means around seven minutes. This complex track is another example of good taste, it is mostly beatless, but possesses discreet atmospheres and an intense slow ending. Tremendous track.
Invention (T6) is an awesome effort which combines organic and electric vibes. Saxophone’s sounds right on spot, out of this world atmospheres and much more. Another favorite of mine, you should definitely check this out. I don’t know why, but the end of this track really transmit the idea of a new invention to me, something special and still mysterious.
Mia Nihta Mono Den Ftani (T7) is a funny track. Interestingly enough, every women to which I played this track started to dance… It is one of my favorites to home listening, nice atmospheres, all instruments in the perfect place, and a strong positive feeling all over it. Splendid work!
Eternal Bliss of the Grateful Souls (T8) closes the album stamping a smile in the listener face. Stripped of beats and bass, but still strong enough to squeeze a tear out of the eyes, this track delivers a deep end to this sonic journey.
Once again Shulman and Aleph Zero deliver more than what the expectatives demanded. I have listened to this album many times, and still this attempt to review it seems quit poor compared to the complexity of the music presented here.
Recommendation: In this essential release we have more than 76 minutes of carefully engineered music. Definitely one of the must have releases of the year, something that I will still be listening 10 years from now. The best possible recommendation is that you listen to the online samples, this will certainly speak louder than any of my words. Unquestionably an extraordinary album  .
Favorites: 1(!!), 2(!!!), 3(!), 5(!!), 6(!!), 7(!!).
Listen to the samples and buy it here:
http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=6819
http://www.beatspace.com/dettagli/dettaglio.asp?id=3741
http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/ale/ale1cd008.html
Check also:
http://www.isratrance.com/DiscReviewByTeam.php?show=934
Respect!
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...Be gentle with the earth...
...Dance like nobody's watching...
.
...I don't mind not going to Heaven, as long as they've got Coffee in Hell... |
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Sputer
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
315
Posts :
2709
Posted : Dec 28, 2007 10:36
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for sure one of the best ambient releases..
amazing music
..."Be yourself, let your conscience guide you...
Follow your heart, not the people around you"... |
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