Jon Cocco
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Oct 27, 2009 14:52:44
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V/A - Fire
Altar Records
2009
01. Chronos - Anahata Fire ... 3:56
02. Asura - Crossroads Limiter ... 11:01
03. Tentura - Resonance ... 5:53
04. Aquascape - Phoenix Dance ... 6:49
05. Chronos - Deep Unity ... 10:43
06. Aes Dana - Inter [Dawn Edit] ... 6:49
07. Astral Waves & Astropilot - Karma Cleaner ... 9:42
08. Zymosis - Summer Twilight ... 7:06
09. Uth - Around The Sun In Seven Days ... 5:46
10. RA - Tears Of Fire ... 8:00
Fire is the third compilation in the Elemental Series by Altar Records which will be released throughout 2009 and 2010. Such compilations include Air (released), Water (released) Earth, and Either. The compilation begins with an ambient influenced downtempo number by Chronos and ends with a new downtempo track by RA. The compilation has a variety of psy influenced down and mid-tempo numbers. A full review ensues.
01. Chronos - Anahata Fire begins with what appears to be flute, as a beautiful wave of ambient permeate the senses, like a spiritual horizon approaching. The opening to this track is instantly satisfying, echoing an ethnic influenced epic, in the concept of Asura's opening gem from their Life2 album. The number is compiled with tribal drums, several foreign/female hymns, beautiful melody/sound elements, and an awakening, musical sound and backdrop that create a wonderful beginning to the journey that awaits. I can't say that there's anything wrong with this number, though it could have been a little longer. I'm hooked from the very start. I like album's that start strong and improve as they move forward. This is a beautiful opening track. A-
02. Asura - Crossroads Limiter follows up after a heavenly opening; the atmosphere is more provocative and creates a strong foundation for a more ambitious track. The song, not including the ambient intro, is comprised of three general parts with build up and/or transitions into each one. The first act begins around 1:27, and includes a suspenseful, quietly moving (like an observer through an arguably dark and/or imaginative world in the "what happened?" sense) intrigue. Complimented by strong, alerting the consciousness sounds, such as at 2:46, eerie echoes ride through the delectable soundscapes and atmosphere like lost souls. This first or so part is enhanced by the most simple of well selected sounds around 4:35; it's powerful, and I'd love to hear more work by Asura like this. At this song's point, I can imagine a star ship slowly going over a destroyed alien battleship, or an abandoned, mysterious planet; the ship is exploring uncharted territory, or going deeper into Pandora's box (world) without the evil/Hell essence, rather the brooding mystery. The intro included first part's 5:25 is excellent. Suddenly, what I'll refer to as the second part begins around 5:26. This next section is shorter, and includes a variety of sound changes from the previous section, though one with a foreign, female singing voice from 5:26 to 6:12. While the music is good, the female voice seems somewhat out of place here, relative to all that which preceded it. To compensate for her presence, I imagined a woman suddenly appearing, dancing around a fire. However this sudden moment drastically affects the wonderful cosmoses-driven arrangement. Therefore, the voice work doesn't correlate well with the strong set up in the first part, and although her voice is elegant, this concept could have been put to greater use in a less space/psy ambient driven song. Simply put, I love the track around this somewhat catchy but offbeat part. Past this, a transition takes place including a brief female moment from 6:25 to 7:16, and the last section begins... At this point I'm very curious as to where the song will go... A gripping ambient layer arrives into the atmosphere around 7:50. Suddenly the beat picks up, supported by a strong Psy-altered melody; more sounds enter the rhythm to great effect, until one quite elegant provides great emphasis at 9:00 forward, gripping work. During this last, lengthy like that before the singing, the song is fluid, flowing, epic, and ascending sounding. Its beautiful, final evolution within this last part is wonderful. The song may have received a perfect A from me had the female voice not been present, offsetting the journey momentarily for me at least. The rest of the song is heavenly, a reflection of love, light, and awakening from out of the darkness I infer. With few exceptions, this is one of Asura's finest works to date. Strong, ambitious track. A-
03. Tentura - Resonance isn't as ambitious or as epic as the previous number, but it's involved and elegantly driving nonetheless. The first two minutes create a smart build up; various pleasant sounds mix into more psychedelic and moving particles in the downtempo era, until a strong and healthy moment lifts the tasty sound design into the air at 3:01. The slower tempo transforms into midtempo, as numerous Hallucinogen/Twisted's L.S.D-esque sounds compliment a sweet atmospheric. A wonderful evolution takes place around 4:20; pushing the song forward with infectious and energetic psy-rhythm and energy. Unfortunately this part only lasts a minute, and the song isn't too lengthy, yet it's filled with enough delight to warrant good/greatness from. This is very well done number. B+
04. Aquascape - Phoenix Dance is the follow up since last I heard a track by them on Altar Record's Air compilation; my favorite song from that album. While that track by them was more like a heaven's crescendo, a buildup to a celestial awakening, this focuses more on having an Earthly, moving forward sound while inserting many elegant sounds to compliment a voyage across foreign lands; that could reflect the vision here. Aquascape's sound is more motivating, uplifting, and romantic, rather than psychedelic or danceable, as what was more present in the previous number. I love there style and sound though; they're very positive, creative, warm, and developing. That said, there's not any particular moment here that jumps per say; the song has a fluid, fresh sound from beginning to end. The melody work is effective and the drifting atmosphere compliments it. I'd love to hear a main album by this/these artist(s) one day. Great track. B+
05. Chronos - Deep Unity can be compared to some degree with Asura's epic here, in the sense it's the second most lengthy track on the album, it's comprised of several distinguishing parts, like chapters in a saga, and more. The introduction is fairly subtle, save for a fantasy-like sound at 0:32 which opens the door to much that await. Build up begins among a sea of ambient and atmosphere around the first minute. This moment is elongated until joining one of the most simple and catchy downtempo particles I've heard so far all year. At 3:37, this moment begins; an electricity-esque sound a la Space Cat's old school Goa material. This infectious, sleek little sound is so catchy. It enhances the less sharp melodies and sounds that are more in harmony, reflecting nature and/or beauty to the traveling concept. The song is energetically lifted after a short, atmospheric, and more sounds enter, creating a beautiful mixture that is complimented by the addictive, little electronic element that I like so much. The track's first five minutes are excellent, but where will it go from here? The vehicle soon arrives at a space station, or interlude of sorts. Like a fast, powerful space ship getting equipped with boosters, stronger weaponry, and various other enhancements, the beat is enhanced by other drums; the song picks up into mid-tempo and really blossoms with energy and brightness. The latter enters around 7:12 and sounds great. Gone are the thumping sound effects, rhythm that would excite a dance around a fire. Fortunately, the development that provided power and electricity earlier on returns in the eighth minute here, though it's rather encore, conclusive. The cool sound like a short melody sentence then leaves to compensate for a great musical evolution. Returning in the end is the tasty, little electricity sound. This song is so engaging from beginning to end, and one of the best tracks I have heard all year. Superb track. A
06. Aes Dana - Inter [Dawn Edit] was the one track that concerned me, because not since the artist's work on 2008's Opus Iridium compilation, and before that, the great Memory Shell album have I been engaged. It appears that the kick or beat has been raised however when hearing numerous compilation tracks recently by the artist. Applying that observation to this track; this retains its strong kick. The first minute offers some pleasent sounds, meditative water like a flowing stream in the background. Sustained notes sound nice around the quick tapping of hi-hats. There's a catchy ambient sound in the background around 1:04; it repeats, and these elements I wish were more developed by Aes Dana, as what's heard around 1:37 to 1:42, and again around 1:53. A slow beat emerges, giving the track a different feel in its first third. The beat shifts into mid-tempo great at 2:31 and a catchy sound/melody arrives to encounter it into the second act. Background elements blend well into the driving beat, and aside from having a nice backdrop and atmosphere, the song basically follows one direction throughout its second half, adding various little alterations and sounds as it progresses. My problem with this track isn't the track in general, but how it sounds in relation to the other tracks on this album, which had so much more evolution, imagination, involvement, unpredictable area(s), and overall result. While this is a pretty good song, and from an artist that once made me smile, the track is in my opinion, not as strong as the previous songs so far on this compilation. B
07. Astral Waves & Astropilot - Karma Cleaner has a very pretty sound to it in the beginning; the extended intro flows into the second minute until a beat emerges around 1:35. Layers soon begin to delectably blend, updating their harmonies with more emphasis around the beat at 2:37. The song has a worldly influence, from oriental to tribal at times and possibly Indian. Incoherent and/or foreign words skip a la Shpongle. The song is really a pile of great sounds all poured, then carefully arranged, pinched and tweaked like a fine broth. A center interlude makes possible the return of a slowed down beat, or one less fast than the previous mid-tempo section. An atmospheric buildup takes place, and the best part is around 6:57, where the song soars high above the clouds. Gone are the fluid waves from earlier on that kept the vehicle closer to Earth. The beat changes up, and the combination of melodies and sounds that join it are beautiful. Towards the last third is a great sound, though not too highlighted, reminding me of a sweet sound from older Enigma; the potential crossover, from New Age to downtempo works well. The song is also comparable to track 4 due to its healthy, wind influenced feel, however this has more movement because of its speed. Great work. B+
08. Zymosis - Summer Twilight is the one song on this album; I thought I was initially listening to RA's number do to Zymosis's flute(s), and an electronic sound in the background that reminds me of a sound from a track on the RA - 9th album. Those sounds work well here nonetheless, similar in concept to what Chronos did in track 5, though such sounds were more effective there. This sounds influenced by RA initially; the music that shifts this attractive yet less original impression begins around 2:12; it's good. The song appears to be building up, going through numerous motions in speed, though the beat stays back early on like an observer, waiting to jump in around 3:30. It enters like and/or along with breaks; the fast paced beat work merges extremely well with the sounds, creating ore zest, style. The sound art flows into a subtle interlude, growing musically varied though this peaceful transformation where the beat appears to slow down. The song emerges as an evolved kind like a human shedding its skin to a more aware presence. The song is just as gripping as before. The fast piano work stands out; it's great; I really like piano and wish more artists took advantage of it in their music. The song has a clean finish. From what began as a RA sounding rendition surprisingly immersed my ears as a refreshing number. I'm glad to see the artist(s) possibly inspired, and turning something into their own. Another great track. B+
09. Uth - Around The Sun In Seven Days starts out with a deep hymn as if in prayer, meditation. A warm ambient emerges to growing sounds, soon accompanied by a strong beat. Catchy strings compliment a subtle hymn, but the beat and altering, shifting backdrop works best so far. During its first three minutes, the downtempo song develops a fairly psychedelic combination of sounds around more acoustic instruments. It doesn't seem like a core rhythm has been formed yet, but one with a continuously changing in structure literature. It isn't until 3:23 that a tune arrives; the fairly rearranging textures change less to support this lead. It's pretty catchy. I just think more could have been done with it, as it grows fairly repetitive, though soon changes up to accommodate a higher, more uplifting (and catchy) ground. It soon leaves however, opening the path to entering atmosphere, a beat-free interlude around 5:00. Unfortunately, the song ends soon after. This track reminds me of the third in the sense it's simple in execution, buildup, and offers many subtle variations around its less subtle sounds as it builds up to something. That something here however nice and improving as it progresses, is short lived. It would have been cool to reach an area even more evocative and worth evaluating, as the song sounds really nice. It's just not that eventful. Overall this is my second least favorite track on the compilation after Aes Dana's. Nonetheless, it's a good song with many nice sounds and elements. B
10. RA - Tears Of Fire ends the album with a downtempo track. It offers the gradually progressive structure of previous tracks, however it's execution is so simple, yet gripping. The center interlude is mysterious and compassionate, like an angel reflecting a heart rather than a human with a soul; the song sounds free from form, easy to move into whichever area of celestial realms it desires. Aspect I enjoy includes the beat's emphasis, and the momentary chorus-like enhancement that leads up to that beat, such as from 2:24 to 2:26; these take place numerous times throughout the song. I like the enriching sound around 3:37, and how the song so seamlessly, gradually strengthens as it moves forward. The little piercing the air sound at 3:52 is good too. Some may find the track good, others great. I simply wish RA experimented a little more. The song retains the spirit many of us have come to love, and the song flows extremely well as one would expect from the artist(s). Simply put, it would be fun to hear something more innovative, while also being gripping too by them every once in a while; they end the album with a solid number nonetheless. Great track. B+
In conclusion, Fire is possibly Altar Record's best compilation to date. As with Water, this is more consistent in the down and mid-tempo genre to what many listeners are looking for. The tracks are often good and/or great, excellent; the album includes some very memorable melodies, strong numbers, and the track list's artists live up to their reputations. No song is average or below here, though it would have been cool to hear a track or two more in sound with the fire/sun theme and various other track names. The album peeks multiple times, ending with a solid number by RA; surprisingly there are a handful of tracks that impress me more than even the RA one. Fire is one of the strongest Psy/Chill (down/mid-tempo) compilations of 2009. I couldn't say that for Air, though I said it for [i]Water (released earlier in 2009). Both that and Fire along with Solar Field's - Movements will be on my very short list of best 5, possibly best 3 down/mid-tempo releases of 2009. Water and Fire are finally on Psyshop and deserve to be on Saikosounds too. Recommended.
Favorite tracks - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10
B+
Samples / Order here
Psyshop
http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/alr/alr1cd003.html
Altar Records
http://www.altar-records.com/fire.html
http://www.altar-records.com/preorders.html
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