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Guts
Of Darkness (CAN)
Certamen is one of the rare
composers who is able to write long titles without falling into the traps of
the impossible circumvent ambient passages, sometimes soporific and too
stretched.
With I Awoke in A Dream, he continues where he seduced us with Earth. The
only difference is the use of a vocoder. A machine with voice implies
necessarily the use of vocals. An element that frightens fans of EM. On this
opus, whose compositions were written in 2005, Certamen whispers, even
sings, poems of esotericism dimensions. Short texts about the mysteries and
the power of dreams. Usually a vocoder is known to be use with rhythm that
belongs to a more techno approach, in a Kraftwerk style or Johan Timman as
we can hear on Trip Into the Body. This is not knowing Adam Certamen Bownik
well. The Polish synthesist always privileges the rhythms and the neo
progressive musical developments in a Berlin School style.
As on Earth, I Awoke in A
Dream is divided into three titles. Rhythms varied on progressive, heavy and
nervous sequences structures in constant boiling and evolution. Long
sequences with multiple stages, which cross sometimes more serene corridors,
but which is always puffed up by synthetizers with harmonious pads. Melodies
decorated by lines which cross, uncross and multiply the musical swirls on
metal percussions and circling sound effects. Per moment we have the
impression to be attacked by clouds of electronic bats which move towards
the sonority point. With its synthetizers, Certamen equips his compositions
by juxtaposed lines, dropping from the scattered notes which will be folded
up in other synthetic layers even more enveloping. The solos are juicy and
extremely numerous. The sequencers play on low and nervous lines at the
deviating and progressive rates, supported by its capped electronic
percussions of many sound effects. Throughout the opus, the speakers are
attacked and tremble on their impacts. The sounds are multidirectional and
wrap the room where the music is listened to. The powerful and silky synth
solos on sequential lines with retained beat wrap the atmospheres already
extremely rich of the Polish synthesist. The use of the vocoder is not as
scary as it may seems. The vocals are short and flooded by a thousand twists
synths solos effects. Therefore, the music prevails more than the texts
spoken a little everywhere on each title. If the eponym title and
Paranormal World Of Imagination bathe in parallel musical structures,
Neurostimulation is somewhat different. Slower and more atmospheric, it runs
on a sensual, strong and intriguing tempo. Sometimes severe, even
threatening, the melody is twisted on various musical steps and ends up
moulding more intense and swirling rhythms. The best title on this new
Certamen opus.
I awoke in A dream is resolutely intense CD. Melodious from start to end, it
is an opus well structured with brilliant musical moves. Each title
progresses with powerful rhythms on clever and extremely elaborate
percussions. A crossing between the symphonic synthetic layers of Klaus
Schulze and Tangerine Dream and the personal sequential lines witch
Certamen's fans discovered on Earth. If you like the long titles with
stunning progressive evolution, always on the Berlin School style, I Awoke
in A Dream from Certamen is made for you.
Sylvain Lupari, 2006
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