After the compulsory but
finely crafted atmospheric opening minute it is straight into a slow
sequence that wouldn’t have been out of place on a Rolf Trostel album.
In the background are samples of radio broadcasts (appropriately for a
track called ‘AirWaves’) that seem to be about nuclear tests. The
title track is littered with melancholy melodies over a chugging sequence
low in the mix. The guitar line during the last three minutes is
particularly effective. ‘Playballs’ begins with a sequence that brings
up images of light being broken up into rainbow colours as it illuminates
a small woodland waterfall. The image slowly evolves and builds until the
original delicate sequence is joined by one of the more robust variety.
‘The Mystery Jungle’ makes more use of samples but is mainly a very
melodic number both in the sequences themselves and the lead lines. It is
all change at the half way mark as insect sounds and strange noises
dominate, we have now entered the jungle and things continue this way
until a minute from the end when it is back to melody and sequence.
More Jungle type noises
start ‘Prayers of the Wind’, the rhythm then takes over with the
sounds of the said wind blowing over the top and vocal samples occupying
the middle ground. The rhythm builds still further and a flute mimics the
previous vocal line. The samples return with new vigour as do the drums
and continue to the end. ‘Hypnotic Balloons’ makes use of a tubular
bell sounding sequence but this changes through a multitude of mutations
to something that sounds altogether more synthetic. The track basically
consists of this “hypnotic” sequence gradually changing right until
the end. ‘The River’ is a delightful melodic piece, simple but
beautiful. The melodies are just gorgeous. Easily the best track on the
album.
Mesmerizing tabla rhythms
and suitably Eastern samples provide the backbone to another hypnotic
number ‘Flying Home in Trance’. Second time I heard this was after a
couple of lagers and it sounded absolutely brilliant. Speaking of lager
the last track is called ‘Return of the Drunken Playballs’ but this
one didn’t improve when given the amber liquid treatment.
David Law, 1998
Nautilus -
Rising Balloon
(1998, Nautilus Records
NCD 001)
'Rising
Balloon' was originally released in 1998 by Nautilus
Records and re-released in
2010 by SynGate Records.
