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Cosmic Music, Berlin School, call it whatever you
prefer, it certainly is about a voyage through space. Incredibly enough,
for the first time FaBIO and I agree on the fact that this may be our best
album to date...
Mac of BIOnight, 2007
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"Return To Earth" starts with resonating bells and fat synth
pad. This is pretty haunting stuff. Soon a terrific sequence arrives,
making this short opener a true Berlin School gem. The track's got
anthemic qualities, too, especially once the drums come in. One can see
how BIOnighT's sound has evolved from their previous efforts released
several years ago. The music has become more powerful but at the same time
crystalline-clear.
"Sinus Iridum" has reflective harp-like sequence coupled with
cello leads. This is almost Classical music in its scope and feel. What a
surprise and what a great track it is! All textures are organic and / or
sampled and yet everything is arranged like an EM piece. Subtle synthetic
bass pulses can be heard that do not, however, interfere with the flow of
this acoustic-sounding number. Everything then stops abruptly as we are
left in a windswept landscape. Bass drum beats a couple of times and then
goes away. Strange sounds like electronic flies swarm around the stereo
spectrum. The bass drum pattern constantly repeats until a relaxed section
supported by a steady drum rhythm appears. Is that the theremin I hear? At
least it sounds like it. Excellent, moody music! If you like epic EM (and
I mean epic in the sense of Symphonic Rock) then you must listen to this!
"Floating Thoughts" begins with sparse melancholic notes. After
a while some fat synth pads appear. What a reflective track, this one.
Although "Back To Orion" is a collective work, this particular
track was composed entirely by FaBIO with some contributions from Mac. A
tinkling sequence appears towards the end, never really becoming a
mainstay, the track remaining essentially an atmospheric number.
"Moon Rocks" (excellent title for an EM track!) starts with
strange sounds as if multiple balls are jumping off the floor. However,
this one turns out to be the "pop single" of the album. Ok, I
don't mean pop music of course, but this track is perhaps as catchy and
"easy-listening" as BIOnighT gets. Seriously, you can even
whistle along to it! It's a good song that somehow reminds me on an
updated version of French band Space. Excellent work with sound here, the
guys really managed to fill all the stereo space, resulting in the music
sounding very intense, but at the same time open-ended, not compressed as
is often the case with recent releases.
The next track is "Little Gravity", composed entirely by Mac.
What can I say? Sequences galore would be the description of it!
Excellent, excellent pulsations, and that unmistakable "classic
EM" feel. Pure cosmic power! Sorry, been away just enjoying the
GORGEOUS sequences on this track!
In stark contrast, "Falling" surprises with an aggressive
sequence, heavy drums and excellent echoey analogue leads. Very evocative
of its title! By now it is quite clear that "Back To Orion" is
one of the best (if not the best) releases of 2007.
At least in my book, it will be right up there with the top ones! But
wait, there's one (long) track left, called "Ride On the Moon".
Abstract sounds give way for a bass sequence. It is then joined by various
synth sounds and Mellotron choir. This track has a rather loose structure,
akin to mid 1970's Tangerine Dream. Until the upbeat drum rhythm is
introduced, that is. After that it turns into some rocky EM with a bite to
it that only a couple of Italian guys like Mac and FaBIO could achieve. It
all then calms down, leaving us with the sounds of wind and a tolling
bell. Synthetic textures then attack us from all sides before calming down
again. A pad is heard and a nice relaxed sequence starts. More sequences
are added together with one of the tastiest synth solos I've heard!
This is some EM to die for! On this album, Mac & FaBIO have created
something spectacular: they've showed why Electronic Music is the best
genre in the world!
Artemi Pugachov, 2007
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