Arcanum - Das Labyrinth
(2000, 2-CD Manikin Records MRCD
7055-1/7055-2)
(2000, 1-CD Manikin Records MRCD
7055)
Synth Music Direct (UK)
Bright tinkling synth pads create vivid
picture music throughout the first track 'Labyrinth- The Beginning' . At the
four minute mark rasping effects break the tranquillity and soon after a
sequence comes in. It is robust in the sound chosen but also has a delicate
melodic quality which acts in juxtaposition to the rasping noise. Guitar
chords enter near the end and begin to alter the images created by the
mind's eye. The feeling now is of restrained power. 'Metamorphosis'
commences with a collage of disparate sounds, some clanging others soaring.
Deep dark pulsations build and a melodic racing sequence joins in. A sort of
brooding excitement is created which is heightened by perfectly chosen
effects. This is my favourite piece of Arcanum music I have heard so far.
Its as if a force field is holding back some great power which could be
unleashed at any moment. It is a fantastic composition, every element of it
seeming so right as if they were meant to be together and to these ears its
impossible to think how it could be improved on in any way. The feeling of
power continues to grow as the track progresses. After ten minutes the feeling that the power could be malevolent changes to
a more optimistic stance as a flute melody is added.
'New Psychadelic'
begins with the sound of deep breathing as if someone is underwater using an
aqualung. Guitar and synth textures then combine to create a dark soundscape
which now the mind has been primed to think in that direction conjures up
images of strange things found in the depths of the ocean. The guitar then
emerges in its own right with gentle formless licks just adding to the
atmosphere and preparing us for the sequence which emerges just before the
seven minute mark. A slow rhythm falls into step with the sequence. The
guitar gentle floats along providing a little detail here and a little
detail there but just forming a part of the whole rather than blasting over
the top, at times sounding a little like Manuel Gottsching. At the eighteen
minute mark a rhythm is added and by now the guitar is becoming a little
more dominant providing the main lead line. It works for me but if you
really don't like electric guitar with synth music it will probably be a bit
intrusive for you by now. For the last five minutes the guitar disappears
completely and the sequence and rhythm get into an infectious groove.
'Labyrinth- The End' starts with a nice bright pulsating loop around which
thick soft pads swell. Soon a piano melody strikes up. This is very laid
back relaxing stuff beautifully done. At around the six minute mark the
electric guitar can be heard faintly but powerfully in the background adding
a little bite. By half way an acoustic guitar melody replaces the piano one
and we peacefully drift on. The acoustic guitar dies away and it is replaced
by more sequences and a fairly heavy electric guitar line shattering the
tranquillity and providing a really blistering finish.
There is also a
double CD version of this album but unless you can understand German I would
avoid it as almost all the music on the second disc has German spoken text
over it.
