Music - CDs - Awakenings 2008 volume 2.5

• Format: CD-R / Download
• Release date: November 2008
• Released by Ambient Live & Music Zeit
• Duration: 1:19:27
• Download: MP3 / FLAC from Music Zeit - Awakenings 2008 volume 2.5

The Awakenings series of compilations started in 2005 and new ones are usually released twice per year. Released at the same time as volume 2, this album comprises Ambient tracks, in a continuous mix.

1. Ricochet Gathering feat. Adrian Beesley - Memories of a Fallen Tree part I (11:17)
2. Seren Ffordd - Sunrise on Ice Crystals (17:41)
3. Phrozenlight - Whispering Trees (16:39)
4. Edge Effect - Sunset in The Dark Forest (10:50)
5. Russell Storey - Telescopium (7:42)
6. Ricochet Gathering feat. Adrian Beesley - Memories of a Fallen Tree part II (6:11)
7. Eppie E Hulshof - Real-time Tunneling (9:12)

As with previous naming conventions Vol 2.5 provides a more laid back and ambient companion to Vol 2, the tracks cross-faded into one another. The subtlest of sequences gets Adrian Beasley's (from AirSculpture) 'Memories of a Fallen Tree Part 1' underway. Strange animal noises cry out and echo into the distance. This really is a delicate and extremely beautiful piece. 'Part 2' is even more melodic with gentle note droplets hovering in the air over a slow peaceful dreamy melody.

Seren Ffordd's 'Sunrise on Ice Crystals' Initially (before dawn I presume) plunged me down to the dark spooky depths. In the third minute, however, brighter tones start to penetrate the gloom. Still pretty eerie stuff though. Phrozenlight's 'Whispering Trees' follows on in a similar mood, all rather organic. This changes as a transformer type drone makes the whole thing feel more like being part of some gently humming machine which then seems to gradually implode on itself then float off on a cosmic wind to the deepest regions of space.

This was the first time I had heard of Edge Effect and 'Sunset in the Dark Forest' is not a bad piece of music, bringing up images of the title well, though what came first music or title I wouldn't really want to hazard a guess. Russell Storey is represented by 'Telescopium'. A wall of warbling pulsing atmospherics is punctuated by what could be hissing jets of steam. As with Phrozenlight's track machines come to mind but this is a much more aggressive thunderous device than the gently humming variety on the former track.

Eppie E Hulshof's 'Real Time Tunneling' is a piece full of lush analogue sounds having a gorgeous rather melancholy cinematic feel. In the fifth minute an acoustic guitar lead makes a brief appearance before disappearing in a sea of swelling pads. We finish with a lovely, almost spiritual, melodic end section. A lot is packed into one track. A highlight of the album.

- Dave Law, Synth Music Direct