Released
Label
Fathom Records
A Sublabel of
Hearts of Space
Reviewed by
Kim Ann
Alexander
Visit
Last Edit/Update
19 April, 1998
Lightwave
Tycho Brahe
Track Listing
1. Uraniborg 16.59
2. Mapping the Sky 4.53
3. Cathedral 5.19
4. Fuga Stellarum 4.34
5. Virtual Mechanics 3.56
6. Poetics of the Sphere 4.17
7. The Art of Clockmakers 3.54
8. Tycho on the Moon 6.08
9. Apogée 3.57
10. Hymn for the Guild of Astronomers 3.36
If
ever the term " New Age Space Music" described the efforts of a group, it would
be most fitting with the talented members of Lightwave. A contemporary
neo-ambient synthphonic tapestries woven together as perfectly as the heavens are above, Tycho
Brahe is a case in point. Rich textures of electronica drift and wind their way within
and beyond sculpted atmospheric boundaries and slowly evolving shifts of deep whirrings
and harmony as evidenced in the peaceful aural realm of Uraniborg. Completely
synthesized, electronic piano enters the picture in Mapping the Sky, creating the
effect of having a means in which to navigate through the ambience. Cathedral
indeed conjures the visions of cold, dark eerie space, while Fuga Stellarum
transports you there.
Breaking down the sub-ambience of
spacious sounds and vibration, Virtual Mechanics rumbles like the efforts of a far
distant stellar explosion in space with twinkles of synth experimentation. Angelic murmurs
and bursting spicular sonics evolve in Poetics of the Sphere. Whirring updrafts of
spell-binding synths float along extended long waves of harmonics in The Art of
Clockmakers. Hydraulic snippets and short bursts of what sounds like a schizophrenic
ripping on the E string of a violin (Jacques Deregnaucourt) are layered
over slow key by key melancholic piano as presented with Tycho on the Moon. Piano
continues to be a dominant force, coupled with violin and more rumbling and chantlike
effects, in the scintillating work of Apogée. And the finale, Hymn for the
Guild of Astronomers creates a sense of completion and honour with turkish clarinet (Renaud
Pion), spacious soundscape and keys.
Overall, this is
yet another excellent release from Fathom Records who once again are "Sounding
the Deep", yet also "Blending the Expansive" with
Lightwave's Tycho Brahe. This CD is a collector's item!