MIDICraft's MIDINET CD-ROM/MIDICraft's MIDINET CD-ROM.iso/KORG_I-S/MIDFILES/AEVOLUTN/DOCS.ZIP/REVIEW.TXT

Text File | 1996-10-07 | 11.9 KB | 291 lines

                              ╞volution
                     `Defin╞tive' cassette album

                     Music composed and produced
                 by Ian Chisholm and Marcus Donachie

                Produced on an Amiga 1200 and OctaMED

                      Reviewed by Kevan R.Craft


                              ╞volution
                     `Defin╞tive' cassette album

             Side One                           Side Two

 1.Solitaire..............5:42      9.Anthem.....................3:54
 2.Hallow.................5:11     10.Caught Up..................5:03
 3.Kingdon................6:00     11.The Awooga Waltz...........4:21
 4.Freeway................5:44     12.Deveraux...................5:23
 5.Company................4:04     13.Induced Trance.............4:47
 6.Evolution..............5:40     14.Fantasised.................5:00
 7.Cabani - Extended mix..6:48     15.Callisto - The Europa Mix..6:41
 8.Day....................5:43     16.Delemaine..................4:25
                                   17.Too Much...................5:23


╞volution consists of  two  Amiga/OctaMED  composer/musicians based in
Norfolk in  the  UK..   Some  Amiga  musicians  may  be  familiar with
╞volution's music through their involvement  with  the MED USERS GROUP
(MUG).. Those more astute of you  may  be aware that ╞volution was one
of the Amiga groups chosen to  appear on the ii-fated Amiga Experiment
CD, which unfortunately didn't emerge, buts that's another story!

Despite the  set  back  with  the  Amiga  Experiment,  ╞volution  have
continued to write and record their  music using the Amiga and OctaMED
and with a recent release of  their debut cassette album `Defin╞tive',
a 90 minute, 17 tracks tape, things are starting to sound good!

All the tracks featured on 'Defin╞tive' are written in the Dance genre
but what sets ╞volution's music apart  from most, is the clever rhythm
structures, superb arrangements and  careful  juxtapositioning of both
sample and synth instruments within each score..



Side One


Solitaire 5:42

`Solitaire' begins with a series of gun shot sample sounds and a synth
piano rhythm  which  opens  with  some  clever  sampled  voices..  The
regular "Dance" drum structure,  containing  interesting hi hats, bass
drum and  snare  patterns  works  well  with  the  intermittent  synth
instruments and create  a  temporary  relief  from  the  main rhythmic
structure..

`Solitaire' possesses a fine melody line  which hooks to the bass line
and overall theme very well..  Overall,  a  great choice as an opening
track for the cassette album..


Hallow 5:11

With a  more  cautious  introduction  coupled  with  a  staccato synth
keyboard, we are presented with  a  more  up-tempo  bass and drum beat
style which is obviously intended to  bring people to the dance floor!
Again, Hallow contains a particular theme  within the scheme of things
but cleverly deviates, occasionally  with  hand  claps and bold synths
providing temporary relief, then before you  know  it we return to the
hypnotic, pulsing  "Dance"  rhythms  which  sweep  you  off  your feet
again..

Hallow's structure is one of a tight melody and drum beat coupled with
a series of counterpoint  sequenced  melodies  which are excellent and
contribute to a wonderful sounding track here..


Kingdom 6:00

Beginning in a "regal"  tradition,  `Kingdom'  opens with some pulsing
synths and strings providing a backdrop  for  a brass section to enter
the fray.. With  a  swift  sweeping  glide,  the  music  enters into a
stomping drumming structure  which  occasionally  provide  the various
spaces in which the  carefully  chosen  instruments  weave their magic
spell..

A recognisable trademark of  ╞volution,  is  the  break  away from the
regular  beat,  which  creates   spaces   or  temporary  pauses  where
additional musical passages are  invoked  only  to  slowly  build to a
fever pitch and the return of  the  bass  synths and drumming with the
additional catchy arpeggio synths all combining to produce one hell of
a hot number here!


Freeway 5:44

Employing a  more  direct  approach,  `Freeway'  is  a  driving  score
containing pulsating bass and  drum  rhythms  with  a memorable melody
line which slow and  speed  up  with alarming regularity. Occasionally
`Freeway' is embellished with  intermittent  subtle arrangements.  The
great use of rapid, interwoven sequences within this peice work really
well signifying a sense of  speed  and  urgency  and  one for the foot
tappers!!


Company 4:04

This track opens with a  big,  fat,  chunky  synth  bass line and some
wonderful sounding drum samples  that  soar  into  a blistering number
which really rocks!!

The catchy Pan Pipes/flute instruments  sequence, coupled with a synth
trumpet melody line really  pull  you  into  this  one!  Only when the
music pauses fro breath  are  we  reminded  of  the excellent sounding
synth bass line and then we're  suddenly  off again back into the main
beat but this time, with an expanded  version  of the main theme - the
pan pipes sequence and trumpet all interwoven with real skill..

Overall, the assured  sense  of  composition  and arrangement, coupled
with an excellent bass line  and  stomping  drum  patterns make this a
brilliantly composed peice of music..




Evolution 5:40

Taking a variation on the  band's  name  as  the title for this track,
`Evolution' opens with a series of thunder sample sounds which lead to
a catchy hi hat pattern  and  drumming..  The structure is embellished
with a deep  bending  synth  bass  sound  and  some  nice intermittent
touches  of  percussion,  occasionally  breaking  away  with  a  siren
sounding string section and excellent  break  beat passages where that
cool synth bass pulses on just the right beat..

Then we're presented with  a  high  pitched  vocal  sample sound which
weaves in and out of  the  score..   An  excellent track with just the
right blend of instruments and catchy drum beat - nice one!


Cabani - Extended Mix 6:48

With the initial use  of  amazing  conga  drum rhythms, `Cabani' keeps
building up until it reaches fever  pitch and leads to a full-all-out-
assualt on the senses..  The counter melody, which works well with the
solid drumming, provides  the  springboard  for  further counterpoints
between sweeping strings and synth  instrumentation then suddenly this
peice really takes off!  We eventually  return to the excellent congas
established at the  beginning  giving  the  impression we've travelled
"full circle"..  This track is  a  full blown masterpeice! If `Cabani'
doesn't get people onto the  Dance  floor  with  this one then I don't
know what will..


Day 5:43

╞volution, again employ  a  series  of  sample  "Sound  FX" creating a
mental image  as  an  introduction  to  their  "Dance  synth"  musical
narratives..  A catchy synth bass  and  drumming structure (as always)
grab the attention, so much so,  that  "classic" would be a phrase I'm
tempted to use  here!   Not  only  have  ╞volution  been successful in
creating a great track here,  in  addition,  they  delay the effect of
building up  to  a  continuous  beat  until  they  have  grabbed  your
attention and then like an old friend we are returned to a hypnotising
beat!

Because the beat structure is more  simple  but direct, and makes this
accessible, its for these reasons that  `Day' is so successful a track
with its rhythmic honesty and approach.


Side Two


Anthem 3:54

Probably the  most  assured  peice  on  the  `Defin╞tive'  album which
contains quite a remarkable series of arrangements within arrangements
that all intertwine within  a  magical  air  of piano melody, strings,
steel drums, counter melody, trumpet, choral voices, bass and drums..

The depth of emotion communicated  from  `Anthem' is a velvet tapestry
of  sound,  and  just  the   right   choice  of  instruments  cleverly
juxtaposed, in such a way,  that  sounds  like  a celebration and this
exudes "classic" status and one which  could contribute to being a HIT
recording!  This is my favourite track on the whole album - amazing!!




Caught Up 5:03

Opening with a military style snare  drum and accompanying hand claps,
`Caught Up' then bursts into a series of subsections each possessing a
unique identity of interwoven instruments and drumming structures much
like a medley.

The clever use  of  the  Three  chord  progression,  coupled  with the
occasional vocal sample sound  further  embellishes  this catchy Dance
track..


The Awooga Waltz 4:21

One of the interesting aspects  of  `The  Awooga Waltz' is the assured
use of counter  rhythms  (again  ╞volutions  trademark)  between synth
bass, drums and percussion montaged  with  a series of excellent synth
instruments and break beat vocal samples..

Although not the same  kind  of  track  as  the earlier `Anthem', `The
Awooga Waltz' does communicate  an  Anthem  call  for the Dance genre!
This  track  therefore  could  be  considered  a  montage  of  musical
similarities produced with confident style..


Deveraux 5:23

If ever there was a track  on  `Defin╞tive' which would be a contender
for a place in  the  Dance  Charts  then  'Deveraux'  would  be a fine
example!  This peice contains  all  the  elements  of  the three chord
progression structure, intermittent blistering synth instruments and a
catchy drum track! Hard Core stuff this one!


Induced Trance 4:47

Opening with a  slower  tempo  and  harmonic  chord sequence, `Induced
Trance' lives up to its  title  by  bursting  out  at the seams into a
fully-blown Dance Track!  All  this  with  spacy  laser synths, police
sirens and other unusual sample  sounds  combine to produce a tour-de-
force of the senses!


Fantasised 5:00

Again, opting for  a  slower-tempo,  `Fantasised'  emerges  as  a fine
musical composition with a  careful  choice of instrumentation, subtle
use of arrangement  and  possesses  a  good  hook-line  in  the melody
together with a haunting counterpoint sequence..


Callisto - The Europa Mix 6:41

Another track which combines a series  of counter rhythms in drums and
percussion is `Callisto'..  This track  possesses a brilliant drum and
percussion sequence in which a series  of synth instruments layer upon
each other producing a  landscape  of  sound  for  the wandering sweet
melody  and  the  interweaving   sequences..    Again,  in  the  Dance
tradition,  `Callisto'  is   an   assured   track,   possessing  clear
instrumentation and great drums!




Delemaine 4:25

Occasionally, a  peice  of  music  just  grabs  your  attention!  With
`Delamaine', this is exactly the case  as you're sucked into the heart
of a pulsing beat!  Great use  of  a  synth  bass and the now familiar
╞volution drumming, together with  intermittent instrumentation in the
score..  All these things go to make a great track!


Too Much 5:23

Taking a basic bass line  and  melody,  ╞volution has reworked a disco
type theme but have integrated  this  into the dance formula resulting
in a blinder of a final  track  on  the `Defin╞tive' album called `Too
Much'..

`Too Much' is a very catchy  number  containing  a great drum beat and
memorable melody hook line  which  plays  on  your  senses  and a good
choice as the final track to end the album on a high note!


╞volution  have  successfully  produced  a  great  cassette  album  in
`Defin╞tive'  using  an  Amiga   1200   and   OctaMED  which  displays
originality and a mature sense of composition and arrangement skills..
Their musical  style,  in  the  "Dance"  genre,  is  well  assured and
displays a professional edge.. When these  guys make the transition to
MIDI synths and digital recording then  record companies A & R persons
will be clambering to sign them up because they're that good!

(c) Kevan R.Craft 1995

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