Meanderings

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I know all of my reviews must seem sugar coated to one degree or another. The truth is that all the CD's i've reviewed so far have had a significant sway over me. Sometimes that effect is based solely on personal experiences (and what would music be without our memories?) and sometimes i manage to review things with some objectiveness.

Keep in mind that i only review CD's that i have in my collection and for the most part, they're there for a reason. Hence, the reviews tend to be positive.

This CD, the oddly named Pentamerous Metamorphosis, is no different. That is to say, i have a tremendous amount of affection for this work because of the memories and feelings it elicits from me, but at the same time it's a really solid set of compositions that, in my opinion, is some of the finest work of any electronic artist(s) out there. Though seemingly dated by it's publication date of 1998 (that just sounds weird, though it's true), the reality is that this CD is a worthy blueprint for any aspiring electronic musicians out there who are serious about creating electronic sounds that don't necessarily sound electronic and that have more depth than almost anything else out there. Junglists, trancists, housemakers... there are lessons here for you to learn.

About the CD:

Whereas A Positive Life's Synaesthetic is immediate and deliberate about the energy it conveys, Pentamerous Metamorphosis is an exercise in subtlety and seduction. From the first track to the end, each composition is warm, erotic, mysterious and uplifting... and hardly what you might expect from the electronic genre. The only other CD i can think of that equals and possibly surpasses what Pentamerous Metamorphosis has to offer is a rare CD named Pilgrimage, which i intend to review later.

Each track of Pentamerous Metamorphosis starts off silently or at least with such a demure disposition, that it's easy to lull yourself into thinking that it's going to wallow in some Yanniesque, New Age tripe by holding down a chord for about half an hour. No... this ain't your Prozac induced wus music. Global Communication slowly wraps the listener in sound after sound that almost seems as though it is going nowhere. As time passes, the silence eventually surrenders to the sounds that eventually unfold and unravel themselves. Layers and layers of sound build upon themselves, atmospheric droning yields to deep, lush rhythms that yield to a crisp and clear apex that teeters on the brink of being... danceable.

Well... if not danceable, then at least hypnotic as it grinds to a climax and then basks in itself for a while longer as it fades into the next track.

I can't mince words on this: this CD is pure sex. It is erotic and it is passion. If you have someone to share it with, i strongly recommend you do so when you have no interruptions. I can virtually promise you that exploring the offerings here and exploring your partner at the same time will be quite rewarding. If you just want to turn off your mind, relax and go downstream to discover what this CD has to offer on your own, i'd say that's a pretty damned good journey to take as well. Personally i don't recommend drugs for this journey, but hey... whatever creams your twinkie.

This CD is becoming increasingly hard to find, so if you come across one, i suggest you get it first, ask questions later. If it turns out that to not be for you, rest assured the person you give it to who WILL appreciate it, will be most grateful.

19 june 2001