Post by thesoundmonitor on Mar 19, 2004 20:35:58 GMT -5
NEUMERIA
Coriolis
(White Studios)
Ambient music has definitely come a long way since Brian Eno and Robert Rich first introduced the world to the ethereal concept in the 70s. Unfortunately there was a black period in the late eighties where everyone with a synthesizer, dolphin samples and a New Age mindset thought they were ‘on the edge’ of the new wave of ambient. But such a precise style is too much of a craft to get away with cheap imitations. Yet it is here that Neumeria reside.
For some odd reason these two very accomplished musicians (Samantha White and Neil Bensted) have rested on the eighties synthetics and poor sounding drum machines and have created a substandard album, if not altogether disappointing.
The cheap production sits askew to the professional packaging and the even cheaper accompanying DVD is less ambient in picture, and more home footage of wildlife.
‘Open Sky’ suggests where the duo could head if more thought was given to space and mood, but even this track is too lengthy – dragging an idea to its death.
‘Destiny’ sounds like a meeting between Depeche Mode and early Ryuichi Sakamoto, which while looks good paper, isn’t. Meanwhile ‘Across The Great Divide’ pushes the synthetics to the fore with emotionless loops and over-synthesized drums.
‘From Far Away’ is perhaps the better of the 8 tunes, with it’s piano (yes, it’s synthesized), and wave samples, though it’s a bit too nice for these hardened ears, though it serve nicely as a backdrop for someone’s wedding video.
By Warren Wheeler
Artist website: www.neumeria.com.au
Label website: www.neumeria.com.au
Buy this album: www.neumeria.com.au
Coriolis
(White Studios)
Ambient music has definitely come a long way since Brian Eno and Robert Rich first introduced the world to the ethereal concept in the 70s. Unfortunately there was a black period in the late eighties where everyone with a synthesizer, dolphin samples and a New Age mindset thought they were ‘on the edge’ of the new wave of ambient. But such a precise style is too much of a craft to get away with cheap imitations. Yet it is here that Neumeria reside.
For some odd reason these two very accomplished musicians (Samantha White and Neil Bensted) have rested on the eighties synthetics and poor sounding drum machines and have created a substandard album, if not altogether disappointing.
The cheap production sits askew to the professional packaging and the even cheaper accompanying DVD is less ambient in picture, and more home footage of wildlife.
‘Open Sky’ suggests where the duo could head if more thought was given to space and mood, but even this track is too lengthy – dragging an idea to its death.
‘Destiny’ sounds like a meeting between Depeche Mode and early Ryuichi Sakamoto, which while looks good paper, isn’t. Meanwhile ‘Across The Great Divide’ pushes the synthetics to the fore with emotionless loops and over-synthesized drums.
‘From Far Away’ is perhaps the better of the 8 tunes, with it’s piano (yes, it’s synthesized), and wave samples, though it’s a bit too nice for these hardened ears, though it serve nicely as a backdrop for someone’s wedding video.
By Warren Wheeler
Artist website: www.neumeria.com.au
Label website: www.neumeria.com.au
Buy this album: www.neumeria.com.au