AL_X aka Alex Dunford, from Liverpool, England, began a modest 4 track EP to follow his self-titled debut album. Somehow this grew into an expansive 22 track, 70 minute "soundtrack to dreams and nightmares".
Creating all the ambient sounds himself using analog equipment, it's more Jean-Michel Jarre than Eno. In broad terms the textures are darkly introspective but some gentle piano interludes and new-agey moments prevent it getting too morbid.
Witness, for example, the contrast between the brooding pulse of Into The Trees (or its companion piece Back Into The Trees) and the more transcendent Theme From Fractal.
|
Dunford even sings on a few tracks although the vocals are often so buried in the mix they generally serve more of an instrumental function. Exceptions are the Radiohead-esqueFaux and Blindness which is like a cross between Human League meet John Cale.
The range of moods and atmospheres keeps the listener engaged so, in cinematic terms, the characteristics are more those of an edgy drama than rambling space opera.
|
