Customer Reviews

Edge of a Fairytale

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This time around, what do we get if we mix some traditional Between Interval trademark sound with Lustmord, Telomere & Michael Stearns? Well, we do get to hear what this new installment is all about.

On this disc you will probably be reminded of the CD 'Planetary Unfolding' by Michael Stearns as it captures much of the same in terms of atmosphere, flow & structure. The CD starts out very moody and deep, almost frightening, and this is where 'Lustmord' comes to mind (Stalker anybody?). It's both a very subtle and diverse experience to my ears, and so far I'm not sure if I should call it a pure "space" music album ala Telomere/Stearns or just regular ambient "space" music, so my conclusion is 'Dark Ambient' music with a spacious twist.

Most parts of the album is built up with an overall scary atmosphere that haunts you to the core. And to me this is quite new, being a long time fan of BI's music. Despite that, it's not neccesarily a bad thing at all, no, this only shows that BI is capable of producing so much more than just the ordinary, and certainly it shows on the two last tracks 'Leviathan' & 'Portals in Time' which to me are THE best tunes on this disc, and closes the disc in a perfect way. A way I would call "We got what we came for" so to speak.

So, to whom will this CD appeal to? I would say, If you are a big fan of Michael Stearns music then this is a safe bet. But even if you're not, this is sure to please any fan of electronic music in general as it takes some time to really appreciate it. And once you have, you will never let this masterpiece be far away from your CD Player!.

Highly Recommended!!

While I have listened to all of Between Interval's past output, I have never been truly impressed until hearing "The Edge of a Fairytale", which, ever since seeing its artwork and song titles, has captivated me completely. Always fascinated with the stars and space (Secret Observatory), Between Interval now successfully brings you among them, to feel the size and shape of the void. Yet the void seems friendly when this album is playing. It takes the blurry, whooshing resonance of past albums like "Autumn Continent" into a newfound sharp, airy and crisp clarity. The album is so powerfully WHITE and PURE... A truly blank, holy white, blissfully at one with the massive, shining universe. Somehow never harsh or unpleasant, resonant whitewash blots out all other melodic tones, replacing them with rushing, beautiful sound. It's like a splash of cold water in the face... It has the purity of snow, of mountain air. And yet it seems a creation of celestial or spiritual inspiration more than an 'arctic ambient' piece like Biosphere's "Substrata". The album seems charged with a strange magical vibrancy, making the title seem quite relevant.

Occasional processed melodic voices flicker in and out the mix in tracks like "Atlantis Lost", gone before the mind can really even process them. It adds a little lonely urban flavor, reminiscent of Burial's Untrue or the works of Scanner. The album seems to alternate between personal, introverted sensitivity and a universalized divine bliss. He's obviously been listening to a lot of Lustmord, as well.

While his music has gotten a great more existential and spacey with this release, Stefan Jonsson, now calling himself Stefan 'Strand', is still less patient than an older ambient master like Steve Roach... His tracks are fairly short, and still use conventional synth sounds, loops and rhythmic structures sometimes, although they don't really have "beats". They seem very alert, energetic and awake, and like fellow Scandinavian Biosphere, he doesn't usually allow himself to drift too far into space, with a few marvelous exceptions, such as the epic "Leviathan", or "Pillars of Creation", a truly ecstatic highlight track. Perhaps now, however, I can see "Strand" eventually joining the ranks of Steve Roach and Robert Rich as one of the great ambient masters. He has been lumped in with them in the past, already, but I believe this was a comparison wrongfully made. He still seems like a younger musician to me. This is his "Structures from Silence", or perhaps even his "Dreamtime Return".

Other highlights include the absolutely magnificent "Eden In Shadows", creating some of the most pleasing mental images I've ever had from an ambient track. It truly is the sound of the Garden of Eden. The sounds truly seem to evoke a place more lush and full of life than even anywhere on Earth... Warm synth chords resonate with the feelings of these sounds perfectly. It's Strand's crowning achievement so far.

In conclusion, this album is a invigorating masterpiece, a blast of spiritual energy and light. Between Interval has become one to watch for me, and this album is why. Recommended for any fan of ambient music. An unconditional 5 stars.

I do expect even greater things from him in the future, seeing as ambient musicians typically age like fine wine.

Right now Sefan Strand is creating some of the most phenomenal space music that I have ever heard. If you loved his 'autumn continent', you will like this even more.
The slow, open synth swell's are gorgeous, the few sequences
are almost rhythmically perfect for the background ambiance, and he still manages to create truly innovative electronic music. This guy is a master of space. If you like Vir Unis, Oophoi,or Telomere you will love 'Between Interval". buy this.

Stefan Strand, the sole creator of Between Interval might be known better under the name Stefan Jönsson, which was credited on first 3 releases of Between Interval, but Stefan's legal surname was later changed to Strand. But in any case, this Swedish guy is undoubtedly one of the young guns in the genre and his 4th album "The Edge Of A Fairytale" confirms his big talent and potential that was evidently presented back in 2005, when Stefan has reached with phenomenal album "The Secret Observatory" sky high regions occupied by other highly acclaimed space architects. With his newest work from 2009, "The Edge Of A Fairytale", Stefan takes us closer to immense landscapes. First two tracks, "Delta Capricorni" and "The Great Void", are absolutely outstanding, mysteriously deep and massive ambiences of the highest caliber! This guy rules again!!! Some gently pulsing electronics invade "Minotaur's Lair". With "Pillars Of Creation" we are back in more monumental and futuristic soundwall with repeated sonic outbursts. Stefan Strand once again comes here with his own voice, an adventurous style safely hanging somewhere between ambient and dark ambient terrains. High-tech soundscapes on "Three Years Ago" are perfectly enriched with slowed-down IDM ingredients and heavenly choirs, what a beauty!!! "Atlantis Lost" with ghostly voices is another deeply mysterious escapade, just like strongly nature-influenced "Eden In Shadows", it's like a trip through cavern with many miraculous sceneries. Short "Purgatory" is quite frightening while the next piece, "Sea Of Darkness", has some ice cold mechanical feel. Over 11 minutes long "Leviathan" belongs to the most mysterious and evocative tracks on this album, deep droning subterranean ambience at its best!!! "Portals In Time" is another deeply immersive and grandiose composition with emerging various futuristic and choir-like sounds, a pure ethereal bliss at the end of this tremendously fascinating journey, yes, that's "The Edge Of A Fairytale"!!! Between Interval perfectly fits Spotted Peccary label roster and I can't wait to hear more from this Nordic Monster!!!

Richard Gürtler (Bratislava, Slovakia)

I know I go a bit against the tide here, but this one does not click perfectly, i.e. it just cannot repeat the Autumn Continent Masterpiece...it is darker and sharper but it has lost the fantastic richness of the previous one and looks more suitable for a fantasy dark video game...sorry, just doesn't work for me...I hope Autumn Continent gets a sequel otherwise I am not sure where Between Interval is heading...

I find several of the pieces on this album short on imagination and long on monotonous rhythms and drones. Minotaur's Lair, Sea of Darkness, Three Years Ago, the thudding chime in Pillars of Creation - there's really not much to them when it comes down to it. These are songs that a person is likely to play once or twice and then skip on the way to the more captivating music.

And that more captivating music does manage to touch the edge of a sinister fairytale. Dark, this is definately not music for Cinderella's ball, but rather a soundtrack for the creepy forest of the album cover. Delta Capricorni, Atlantis Lost, Eden in Shadows and Leviathan are for a darkened room with a good sound system. This is music that will take the listener down to that other eerie dreamscape.

I was very pleased w/ the album and service and have brought other cds by this group.