4.0 out of 5 stars
Neodrone - Extended Horizon, April 22, 2007
This review is from: Extended Horizon (Audio CD)
STYLE
Twilight, cinematic electronica and captivating female vocals. Extended Horizon breaks into two sections - the first part sees gentle downtempo beats and complementary arpeggiators propelling romantic piano melodies and attractive ethereal vocals. The latter tracks step up the pace introducing a driving dance beat with a steady thumping kick. Singer Johanna E Martell leads most tracks with her soaring vocal style that comfortably ranges from operatic drama to a hint of folk nostalgia almost reminiscent of All About Eve's Julianne Regan. The vocal performances are sometimes lyrical, sometimes wordless. Musically the sound is lush and sweeping, synthetic strings and layered keyboards underlay the rich themes, constantly varying programmed percussion creating momentum and neo-classical structures lending a graceful dignity throughout.
MOOD
Sensual nocturnes tinged with shades of melancholy or hints of nostalgia. Extended Horizon seems bathed in the lush hues of eventide - the mood consistently one of enchantment and passion even throughout the uptempo pieces toward the end of the suite. Neoclassical influences recur from the onset, most obviously in the operatic vocal style of a number of pieces and, of course, the interpretation of the two compositions by Mozart and Handel.
ARTWORK
Artwork maintains the crepuscular moodiness of the music - a dramatic photomontage fronting the package titled in a gothic font. Here dark waters fade ambiguously into trees mists and distant hills, everything tinted indigo blue. Two birds lift into the air and a windswept tree seems to lean after them. A darker version of this image re-appears on the reverse of the jewelcase track titles tastefully arranged centrally alongside their respective timings. Inside is a two panel fold-out sleeve with lyrics printed within opposite a page of credits.
OVERALL
Neodrone presents here their debut album, released on Sweden's Mambus Records label. The band consists of composer/keyboardist Magnus Tak and classically trained singer Johanna E. Martell with lyrics written by Brent Swarthout. As well as their own original material the album also features adaptations of two classic arias "Lascia Ch'io Pianga", from the opera "Rinaldo" by G.F. Händel and "Vengeance Aria" based on excerpts from the "Queen of the Night" aria by W.A. Mozart.
WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM
This is a strong album that will likely appeal to listeners that lean toward the 'enigmatic' genre. Neodrone works territory similar to Amethstium and Achillea -check out the Myspace page if you'd like to hear some samples.
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