Review's:
Textural and keyboard electronics establish a pastoral realm that stirs the soul with its majesty.
An impressive array of ethereal tonalities is utilized to produce a soothing foundation of harmonic nature. Then keyboard sighs and endearing chords are introduced to give the vaporous flow definition and character.
Stately piano accompanies other keyboards, generating a lavish panorama of expressive disposition. Instead of relying on auxiliary loops to create additional layers, Kyryluk uses tonal sweeps to flesh out his central themes, while gentle harmonic set an atmospheric backdrop.
The nucleus of each tune, however, lies in Kyryluk?s skillful command of serene chords. His riffs cascade with pleasant mien, blending and conspiring to evoke an organic calm that seeps into the skin as easily as it traverses the ear canals. Delicate chords drift with a congenial grandeur that expertly matches the textural background. There are some instances in which the sounds achieve a piercing volume in their efforts to express the euphoric definition of nature?s beauty.
Percussion is wholly unnecessary to this tuneage. In one track, notes are reiterated in swift velocity to approximate an amiable rhythmic presence to propel the music?s aerial consistency.
While seemingly moody in demeanor, the mood is more pensive than brooding. Instead of introspection, the music goads the listener into an attuned state with their environment--which on this release is targeted to include the entire planet. Landscapes and cloud structures and the patterns of air currents are captured with each song and transformed into melodic structures rich with coexistent emotion.
One new track has been added to the DVD?s soundtrack. While excellently mirroring the temperament of the rest of the music, this piece exhibits a refined delivery that sparkles with mature luster.
Review by Matt Howarth, Sonic Curiosity http://www.soniccuriosity.com/
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Gregory Kyryluk, whose predominant recording locus has been as Alpha Wave Movement, remains something of a under-recognized figure on the “scene” despite a career dating back to the mid 90s and an impressive (if smaller when measured against other Berlin school graduates) catalog. In fact, Kyryluk is one of the few odd men out—many of his recordings do indeed adopt the Teutonic syntax, but he’s equally limber at creating broadbased cinematic ambient that coordinate more than a few substantially arresting textures and motifs. Terra originally soundtracked a DVD sporting its name, though Kyryluk came to his senses and gave the audio portion a proper unveiling. It’s one of his most varied, and by dearth thereof, one of his most inviting works, alternately quiet and serene one moment, kinetic the next, yet of a well-considered piece (and pace) that thwarts charges of ideaistic schizophrenia. “Emerald Passage” in fact makes use of gorgeously exulted piano amidst curtains of synthetic strings, melancholic sans triteness, and most definitely not a barometer for what follows. “Liquid Garden” partakes of the kind of interspatial starshine that Patrick O’Hearn first dabbled with on his earliest Private Music recordings, synths bright and airy, augmented by gently swelling flurries of effects. Tracks such as the pregnant, deep-sky pulses of “Cloudmaker” demonstrate Kyryluk’s unabashed passion for landscape, while “Surrender & Flow” finally introduces softly ebbing sequencers into the Alpha Wave mainframe, a series of wonderfully throbbing patterns that recall Jonn Serrie’s more lucid moments. Kyryluk is nothing if not versatile, however: the laminate binding “Terra Infinitus” proffers moods that probe as they darken, dusky wafts of sound that give way to a beautifully spoked sequencer array of moogy goodness. Alpha-betize onto your shelves, pronto.
Review by DARREN BERGSTEIN, www.eiaudioverite.blogspot.com
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Expansive, atmospheric, melodic ambient electronica. Terra is a delicate album of graceful synth music that features elegant piano lines, bright wispy electro chimes, bowl-like phrases and broad tonal swells as the main voices, supported by fine washes and twinkling textures. Synthetic strings keen and swell, fine gossamer threads and films of sound run one into another whilst melodic arpeggios and meandering scales wander over the surface. The depth and intensity of the music ranges from silken stratospheric strains and airstreams to crepuscular drone banks and glimmering twilight ripples. In places simple bass phrases pulse indolently beneath the gently heaving liquid of the drones and breezy sequential structures, but not for long - much of the music too skyward looking and gliding to be bound and grounded by such low frequencies.
MOOD
The strictly electronic sonic sources for Terra make for a clean, spacious sound that suggests the clarity and tranquillity of dawn, the subtle shifting hues of early evening. Alpha Wave Movement builds tracks around digital synthesizers and MIDI equipment influenced by natural landscapes and scenic photography - here, more than ever I've felt that connection with the earth from Gregory's compositions. A sense of comfortable solitude pervades much of the album, almost plaintive in places, but more generally reflective, calm - enjoying the mental vistas conjured up by this delightfully understated soundscaping.
Review by Paul Jury, Morpheus Music UK
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Background Information:
Composer and arranger Gregory Kyryluk has been composing music since acquiring his first professional keyboard, a Moog synthesizer, back in the early 1980s. Primarily a self-taught musician, Gregory has recorded as Alpha Wave Movement since 1992.
Alpha Wave Movement's musical style can be considered an amalgam of classic 1970s period German style electronic music, otherwise known as Berlin-school, and the ambient aesthetics of Brian Eno, John Serrie and Steve Roach as well as hints of John Williams and other contemporary film composers.
Alpha Wave Movement's music is all electronic-based, utilizing digital synthesizers and MIDI to create its sonic explorations. Aside from the musical influences noted nature, natural landscapes and photography are a continuous source of inspiration for composing. Music cannot be forced but rather comes at moments of deeper inspiration.
Alpha Wave Movement has performed at the Ambient Ping Canada and at the Gathering Room USA, and has released music on the Dutch label Groove Unlimited, Silent Records (USA), Waveform Records (USA), Spiralight (USA), Ambientlive (UK), Lektronic Soundscapes (USA), Sequences Magazine (UK), and on the private label Harmonic Resonance Recordings. Alpha Wave Movement's other projects include Thought Guild with synthesis Christopher Cameron the electronic world fusion of Open Canvas, and a solo non Alpha Wave Movement release.
Harmonic Resonance Recordings (H.R.R.) is a small independent music label begun by me in 1995 to release and promote the music of Alpha Wave Movement. This started before there was any record/music label interested in releasing my music perhaps with the sole exception for Silent Records which took interest enough to include the first Alpha Wave Movement track on a "From Here to Tranquility" compilation cd. The debut release on Harmonic Resonance Recordings was the 1995/96 release "Transcendence" and the release of new titles continues throughout today.
Harmonic Resonance Recordings (H.R.R.) released a DVD entitled Terra, which features ambient music and images of the natural landscapes of New Zealand. The DVD video was made via a collaborative effort with electronic musician Rudy Adrian. The music found on this release will soon be available on audio cd later in 2008.
In addition Alpha Wave Movement has released "The Mystic & The Machine" in 2007 and it is a slight departure from what electronic music enthusiast will gauge electronic music by. In other words this release is not of the ambient/space/techno variety of music rather it is a cd comprised of music inspired by the rich melodic constant of progressive rock circa 1970s. Hints of Camel, Genesis, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Pink Floyd etc. are obvious thru-out the recording. Mystic takes the rhythmic rock elements and the inspirational melodic romanticism of the genre and weaves up-tempo in your face progressive rock inspired electronic music with the aid of UK guitarist/composer Steve Hillman.
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"The stunning Terra CD I got recently, it's a real classic and I've not stopped playing it since it came through the door. It's the essence of what EM should sound like."
Chris Newman, TDFZ Radio Show - UK (on the net!)
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