Paul Cook
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An Instrumental Classic
People who are into their instrumental music will be thoroughly impressed with the diversity
of sounds, layers, textures and moods that this album offers.
From the opening track, Better Late, with its warm, dreamlike opening chords,
drifting into guitar very reminiscent of Ernie Isley's signature sound
- who doesn't think of hot summer beaches listening to their classic cover of Summer Breeze -
then building the layers and introducing a great little hook that sticks in your head long after
the album has finished, you know you are listening to something rather special.
Track 2, Air On a V String - more sombre and reflective - the soundtrack to sitting
in the back of a cab coming home from a great night out - lots of synth on this one.
Track 3, Latinum, opens with Hammond and Moog sounds over acoustic layers giving
a chilled out Spanish feel with these wonderful moog-y swirls taking us around and around again.
Track 4, Harmonic Escalator, reminds me a lot of what Isao Tomita did on
his classical interpretations with a heavy dose of ambient Tangerine Dream mixed in.
Track 5, East of West, a good, upbeat track with heavy Mike Oldfield/Tubular Bells
influences, multiple layers running over a steady theme - great stuff!
Track 6, Tone Poem, is a contemplative little number - although I say little,
it is over 7 minutes long. Birdlike sounds and an oriental tone kind of send
your head into some far-off field - very gentle with a clever heartbeat drum this becomes quite hypnotic.
Track 7, This is my Glockenspeil, full of echoey, ghostly, phased sounds and a hint
of Glockenspeil, it builds an air of anticipation throughout its five minutes leading
to the climatic end - but I won't spoil it for you!
Track 8, Ion Accord, another up tempo track and a good choice to follow, you're on
holiday, at a party, a little bit tipsy - this is it!
Track 9, Cat Food, with a deep but subtle bass pattern and a repeating melody this
is classic chill out - but with 30 seconds of crazy stuff in the middle to keep you awake.
Track 10, Renaissance Sky, the title track saved until the end is like a celebration of
the whole album, beautiful melody, choral overlays, phasey synth - a perfect finale.
Overall, what is very special is that this album is a grower.
Instantly likeable yet on each listen you hear something new. Magnificent, a triumphant debut.
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