Jeffrey Koepper, though not entirely new to the space/ambient scene,
offers his essential debut release here with "Etherea" which is
loaded with reflective soundscape-textures in which a lot of emotion
is involved. Warm, pulsating and cyclic elements are featured
throughout the whole recording, with slowly evolving patterns and
drifting drone effects used for balance. He places his music in
tracks of varying tempos, with reference points that might easily be
Thom Brennan, Giles Reaves or Steve Roach. Jeffrey's delicately
composed music easily carries you away into some distant
(dream)lands, with a perfect opening to make you feel at ease within
minutes. The album was superbly enhanced and spatialized by ambient
guru Steve Roach in the Timeroom, which makes the recording sparkle
all the way through. The manner in which Koepper keeps bringing the
listener to the threshold of more active ambient sounds and then
backing off into more serene spaces provides a unique artistic
counterpoint that is used very effectively. His high-grade equipment
and technology is put to great use and effect, never sacrificing one
degree of the human element. For space fans, this new CD is a must.
Along with Jon Hopkins (on Just Music) we are going to have some
tough competition for debut of the year in 2003.
Lloyd Barde
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Renowned for his technical abilities and restorative powers, Jeffrey Koepper has become distinguished for his work in maintaining, reviving and often performing miracles on vintage electronic music equipment. Elsewhere, he is (along with Kelvin Russell) known as half of Pure Gamma, the duo that brought together the old school ambience of the '70s with the techno/chillout culture of the '90s. In 2003, Koepper has finally popped his head up from behind his vast museum's worth of gear and presented the world with a long-awaited studio album. On Etherea (72'12"), Koepper demonstrates a mastery beyond the technical side of his craft. The 10 tracks alternate between the analogue bubbles and digital ice of the American synth 'n sequencer revival of the '80s - and bright, smooth and spacious tonal landscapes where wide swaths of stereo phasing, thin lines of sawtooth buzzes and soft clouds of revererant strings paint the air with an enduring ambience. Building on familiar Spacemusic forms, figures and themes, the genre calls for Koepper to add that immeasurable factor: his own individual human component - which ignites the sonic imagery of his music. With Etherea, "Analogue Jeff" the gearhead is transformed into Jeffrey Koepper the artist. By applying his vast technical knowledge of music making equipment towards programming beautifully evocative ethereal sounds and strong rhythmic designs, Koepper has put together an album of impressive depth and rare intelligence.
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