Album Notes

"One of the twelve best Ambient / Spacemusic CDs of 2006 ... ... This collaborative effort between ambient artists Sylken (Eric Hopper), Anomalous Disturbances (Terrence O’Brien) and URM (Jamie Todd) is an exploration of various permutations of spacemusic, created on synths (Hopper), virtual synths (Todd), and e-bow guitar (O’Brien). Seldom dark but never overly warm either, the pieces cruise effortlessly through the ether, occasionally accompanied by rhythms but frequently serene and cloudlike. Being acquainted with all three artists (primarily Sylken, but also Todd as part of the duo dreamSTATE), I was expecting the music on this CD to be less sedate and melodic, even anticipating a dark textural abstract work. That’s not to infer that this album is overly pretty, but on the other hand, more than once I found myself drawing similarities between the five tracks here and the classic spacemusic of Nik Tyndall, Jonn Serrie, Kevin Braheny and other artists who pioneered celestial meanderings and star-gazing music. 'SADU LiVE' shares the same sensation of drifting among the inky blackness (thanks to smooth washes of synths) while stars twinkle all around you (soft reverberating tones, twinkling notes, and melodic whistling electronic textures all convey assorted astronomic imagery and visualizations). In addition, when O’Brien’s soaring e-bow guitar is present, it injects an unusual element into the mix without sidetracking the overall mood of the album. Of the five selections, the shortest is six-and-a-half minutes while the longest, the album closer, “omega,” clocks in at an opus-length of 23:30. Describing the subtle stages that this piece goes through as it slowly evolves from start to finish would be a tedious task (and an even more tedious read), but be assured that these three artists weave a deep lush violet tapestry of synths and e-bow with all the elements coalescing into a cohesive whole, painting a sonic portrait of broad planetary vistas as well as skyscapes ablaze with all manner of heavenly objects. Muted synth chorales inject subtle majesty at times and pealing notes from the e-bow lend an air of plaintive reflection as they echo into the darkness of the background, while chattering electronics and swirling synths anchor the track solidly in a combination of outer space and science fiction themes. Near the midway point of the song, things take a turn into overt rhythmic territory, with subdued but distinct pulsing retro keyboards and whirly-gigging synths. The piece ebbs and flows in volume and drama as it progresses, offering an almost soothing miasma wall of sound. By the end, synth washes and ethereal tones carry the day, ending the CD on a calm serene vibe. Other pieces on SADU Live include the brilliant opener “alpha,” aglow with starbursts of synthesizers and sparkling pinpricks of retro analogue keyboards, morphing into a neo-Germanic propulsive cruiser (sounding like Michael Shrieve’s Transfer Station Blue), “beta,” with beautiful sustained e-bow notes set off by echoing synth tones and textures and pleasantly strange SF/alien noises deep in the mix before brimming with restrained power via rapid-fire sequenced beats, and “gamma” which is probably the most amorphous cut, glittering with reverberating whistles, washes and tones. ... whether you’re an armchair astronaut or are seeking music for playing while you gaze through your Tacso reflector or Bushnell refractor, SADU Live is the perfect soundtrack. Bravo to Messrs. Hopper, O’Brien and Todd, deep space explorers all. Set sail for Orion’s shoulder, turn left at the Crab Nebula, and outward bound from there!" ~ © 2006 Bill Binkelman - Wind & Wire, KFAI-FM ~ ---------------- "What a great collection of deep drifting space music this is. SADU is an acronym for three ambient musicians, Sylken (Eric Hopper), Anomalous Disturbances (Terrence O’Brien), and URM (Jamie Todd). Taken from various performances in 2005, this is a silky smooth blend of ambient textures on synths, virtual synths, and ambient e-bow guitar. “Alpha” is bright and shimmering to start, then gradually moves into a classic Berlin school motif with a gently undulating bass sequence. But this is a softer, lighter touch than most Teutonic music, and the rest of the disc moves into the outer realms of the galaxy in pure floating fashion. “Beta” is gorgeous washes of dark liquid sound, swirling in and out and around, various textures gently rolling over the top of each other. “Gamma” is brighter though with a hint of melancholy, very spacious. “Theta” glistens and glitters before the full-fledged 23½-minute ambient bliss-out of “Omega.” First-class ethereal sonic wanderings." ~ © 2006 Phil Derby - Electroambient Space ~ ---------------- "One of the defining elements of the ambient scene here in Toronto is the way everybody plays together, how groups and projects and collaborations form, giving a chance for the audience to hear new sounds bringing together the best elements of individual artists. SADU is one such collaboration, a meeting of minds between Eric Hopper (Sylken), Terry O'Brien (Anomalous Disturbances) and Jamie Todd (URM, dreamSTATE). Together the three of them have released a debut disc that brilliantly captures the magic of group work and shared imagination. Taken from a pair of live performances at THE AMBiENT PiNG, "LiVE" is a stunning piece of work that stands amongst the best music that each has made with their own respective projects. Opening with a series of twinkling keys and floating pads, "Alpha" is a lovely way to start the disc. The sounds of stars and the heavens radiate throughout the track giving way to a percolating sequenced track that flows in and around a beautiful patchwork of sweeping tones that fill the soundfield. "Beta" features more subtle movement, a more minimalist sound where drones drift slowly through the track, occasionally interspersed with random sounds and tones. There's a sense of yearning here, a sound of need and desire that plays underneath the music. The feeling builds as the track gains strength until there's an almost palpable tension within the song, a tension that never seems to satisfy itself in that special way that only the best music does. Wonderful work. Track three "Gamma" begins with a little more activity, a little more motion. It bring to mind the sound of a dense rainforest, an environment that surrounds the listener with a feeling of mystery and wonder. Tones blend seemlessly together, creating an almost living space that's simply breathtaking in it's scope. A stunning track that stands out as one of my favorites from the disc. I appreciate the cheekiness in naming track four "Theta" and I further appreciate the sheer beauty of it. There's a steady flow and growth to this track, a sparkling shine that I've come to associate with celestial bodies. A mournful melody plays underneath the track, something to hold on to in a slowly moving swirl of sound and magic. "Omega" closes the disc, a long form epic that captures the essence of space music, the essence of environment. Sounds drift and fade during the course of the track, bringing to mind celestial bodies seen in the distance as we move through the heavens. Processed guitar weaves throughout and keyboard sequences flow and pull with a power akin to gravity. It's like a trip to the stars and back, a voyage to the heart of the galaxy. Something magical, celestial, has been born in this music ... an inspired collaboration between Sylken, Anomalous Disturbances and URM ... drifting, floating, beautiful!" ~ © 2006 rik maclean - PiNG THiNGS ~