This is the third solo album from the ex Japan and Porcupine Tree keyboard player (and he did the PT sound sculptures). Richard is not your normal key-widdler as he puts a lot into creating soundscapes and manipulating sounds with programming. Nearly everything you hear here is all electronic sounds apart from reconstructed vocals and some bass guitar and brass.
Solar Sea is a great opening track with an odd groove and pulsating rhythm that turns into an eerie vibe with twisted vocal. New Found Land starts with a pulse beat with a beautiful soundscape that leads into a really cool brass section. Next up is the center piece of the album, Night of the Hunter, which is split into three sections. Part 1, Summer, has an almost Japanese feel to it and that leads into a very sinister, Shake Hands With Danger, which builds with a military style beat into Innocence Lost – the final piece. Interstellar Medium has a really awesome created drum sound and the clarity is outstanding.
Richard has produced this himself and what a great production it is. I hope he gets to do a soundtrack for some weird and wonderful sci-fi movie, because I think this music lends itself perfectly – check out closing track Solar Storm to hear what I mean.
Previous releases have been more groove orientated with emphasis on the beats, but this time there is definitely more focus on the songs, the textures, and the sounds created. Although not as an immediate listen, as others in his back catalogue, but you will find yourself coming back to this time and again hearing things you missed as the pieces drag you deep. I don’t have a favourite, as I like it as a whole. I recommend this to anyone with a love of electronic music and I don’t mean the BPM style either.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
