Australian based musician Adam Raisbeck has created a name for himself under his Sense alter-ego, by instilling a casual dose of classical electronics and laidback ambient interludes into each of his tracks that simply can’t be avoided. Sense is one to contend with, having his music released by Florida based Merck Records, UK based Defocus Records, and Neo Ouija record label, which will shortly be releasing Sense’s debut full length entitled View From A Vulnerable Place (check Review section), Sense’s music is a symphony of ambient electronic delights and his latest effort with Aural Industries is nothing short of lushness.
On Sense’s debut solo appearance (with Aural Industries) entitled Fourier Transformations, it’s hard to imagine that chaos even exists in the world when mysteriously sliced sounds like these can create a complete listening experience. 6 tracks developed with Sense’s love of sonic beauty, pleasant rhythms and
peculiar moods is defined clearly on Fourier Transformations.
Upon listening to this title, your mind is instantly transported to a quite place on the mountainside overlooking an amber-blue ocean of crashing waves. It’s quite an experience to say the least, and an experience that will fill a void in your mind that you never knew existed, until now. “Advance” molds itself into short pieces of dribbling beats and rolling basslines. “Day Off” is more of a getaway into the deep recesses of the human psych where layers upon layers of wisping atmospherics intermingle with an experimental array of digital tweaks.
Born and raised in Australia, one might think that Sense’s music wouldn’t make a splash on this side of the map –quite the contrary. Sense’s musical sculptures are immediately noticed, as several of his (online) friends are just a fingertip away, literally. Spending little time atop a pillow to catch any sleep, and several hours behind a computer screen creating and corresponding, you begin to wonder if Sense ever gets tired of releasing quality tracks.
Nonetheless, this title on Aural Industries will definitely tweak your ears in the right direction. Shiny metallic rhythms pulsate around casually placed percussive elements, bubbly melodies are conjoined with an atmospheric vibe, and it all flows into one stream of silent, classical, and warm electronic music. There is no need to make comparisons with other artists and/or styles as Fourier Transformations is a solid release on its own, and should be classified as such. With the moods subtly tucked away on this release, it’s difficult to accurately describe in words the sounds that massage your thoughts with every listen.
I had the opportunity to conduct an internet relay chat with Adam Raisbeck, and the results are as follows.
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Igloo: I guess to begin this interview I should ask you when you started creating music.
Sense: Ok. I guess I started about 15 years ago or maybe younger, but I remember when I was about 11 making music of my own. Making the drums, the guitar and synth sounds, recording with two tape decks.
Igloo: You’ve created many, many exquisite tunes for the world to listen to; do you feel this is the easiest method to share your music (via MP3)?
Sense: Well yeah it’s the easiest, but I believe conceptually there is a difference between listening to an MP3 and listening to a CD or a record. I think there is more psychological enjoyment from listening on a real rather than virtual medium.
Igloo: You’ve worked with many labels recently, including Merck, Defocus, and now Neo Ouija. Have you had any previous or debut releases elsewhere, or are people just now enjoying the Sense Soundscapes?
Sense: Well for years now I’ve been putting music out under various names, firstly releasing on Melbourne’s IF Records label. I’ve been hosted kindly by Kevin at Unif for many years now and also supported by SYNC productions worldwide, as well Monotonik.
Igloo: Oh yes…can’t forget Simon’s (Monotonik) genuine efforts in increasing the online promotion of international artists. I am currently listening to your upcoming full length on Neo Ouija (View From a Vulnerable Place),
and the overall mood, and/or feel on this album is completely stretched out and relaxed. What was your goal in compiling this splendid album for Neo Ouija?
Sense: I guess my goal was to make for myself the nicest, most polished music that I could at the time without losing the spontaneity and uniqueness of the original idea or tune in my head. I worked a long time on quite a few of the songs from the album, and I feel that the mood is attributed mainly to my ideal way of saying what I’ve wanted to say for a while now.
Igloo: Without any words.
Sense: Yeah.
Igloo: “Polished” is the perfect description.
Sense: I believe it’s said pretty much in a way which I like to call Beyond Sonic it’s like what is between the lines is what makes the most SENSE to me, or what isn’t there is really what I’m looking for. I want to tell people (and myself) in the process that it is there.
Igloo: My perspective on this album is that you’ve created a palette of classical electronic tunes while relaxing on the hillside of a large mountain in Northern Italy.
Sense: Ha, interesting angle.
Igloo: The entire process seems to flow very subtly, smoothly, exquisitely. How do you describe the process of creating what you feel you want to say in your music?
Sense: In a word, subconscious.
Igloo: Do you fall to a subconscious level while giving birth to Sense tracks? It’s almost as if you gently caress your instruments to create music. Getting the best possible “softness” from each sound.
Sense: Well if it’s truly subconscious, then I guess I must, yes. I don’t think, “Oh I’m sad here, I’m going to make a sad song” or something like that. I just sit down to make music and whatever happens, happens. Most of the time I think I’m able to train myself to forget about the intricacies of the process that need to be delicately portrayed and incorporated into the production of the music. We don’t yet have the ability to transfer brainwaves straight to an audible medium, or at least I don’t yet.
Igloo: Well, considering the finesse that your Neo Ouija album has, I’d say you’re pretty close to creating a close match between brainwaves and an audible medium to portray these sounds. But I guess one can never know the intention of the creator.
Sense: I put my feeling into all the songs. In some ways it feels as though I’m charging them with the feeling that I would like people to feel when they listen to it. It’s my way of reaching out.
Igloo: So in a way, you’ve incorporated one of the major human senses to the audio table.
