A vibrantly introspective and eloquent traditional cosmic synth ambient release which illustrates the whole genre at its finest in terms of structure, progression and emotion.
Among various side projects handled by Ian Boddy for his DiN laboratory, ARC appears to be a duet founded with another legendary electronic keyboardist Mark Shreeve. In their common creative intent, the two artists figure among loyal followers of Kosmische Musik (70s Berlin school) and Spacious new agey ambient. They published a handful of notable then classic albums together in a rigorous psych-cosmic-cinematic synthesized realm. Inside notes precise that this new offer evocatively titled Umbra is a collection of tracks played live at E-live Festival in Oirschot, the Netherlands on October 19, 2013.
The album consists of very long, slowly moving and heavenly electronic inflected soundscaping textures in the true great tradition of the genre ever approached in previous Boddy / Shreeve compositions. Around majestically flowing and vintage analog synth sounds, rhythmical sequencing patterns and consonant restful melodies the duet totally enthralls the audience. The opening track and its opened melodious textures, electronic choirs sustained by dynamical drum pulses is a clear reminiscence of Klaus Schulze’s golden analog era, Michael Hoenig, Tim Blake at their pick of creativity. Very enveloping and absorbing spaced-out electronic dreamscape within an almost mysteriously melancholic aura. Definitely a powerful and thorough meditative track. “Proxima Obscuro” and its ostinato sci-fi electronic patterns and furiously entrancing spatial inputs sound very much like a Tangerine Dream during their virgin years.
Umbra provides a more tense-menacing electronic darkness, somewhere between Tangerine Dream’s sorcerer and John Carpenter. “Autostratus” follows the Schulze-like path with a highly intense spiritual atmosphere, eerily melodic lines, very lugubruous and moody-esque sinuous sound textures. “Cherry Bomb” which closes the album is a softened and ethereally peaceful track built around a touching melody and crystal like electro patterns which progressively goes into an intense rocking space age trip.
Umbra is a vibrantly introspective and eloquent traditional cosmic synth ambient release which illustrates the whole genre at its finest in terms of structure, progression and emotion.
Umbra is available on DiN.
