{"id":949,"date":"2019-03-11T10:31:29","date_gmt":"2019-03-11T10:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/?p=949"},"modified":"2023-08-02T17:53:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-02T17:53:36","slug":"volcan-dreams-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2019\/03\/11\/volcan-dreams-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Volcan Dreams (2019)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"#reviews\">Click HERE to go straight to reviews<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/computerchemist.bandcamp.com\/album\/volcan-dreams\">Click HERE to listen\/order<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe style=\"border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bandcamp.com\/EmbeddedPlayer\/album=1110117552\/size=large\/bgcol=ffffff\/linkcol=0687f5\/tracklist=false\/artwork=small\/transparent=true\/\" seamless><a href=\"https:\/\/computerchemist.bandcamp.com\/album\/volcan-dreams\">volcan dreams by computerchemist<\/a><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">For this, his eighth solo album, Dave Pearson (computerchemist) has gone back to basics and produced 5 new tracks completely in the analogue domain using only Korg Volca boxes. With guest appearances from Chris Gill (Band of Rain) and Zsolt Gal\u00e1ntai (MAYA, Rusty Gold, Ossian) this album is sure to hit the sweet spot for analogue fans of \u2018old school\u2019 synthesizer music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Bruce Gall\u2019s show \u2018Atmospheres\u2019 on oneworldmusic.co.uk exclusively premiered the album, together with an interview with Dave, in two parts between March 10th and March 17th 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"> Label: Terrainflight TF010<br> Release Date: 10th March, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Track listing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-list\">\n<li>volcan plain     12:03<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>through the volcan forest at dusk    10:08<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>volcan sea    15:31<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>valley of modulation    06:45<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>subsonic volcan flight    14:55<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">dave pearson: volca modules, keyboards, sequencer programming<br>zsolt gal\u00e1ntai: drums on &#8216;valley of modulation&#8217;<br>chris gill: guitars on &#8216;volcan plain&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">artwork: angiewoman<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">all composing, mixing and mastering in the digital domain at terrainflight hungary<br> between jan 2019 and feb 2019<br> chris recorded his guitar at hollow hill studio, dorset, england in jan 2019<br> zsolt had his drum performance recorded by dave in a damp basement in budapest in 2011<br> written &amp; produced \u00a9(p) 2019 by dave pearson <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">contacts:<br> terrainflight: info@terrainflight.com <br> dave: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.computerchemist.com\">www.computerchemist.com<\/a><br> zsolt: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.soundcloud.com\/zsolthy65\">www.soundcloud.com\/zsolthy65<\/a><br> chris: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bandofrain.com\">www.bandofrain.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">no virtual synthesizers or virtual effects were used on this record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"reviews\">Reviews<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"atmospheres\">Bruce Gall &#8211; Atmospheres<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/81bcb-bg3-300x252.jpg\" alt=\"Bruce Gall\" class=\"wp-image-1057\" width=\"225\" height=\"189\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bruce Gall, your host on the weekly EM show \u2018Atmospheres\u2019. oneworldmusic.co.uk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-medium-font-size\">Music has a tendency to take the listener back to a certain period of their lives and Computerchemist\u2019s new album, \u201cVolcan Dreams\u201d, takes me personally back to 2009 and the album \u201cAqual Measure\u201d, but this is all new material from Dave Pearson and recorded over a few weeks in early 2019, which just happens to be 10 years after \u201cAqual Measure!\u201d <br>However, Dave says this was composed and performed in a relatively short space of time and in one of those rare fertile artistic periods (for some of us at least, meaning myself) where the music comes to you from some unknown dimension. How many times have you heard a musician say they had no idea where the ideas came from but were compelled to play it!<br>Dave\u2019s love of \u201cclassic\u201d EM and the analogue age is evident in the sounds on \u201cVolcan Dreams\u201d so for any EM fans who have not managed to progress past the 70\u2019s, for those who have but still enjoy a little nostalgia, and for those who enjoy krautrock, then this is certainly worth your time.<br>Track lengths are between 10-15 minutes so there\u2019s plenty of time for the music to slowly develop and take on a life of its own with hypnotic, rhythmic sequences, not only that, but with guest appearances on real drums by Zsolt Gal\u00e1ntai (Valley of Modulation) and Chris Gill on guitar (Volcan Plain).<br>I\u2019m listening to this music for the first time as I type and already I know I like it. You know that feeling when you hear a track and within two seconds you know you\u2019ll like it? Maybe not, but that\u2019s the impression I am getting while listening to this album. Of course, there is a <strong>Tangerine Dream<\/strong> feel but isn\u2019t every album released with the slightest hint of that 70\u2019s sound related to TD and Dave openly admits he is influenced by the dream? But if you can harness that sound and feel and add your own personality to it, which I believe Dave has to great effect, then you are on to a winner.<br>I\u2019m always intrigued by musicians who produce improvised music, I know this is not strictly improvised, but composed and played over a short period and I weigh up whether it is sometimes best to go by your instinct, whether it is in life or in music-making, an inspirational moment where you play what \u201cfeels\u201d right at that time can be preferable to taking weeks or months to get it \u201cjust right\u201d where everything is perfect and, sometimes, that feeling that you are doing the right thing also applies to life decisions. Dave said he set himself a target with a certain sound in mind and in my opinion has produced something most EM lovers will be interested in, so if you are reading this I assume you are an EM fan so I will also assume, no, almost guarantee you will enjoy this. I don\u2019t try to describe what each track sounds like, as you will listen yourself and will interpret the music in your own way so why should I tell you how it sounds? I\u2019m just a fan like you! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\u2013 <em>Bruce Gall, Atmospheres, oneworldmusic.co.uk<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pandora_es\"> Jos\u00e9 Luis Martinez Arilla &#8211; Descubre LA CAJA DE PANDORA (ES)<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/f774c-cabecera.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-387\" width=\"334\" height=\"67\" srcset=\"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/f774c-cabecera.jpg 598w, https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/f774c-cabecera-300x60.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 334px) 100vw, 334px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> <br><em>Since 2006, the well known writer and critic Jos\u00e9 Luis Mart\u00ednez Arilla from Zaragoza, Spain has been publishing his well respected Spanish language progressive music review blogsite \u201cDescubre la Caja de Pandora\u201d (\u201cDiscovering Pandora\u2019s Box\u201d<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-medium-font-size\">En un excelente ejercicio de devolver la grandeza desde un punto de vista actual a la denominada Escuela Berlinesa, o rock c\u00f3smico o espacial con enlaces directos al <em>jazz<\/em>, Dave Pearson se ha armado con sus m\u00f3dulos anal\u00f3gicos Volca y desde Hungr\u00eda, su base de operaciones, ha lanzado un trabajo a la antigua usanza.<br><br>Un trabajo hecho con mucho sentimiento y m\u00e1s dedicaci\u00f3n, sin la utilizaci\u00f3n de programas digitales, con el \u00fanico, y no es poco, objetivo de regalarnos una m\u00fasica plena de sentimiento forjada desde los elementos arm\u00f3nicos y las melod\u00edas: acordes y acompa\u00f1amientos que son el aut\u00e9ntico armaz\u00f3n de una m\u00fasica hecha con el coraz\u00f3n, el alma y mucho, mucho esfuerzo. El resultado, en el que han colaborado en una u otra medida, tanto Zsolt Galantai (bater\u00eda en uno de los temas) como Chris Gill (guitarrista de Band of Rain en otro), es c\u00e1lido, elegante y sublime. Temas que avanzan implacablemente por el universo Computerchemist y que nos relatan la existencia ficticia de un universo que el brit\u00e1nico <em>magiar<\/em> recorre, como si de un viaje se tratara, desde su inicio hasta su excelente y decisivo cap\u00edtulo final. Un est\u00edmulo continuo para los sentidos en el que el autor crea y visualiza un inexplorado mundo llamado Volcan (en alusi\u00f3n directa a sus mini sintetizadores Korg Vulca, totalmente anal\u00f3gicos), que sirve como excusa perfecta para plasmar las impresiones que el misterioso lugar imprime en un hipot\u00e9tico visitante por primera vez.<br><br>M\u00fasica de otro planeta, tal y como sugiere Dave, en el que se visualizan imaginariamente exuberantes selvas tropicales y vastos oc\u00e9anos, conformando un trabajo que hay que ir escuchando y saboreando en sus distintos cap\u00edtulos-experiencias que concluyen, como en un c\u00edrculo perfecto, en una experiencia sensitiva sugerida por la exploraci\u00f3n de distintos paisajes musicales. El trabajo, artesano en estos tiempos que corren, se grab\u00f3 sin sintetizadores virtuales de ninguna clase ni efectos generados artificialmente, utilizando, en tiempo real, \u00fanicamente un ordenador como sistema de grabaci\u00f3n. Este primer trabajo anal\u00f3gico tras veinte a\u00f1os de tecnolog\u00eda ha supuesto una gran inversi\u00f3n econ\u00f3mica para el m\u00fasico, pero el resultado ha sido totalmente agradecido y generoso. Si te volaron la cabeza aquellos que en buena parte de los setenta te hicieron vislumbrar un universo de sensaciones, t\u00fa sabes de qui\u00e9nes hablo, sin duda que este <em>Volcan Dreams<\/em> es una m\u00e1s que una agradable y necesaria sorpresa para tus sentidos. No tengas miedo, compra un billete para el siguiente vuelo a Volcan. Me lo agradecer\u00e1s<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\u2014 <em>Jos\u00e9 Luis Martinez Arilla, Descubre LA CAJA DE PANDORA, 27 March 2019.<br>descubrelacajadepandora.blogspot.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hypnagogue\"> John Shanahan &#8211; Hypnagogue <\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hypnagoguepodcast.files.wordpress.com\/2016\/08\/hypcast_logo_20161.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"337\" height=\"67\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hypnagogue: Since 2009, every two weeks, the Hypnagogue Podcast has guided listeners through 90-minute trips into the worlds of ambient, electronic, and contemporary instrumental\/New Age music.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-medium-font-size\">For many EM fans, there&#8217;s nothing quite like the big, robust taste of nostalgia. Spring-loaded, planet-crushing bass keyboard notes, frenetic laser arrays of perfectly layered sequencer lines, and arena-ready, rocket-fueled guitar licks become the high-volume stuff of dreams\u2014and we all know whence those dreams come. For those who worship at the altar of St. Schulze, a new offering has arrived in Computerchemist&#8217;s latest release, &#8220;Volcan Dreams&#8221;, Dave Pearson heads back to his roots, recrafting textbook Berlin School voyages full of all the familiar delights. Armed with just Korga Volca modules and analog effects, and aided by Chris Gill on guitar and frequent collaborator Zsolt Galantai on drums, Pearson delivers energy-packed potency track after track. His love of the style shines through every note. It&#8217;s fun, it&#8217;s fast, and you&#8217;re going to blow out speakers with it because you absolutely will be turning this up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><em>&#8212; John Shanahan, <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/hypnagoguepodcast.wordpress.com\"><em>Hypnagogue<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"jerry_kranitz\"> Jerry Kranitz &#8211; Author, Aural Innovations<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/3f109-image.png?w=300\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-956\" width=\"332\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/3f109-image.png 442w, https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/3f109-image-300x102.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 332px) 100vw, 332px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jerry Kranitz: ex-Aural Innovations, now compiling a book entitled <br><em>Cassette Culture: Homemade Music and the Creative Spirit in the Pre-Internet Age<\/em> to be published later this year.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-medium-font-size\">Computerchemist is a solo project from Dave Pearson, an English musician residing in Hungary. Volcan Dreams is his latest and, armed with Korg volca modules, keyboards, and sequencer programming, creates a set of Berlin School meets sci-fi soundtrack analogue delights.<br> \u2018Volcan Plain\u2019 opens the set in <strong>Klaus Schulze<\/strong> mode, though Pearson adds an underlying layer of sinister sci-fi soundtrack sear. The music marches along at a slow but commanding pace, creating a cool blend of watch-your-back tension and hypnotic mind massage. As a bonus, Band Of Rain\u2019s Chris Gill guests on guitar, adding periodic solo guitar runs to the overall deep space vibe.<br> Pearson picks up the pace on \u2018Through The Volcan Forest At Dusk\u2019, which zips along at a classic <strong>Tangerine Dreamy <\/strong>syncopated stride, while melodic synths create yet another spaced out soundtrack feel. I especially like the dual classic space-prog and banshee wailing synth melodies on this track.<br> \u2018Volcan Sea\u2019 is similar though even more energetic, with a beautifully catchy melody, sounding like the 15 minute full version of the opening credits theme to some sci-fi TV series. I love how the atmosphere and theme gradually evolve on this space-prog rocking slab of cosmic electronica.<br> \u2018Valley Of Modulation\u2019 welcomes Zsolt Gal\u00e1ntai on drums, who collaborated with Pearson on the previous Computerchemist albums, 2013\u2019s <strong>Signatures 1 &amp; 2<\/strong>.<br> Finally, \u2018Subsonic Volcan Flight\u2019 closes the set and is a bit different, injecting a high energy <strong>Neue Deutsche Welle<\/strong> meets dance floor rave electronica groove into Pearson\u2019s brand of space exploration.<br> In summary, I\u2019m really diggin\u2019 the Berlin School meets sci-fi flick soundtrack theme that characterizes most of this set.<strong> Klaus Schulze<\/strong> meets <strong>Delia Derbyshire<\/strong> meets <strong>Goblin<\/strong> meets <strong>John Carpenter<\/strong>\u2026 If that catches your attention then check it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">&#8212; <em>Jerry Kranitz, Cassette Culture and Aural Innovations, January 2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"empulsiv_de\"> Alfred Arnold &#8211; EMPulsiv.de (DE)<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/068b6-empulsiv-1.png?w=300\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-959\" width=\"336\" height=\"111\" srcset=\"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/068b6-empulsiv-1.png 448w, https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/068b6-empulsiv-1-300x99.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">EMPulsiv.de, a german language webzine devoted to Electronic Music around the world.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-medium-font-size\">Vor ein paar Jahren hat David Pearson, der unter dem Namen &#8220;Computerchemist&#8221; ver\u00f6ffentlicht, schon einmal &#8220;Music For Earthquakes&#8221; eingespielt. Jetzt ist er mit &#8220;Volcan Dreams&#8221; zur Geologie zur\u00fcckgekehrt. Wer jetzt angesichts des Titels einen bombastischen musikalischen Ausbruch erwartet, liegt nicht ganz richtig: Der Vulkan schl\u00e4ft \u00fcber weite Teile der Zeit, und das Album bietet einen abwechslungsreichen Mix verschiedener Stimmungen, um in dem letzten der f\u00fcnf Tracks einen passenden Schlu\u00dfpunkt zu setzen. Wie die Anzahl der Titel &#8211; un die daraus resultierenden L\u00e4ngen &#8211; erahnen lassen, macht der Computerchemiker keinen Hehl daraus, dass seine musikalischen Wurzeln bis in die 70er-Jahre zur\u00fcckreichen. Erfreulich ist, dass er bei seinen Mixturen immer rechtzeitig einen Absprung findet, bevor sie langweilig werden k\u00f6nnten. &#8220;Volcan Dreams&#8221; ist <strong>f\u00fcr die Fans von Berliner Schule und Sequenzen<\/strong>, aber nicht nur f\u00fcr die, auf jeden Fall einen Mitflug wert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">&#8212; <em>Alfred Arnold, EMPulsiv.de, 11 March 2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"synths_and_sequences\">Sylvain Lupari &#8211; Synth&amp;Sequences <\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/d711b-synthandsequences1.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1029\" width=\"333\" height=\"159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/d711b-synthandsequences1.jpg 519w, https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/d711b-synthandsequences1-300x143.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em> Sylvain Lupari has been running the Synths&amp;Sequences review site since 2010. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-medium-font-size\">WoW! J&#8217;ai d\u00e9vor\u00e9 cet album de Computerchemist, un projet de<strong> Dave Pearson<\/strong> qui fait un foudroyant retour avec Volcan Dreams. Un album de pur d\u00e9lices pour amateurs de Berlin School r\u00e9tro avec de gros solos de synth\u00e9&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Computerchemist is the project of the English musician Dave Pearson. Active musically since 2007 with a highly acclaimed debut album in Atmospheric. The synthesist who lives now in Hungary, is making a comeback with his 7th album; VOLCAN DREAMS. And what do volcanoes dream of? Well, of <strong>Tangerine Dream<\/strong>&#8216;s music! On structures of rather catchy rhythms, Computerchemist forges very Berlin School approaches in the programming of the sequencer and has really nothing more to learn of <strong>Chris Franke<\/strong>. Moving between minimalist art and a kind of psychotrobic trance, the rhythms serve more the cause of synth harmonies and solos than its opposite, creating the perfect illusion of the 70&#8217;s with a tone very close to that time. And Dave Pearson insists, there are no virtual synths nor virtual effects on this album. Using the Volca synth modules, the English musician weaves solos that are sometimes even staggering, and always very attractive, which constantly swirl with varying colors and intensity levels but with a touch that gives chills. It&#8217;s therefore with great pleasure that I share with you my comments on VOLCAN DREAMS, an album that has exceeded my level of expectation. Both in terms of compositions, music and of its excellent tone for an album available mainly in download on Computerchemist&#8217;s Bandcamp platform. A physical CD can also be bought.<br>What comes out of my Totem speakers are juicy and resonant chords. Just behind, we hear a series of sequences which walks stealthily. A march that becomes more present, more accentuated with the arrival of electronic percussions. So, it&#8217;s a kind of slightly hobble up-tempo that &#8220;<em>Volcan Plain<\/em>&#8221; extends its musicality all around my listening room. I insist on this point, not by snobbery, but to make it clear that in a download version the sound of VOLCAN DREAMS bursts from everywhere. The synth delivers beautiful lines with a hint of Chinese weeping violin while the two tones of the sequencer&#8217;s lines clash while clinging to percussions. This steady structure and a minimalist touch welcome these mists that add a more mystical decor to a music whose perfumes are quite tangible. The synth pitches good effects and throws good solos that turn in turn, by turns with keyboard chords which leave their harmonic imprints into our ears. <strong>Chris Gill<\/strong> completes the work with a bright and vivid guitar whose solos add a progressive touch to the music. Take the spectral harmonies of <em><strong>Phaedra<\/strong><\/em><strong> <\/strong>and stick them to a brisk and spasmodic pace, you get the main ingredients of &#8220;<em>Through the Volcan Forest at Dusk<\/em>&#8220;. Two lines of sequences structure a lively flow, one of which flutters sharply, which is helped by a sneaky bass line and clatters of percussions, giving a semblance of wings to this rather catchy electronic rhythm. This structure is interrupted in some places with sequences that flutter in solo to give the synth the space it needs to emit its short evasive melodies. The solos abound on this title, and some are simply flabbergasting, with random tracings and changing tones. The essence of the 70&#8217;s is well reproduced in this title, both at the level of rhythm level, of the ambiences and the harmonies of the synth.<br>With a level of rhythm where we stamp of feet and we roll of the neck, &#8220;<em>Volcan Sea<\/em>&#8221; fully explores the meaning of its title. Initially, the rhythm is built on stationary sequences whose fluttering and flow converge towards a dark and threatening sound mass. Spray of sounds emerge by the form of synth solos and discret keyboard riffs. The tone of the synth is very sharp with piercing solos which intertwine as the rhythmic intensity is eating up the time in order to reach a symbiosis of intensity around the 5 minutes with the arrival of percussions. The spasmodic rhythm is still hiccupping as the synth ignites its progressive flame by spitting fire solos that remind me of the good days of <strong>Manfred Mann&#8217;s Earth Band<\/strong> with the album <em>Solar Fire<\/em>. Intense and superb in its drifts and its random axes, it&#8217;s a very good title which left its imprints on my walls. &#8220;<em>Valley of Modulation<\/em>&#8221; still shows Computerchemist&#8217;s skill for weaving morphic solos. On a slow pace, like a cosmic down-tempo, Dave Pearson conceives his solos which get unite to a melodious approach. The drum of <strong>Zsolt Gal\u00e1ntai<\/strong> adds a bit of astral sensuality with a good presence that accentuates the heaviness of the rhythm. Gradually, this beat is out of steam and the harmonic solos sail alone towards a finale rounded of resonances which swallow everything, to disappear suddenly and thus destabilizing a listening that had become hypnotic. &#8220;<em>Subsonic Volcan Flight<\/em>&#8221; ends VOLCAN DREAMS with a big Techno &amp; Trance! Bass sequences that make boom-boom-boom, slamming of percussions and hands and a decor that flees the senses at 100 per hour, the rhythm really leaves the territories <strong>Berlin School<\/strong> with a <strong>Vanderson <\/strong>approach, but heavier &#8230; and even faster. <strong>Jean-Michel Jarre<\/strong> I would say, during his last Electronica tour. In addition to jerky orchestral layers and psychotronic effects, the synth still has some energy to forge some good solos.<br>A find! A very nice find that this album, and the music, that Computerchemist who offers an album without flaws and which highly stylized by the many synth solos that are the foundations of EM. Evolving mainly in the Berlin School mode, Dave Pearson is also very creative in rhythm programming with multiple lines on the same title, creating an opaque richness that satisfies the whims of my hearing that never has enough of sequences to put between my ears. But the main attraction remains this Volca that Computerchemist handles with style and panache, <strong>creating one of the most beautiful albums of pure sequencer-driven Berlin School I&#8217;ve heard lately<\/strong>. Happy ears all the way through the 60 minutes of an album perfect for the retro Berlin School fan in you.<br> <br> 4.5\/5<br> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap has-medium-font-size\">Computerchemist est le projet du musicien Anglais Dave Pearson. Actif musicalement depuis 2007 avec un album hautement acclam\u00e9 en Atmospheric. Le synth\u00e9siste qui vit maintenant en Hongrie, effectue un retour avec son 7i\u00e8me album; VOLCAN DREAMS. Et de quoi r\u00eave les volcans? Eh bien, de <strong>Tangerine Dream<\/strong>! Sur des structures de rythmes assez entra\u00eenants, Computerchemist forge des approches tr\u00e8s Berlin School dans une programmations du s\u00e9quenceur qui n&#8217;a plus rien \u00e0 apprendre de <strong>Chris Franke<\/strong>. Voguant entre l&#8217;art minimaliste et un genre de transe psychotrobique, les rythmes servent plus la cause des harmonies et des solos de synth\u00e9 que son contraire, cr\u00e9ant ainsi la parfaite illusion des ann\u00e9es 70 avec une tonalit\u00e9 tr\u00e8s pr\u00e8s de cette \u00e9poque. Et Dave Pearson insiste, il n&#8217;y a pas de synth\u00e9s, ni d&#8217;effets virtuels sur cet album. Utilisant la gamme de synth\u00e9 Volca, le musicien anglais tisse des solos qui sont parfois m\u00eame ahurissants, et toujours tr\u00e8s attrayants, qui tourbillonnent constamment avec des couleurs et des niveaux d&#8217;intensit\u00e9 variables mais avec un doigt\u00e9 qui donne des frissons. C&#8217;est donc avec un \u00e9norme plaisir que je vous fais part de mes observations sur VOLCAN DREAMS, un album qui a d\u00e9pass\u00e9 mon niveau d&#8217;attente. Tant au niveau des compositions, de la musique que de son excellent tonalit\u00e9 pour un album disponible en CD, mais principalement en t\u00e9l\u00e9chargement sur la plateforme Bandcamp de Computerchemist.<br>Ce qui sort de mes Totem sont des accords gras et r\u00e9sonnants. Juste derri\u00e8re, on entend une suite de s\u00e9quences qui marche sournoisement. Une marche qui devient plus pr\u00e9sente, plus accentu\u00e9e avec l&#8217;arriv\u00e9es des percussions \u00e9lectroniques. C&#8217;est donc un genre de up-tempo l\u00e9g\u00e8rement boitillant que &#8220;<em>Volcan Plain<\/em>&#8221; \u00e9tend sa musicalit\u00e9 tout autour de ma salle d\u2019\u00e9coute. J&#8217;insiste sur ce point, pas par snobisme, mais pour bien faire comprendre que dans une version t\u00e9l\u00e9chargeable la sonorit\u00e9 de VOLCAN DREAMS \u00e9clate de partout. Le synth\u00e9 livre de belles lignes avec un soup\u00e7on de violon pleureur chinois alors que les 2 tonalit\u00e9s des lignes du s\u00e9quenceur s&#8217;affrontent tout en s&#8217;agrippant aux percussions. Cette structure soutenue et un brin minimaliste accueille ces brumes qui ajoutent un d\u00e9cor plus mystique \u00e0 une musique dont les parfums sont assez tangibles. Le synth\u00e9 lance de bons effets et des solos qui tournent \u00e0 tour de r\u00f4le avec des accords de claviers qui laissent leurs empreintes harmoniques dans nos oreilles. Chris Gill compl\u00e8te les travaux avec une guitare vive et \u00e9clatante dont les solos ajoutent une touche progressive \u00e0 &#8220;<em>Volcan Plain<\/em>&#8220;. Prenez les harmonies spectrales de <em>Phaedra<\/em> et collez-les \u00e0 un rythme vif et spasmodique, et vous obtenez les principaux ingr\u00e9dients de &#8220;<em>Through the Volcan Forest at Dusk<\/em>&#8220;. Deux lignes de s\u00e9quences structurent un d\u00e9bit vif, dont une qui papillonne vivement, auquel s&#8217;ajoute une ligne de basse sournoise et des cliquetis de percussions, donnant un semblant d&#8217;ailes \u00e0 ce rythme \u00e9lectronique assez entra\u00eenant. Cette structure est interrompue \u00e0 quelques endroits avec des s\u00e9quences qui papillonnent en solo afin de donner au synth\u00e9 l&#8217;espace n\u00e9cessaire pour \u00e9mettre ses courtes m\u00e9lodies \u00e9vasives. Les solos abondent sur ce titre avec des trac\u00e9s al\u00e9atoires et des tonalit\u00e9s changeantes. L&#8217;essence des ann\u00e9es 70 est bien restitu\u00e9e dans ce titre, tant au niveau rythme que les ambiances et harmonies du synth\u00e9. <br>Avec un niveau du rythme o\u00f9 on tape du pied et roule du cou, &#8220;<em>Volcan Sea<\/em>&#8221; explore tout \u00e0 fait le sens de son titre. Initialement, le rythme est construit sur des s\u00e9quences stationnaires dont les papillonnements et le flux aux tonalit\u00e9s fl\u00fbt\u00e9es convergent vers une masse sonore sombre et mena\u00e7ante. Des gerbes de sons \u00e9merge par des solos de synth\u00e9 et des riffs de clavier sobres. Le ton du synth\u00e9 est tr\u00e8s aiguis\u00e9 avec des solos per\u00e7ants qui roulent sur eux alors que l&#8217;intensit\u00e9 rythmique gruge le cadran afin de rejoindre une symbiose d&#8217;intensit\u00e9 autour des 5 minutes avec l&#8217;arriv\u00e9e des percussions. Le rythme spasmodique hoqu\u00e8te toujours alors que le synth\u00e9 allume sa flamme progressive en crachant des solos de feu qui me rappellent les bons jours de Manfred Mann&#8217;s Earth Band avec l&#8217;album <em>Solar Fire<\/em>. Intense et superbe dans ses d\u00e9rives et ses axes al\u00e9atoires, c&#8217;est un tr\u00e8s bon titre qui a laiss\u00e9 ses empreintes sur mes murs. &#8220;<em>Valley of Modulation<\/em>&#8221; d\u00e9montre encore le talent de Computerchemist pour tisser des solos morphiques. Sur un rythme lent, genre down-tempo cosmique, Dave Pearson con\u00e7oit ses solos qui se rallient \u00e0 une approche m\u00e9lodieuse. La batterie de Zsolt Gal\u00e1ntai ajoute un brin de sensualit\u00e9 astrale avec une bonne pr\u00e9sence qui accentue la lourdeur du rythme. Peu \u00e0 peu, ce beat s&#8217;essouffle et les solos harmoniques voguent seuls vers une finale bomb\u00e9e de r\u00e9sonnances qui avalent tout, pour dispara\u00eetre tout \u00e0 coup et d\u00e9stabilisant ainsi une \u00e9coute qui \u00e9tait devenue hypnotique. &#8220;<em>Subsonic Volcan Flight<\/em>&#8221; termine VOLCAN DREAMS avec du gros Techno &amp; Trance! Basse s\u00e9quences qui font boom-boom-boom, claquements de percussions et de mains et un d\u00e9cor qui fuit les sens \u00e0 100 \u00e0 l&#8217;heure, le rythme sort vraiment des territoires Berlin School avec une approche \u00e0 la <strong>Vanderson<\/strong>, mais en plus lourd\u2026et m\u00eame plus vite. Du <strong>Jean-Michel Jarre<\/strong> je dirais, lors de sa derni\u00e8re tourn\u00e9e Electronica. Outre des nappes orchestrales saccad\u00e9es et des effets psychotroniques, le synth\u00e9 a encore quelques \u00e9nergies pour forger quelques bons solos.<br>Un trouvaille! Une tr\u00e8s belle trouvaille que cet album, et la musique, de Computerchemist qui propose un album sans bavure et qui est hautement stylis\u00e9 de par les tr\u00e8s nombreux solos de synth\u00e9 qui sont les fondements de la M\u00c9. \u00c9voluant principalement sur le mode Berlin School, Dave Pearson est aussi tr\u00e8s cr\u00e9atif dans la programmation rythmique avec des multi lignes sur un m\u00eame titre, cr\u00e9ant une richesse opaque qui satisfait les caprices de mon ou\u00efe qui n&#8217;a jamais assez de s\u00e9quences \u00e0 se foutre entre les oreilles. Mais l&#8217;attrait principal demeure ce Volca que Computerchemist manipule avec style et panache, cr\u00e9ant un des beaux albums de <strong>pur Berlin School<\/strong> guid\u00e9 par s\u00e9quenceur que j&#8217;ai entendu derni\u00e8rement. Du bonheur plein les oreilles tout au long des 60 minutes d&#8217;un album parfait pour les fans de Berlin School r\u00e9tro.<br><br>4.5\/5<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"> &#8211; <em>Sylvain Lupari, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.synthsequences.com\/post\/computerchemist-volcan-dreams-2019\">Synths &amp; Sequences<\/a> (24\/05\/19)<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For the eighth solo album, it&#8217;s back to basics and completely composed and recorded in the analogue domain using only Korg Volca boxes. Guest appearances from Chris Gill (Band of Rain) and Zsolt Gal\u00e1ntai (MAYA, Rusty Gold, Ossian).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":978,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-albums",""],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=949"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1899,"href":"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949\/revisions\/1899"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/computerchemist.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}