Artist:
Terra Nine
Title:
Heart of the Matter
Label:
Iboga Records
Released:
13th January
This
will be the last review on the blog for the foreseeable future. I
simply don’t have the time or the enthusiasm to build new
connections and keep the blog as fresh as it should be. I’ve wound
down the interviews for a good while now as I feel there are only so
many questions you can ask. I’d like to thank all the artists, djs
and labels who’ve contributed over the years and will continue to
host the Chill Out Sessions show every last Sunday of the month on
Boxfrequency.fm
I
first came across Mike Wescott A.K.A. Terra Nine on the Ajana
compilation ‘A Magical Journey’ since then I have enjoyed many of
his productions and promoted two nights where they have played as
Terra Nine and their progressive trance side project Sirius Music.
Mike uses a self built electric viola to trigger synths sounds on
software very much in the fashion of Steve Hillage in System 7 with
the guitar. The end result is a heavenly fusion of classical, dub,
ambient trance and psychedelic breaks complimented live by vj
Intelliki.
This
new release begins in the stereotypical Terra Nine fashion with
‘Waveforms Out The Window’ where the electric viola is blanketed
over skippy percussion and a growling low frequency synth voice. This
is followed by 'The Present Moment' which features less stereotypical
Terra Nine spoken samples, plucked viola amongst a dubby ambient
feel. At this point we reach the title track a chilled and summery
piece with glitchy psychedelic fx and stuttered drum rolls before it
really takes off with choice spiritual spoken samples over Arabian
influenced psy-dub! I have to say this track is right up there in my
opinion as one of Mike’s best productions.
After
the last track I suspected it could only go downhill here on in.
However, the next track ‘One Da Da Da’ continues with the
Spiritual spoken samples but with more of a dreamy feel, piano and
little tweaks of the violin and only falls slightly short as a
contender to the title piece. The final track ‘Flying’ has more
of an ambient trance feel to it and combined with the electric viola
creates an ethereal feeling that is apt to it’s chosen title.
Overall
this is a strong release and it’s definitely the last three tracks
that work for me. Especially, the title track which is a bit of a
change of direction for Terra Nine and a welcome one in this instance
as it’s such a good track.
Reviewed
by Woodzee
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