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Roland Buehlmann

Aineo

Review by Gary Hill

The instrumental works presented here run a fairly wide swath. Overall, it lands in the general territory of progressive rock. It leans at times towards fusion, world music, space rock, Celtic music and more, though. If you like adventurous instrumental music that has an emphasis on melody, you’ll like this.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2015  Volume 3 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review
Breakthrough

The backdrop to much of this is a hard edged, guitar driven jam. Over the top of that the instrumental jamming ensues. This is at times closer to fusion. At other points it lands nearer to modern progressive rock. There are bits of space rock, too. It’s an extremely effective piece, no matter how you label it. There is a mellower section mid-track, but the intensity seriously ramps up the later segments.

Ham'nagen
There really is a lot of magic packed into this piece. On the surface it’s a tasty fusion number. There is more here than that, though. A lot of world music percolates almost below the surface. The balance between mellower and more rocking sections is great, too. This is quite an elegant musical soundscape, really.
Unexpressed
The mellower, quite electronic section that opens this feels like something that would have fit well into the soundtrack of “Koyaanisqatsi.” There is a mysterious quality to it. The composition works out from there at times getting closer to fusion again.
Aineo

Pretty much a pure fusion groove, this is melodic and very tasty. It’s perhaps not my favorite piece here, but everything is strong.

Meldilorn

More melodic fusion is the concept here. That said, bits of Celtic music and some bluesy rock emerge at times.

Kenosis

Although there is a lot of fusion built into this, the cut also reminds me of Mike Oldfield at times. Some of the later parts make me think of Yes here and there, too.

Contemplation

At over eleven minutes, this is the longest piece here. It grows gradually and changes occur in measured ways, too. It’s melodic and quite powerful. Again, I’m reminded of Oldfield at times. This might not be the most obvious choice for best track of the disc, but it’s a contender for sure. It makes quite a satisfying closer.

 
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