staircase (steps of stone and spirit)

Almost an apocalyptic beginning to this album, lovely soundscaping with Meteora. Certainly worthy of being a soundtrack from the start. And, so it continues with a nice sense of confident sound and rhythm manipulation, with 2nd Tale of Blue, which is quite a bright number. Good electronica. Footsteps brings the darkness back in slightly, with a lovely synthetic rhythm and deep bass. Even still, it is almost as if it struggles to be as dark as it wants, like the music cannot help be ebullient and effervescent. Nice energy, and quite positive sounding so far.

Seven Steps starts off quite straightforward, fitting nicely into its instrumental electronic niche. Then it diverts and reverts up through its seven steps of progression. More like a stairway to heaven, where there would be time to contemplate your sins and prepare to atone for them. So, altogether pretty positive, even with the potential to not make the grade and be cast down into the fiery pits of Hell. Then, there is Digital God which makes its thumping way with a wonderful, darker melody and feel to it. I'm sitting in front of mine right now, and after being cut off for a few days, it's getting some reverence for sure.

Cymhod is more of that dark ambience that we started with, cool atmosphere and quite a straightforward layout of rhythm, leaving plenty of room for diversification. Although the darkness still remains somewhat subtle by comparison, it still makes good electronic music. Geist-Blitz has a strong start and again quite an ambitious track length to fill and maintain to entertain. Eerie and suitably spooky as it develops, I await the blitz with tentative anticipation. However, it doesn't surprise me when, instead it drifts into a nonetheless beautiful ambience instead of assailing my senses with the attack of the spirits.

Zwintro has a fine assemblage of sound and rhythm, retaining that essential sound style, though in a different manner. The following track Yam Gate, comes over as being larger and more profound, nicely spirited. Steinmetz continues the essential poise of the album, with a slightly different flavour for sustenance. The beginning of Triton seems appropriately angled, very much a soundtrack sound to it. Almost reminiscent of the likes of Kitaro. Very dreamlike.

The remix of Digital God is probably at least one of a few tracks I would have chosen for reworking with, as I said, due reverence. I think that considering the age of this album that 'dark' might have well applied more readily then, bearing in mind the kind of artists within this particular arena. However, either the world has become a much darker and sinister place to be, or I am becoming more angelic and it is perspectival. The album ends with a beautiful piece of music fit for an OST for sure, and follows suit with the rest of the album. Overall, good electronic music that has withstood the travel over time, though all I would say is drop the 'dark' genre, as it meets all the rest with ease. Ten years ago, I would have played this to death, perhaps there's your darkness!-)