"LiVE" is only $15.00CAN plus shipping and taxes where applicable!

an inspired collaboration between members of Sylken, Anomalous Disturbances and URM. Drifting, floating, beautiful.

listen to
omega

One of the defining elements of the ambient scene here in Toronto is the way everybody plays together, how groups and projects and collaborations form, giving a chance for the audience to hear new sounds bringing together the best elements of individual artists. SADU is one such collaboration, a meeting of minds between Eric Hopper of Sylken, Terry O'Brien of Anomalous Disturbances and Jamie Todd of URM and dreamSTATE. Together the three of them have released a debut disc that brilliantly captures the magic of group work and shared imagination. Taken from a pair of live performances at THE AMBiENT PiNG, "LiVE" is a stunning piece of work that stands amongst the best music that each has made with their own respective projects.

Opening with a series of twinkling keys and floating pads, "alpha" is a lovely way to start the disc. The sounds of stars and the heavens radiate throughout the track giving way to a percolating sequenced track that flows in and around a beautiful patchwork of sweeping tones that fill the soundfield.

"beta" features more subtle movement, a more minimalist sound where drones drift slowly through the track, occasionally interspersed with random sounds and tones. There's a sense of yearning here, a sound of need and desire that plays underneath the music. The feeling builds as the track gains strength until there's an almost palpable tension within the song, a tension that never seems to satisfy itself in that special way that only the best music does. Wonderful work.

Track three "gamma" begins with a little more activity, a little more motion. It bring to mind the sound of a dense rainforest, an environment that surrounds the listener with a feeling of mystery and wonder. Tones blend seemlessly together, creating an almost living space that's simply breathtaking in it's scope. A stunning track that stands out as one of my favorites from the disc.

I appreciate the cheekiness in naming track four "theta" and I further appreciate the sheer beauty of it. There's a steady flow and growth to this track, a sparkling shine that I've come to associate with celestial bodies. A mournful melody plays underneath the track, something to hold on to in a slowly moving swirl of sound and magic.

"omega" closes the disc, a long form epic that captures the essence of space music, the essence of environment. Sounds drift and fade during the course of the track, bringing to mind celestial bodies seen in the distance as we move through the heavens. Processed guitar weaves throughout and keyboard sequences flow and pull with a power akin to gravity. It's like a trip to the stars and back, a voyage to the heart of the galaxy.

As with other collaborative work, I think it's pointless to try and figure out who plays what, who's responsible for what sounds and movements in SADU. It seems silly to waste time trying to pinpoint movements or segments as being the work of an individual when all three members work so well together, creating a whole greater than the sum of it's parts. Something magical, celestial, beautiful has been born in this music and I hope that there will be further opportunities to follow it's growth and development in the future.

rik - ping things