RHYTHM
A Real Music Sampler
(p) (c) 1997 Real Music
14tks/72mins

It is pleasant for me to be persuaded again and again that the "Real Music" company does not stand at one place, and remains in constant creative search, improving its already perfect sound and tends to gladden the listeners by new, sometimes unexpected projects.

"Rhythm" is a fourth volume of Real Music series, which was began by soft "Eternity" and "Eternity II" and continued by the recent calm and meditative "Tranquility". The difference of "Rhythm" from the preceding albums is in the fact that this album is a collection of dynamic and very energetic compositions, which goal is to increase spirit and let a person feel fullness with life energy. Listening to this CD, one can plunge into a powerful element of pristine sounds, pulsing melodies, coming from the very roots of being.

The collection is decorated by two light and transparent by sound compositions "Beach Fire Dancers" and "Tears of Joy" by guitarist Govi, being the master of unconditioned joy. Quite unusual is "Walkabout" from the album "Escape" by instrumentalist Mars Lasar. While listening to the cries of owls, distant dog's barking, "heroic" melody full of inner dramatism, and one can feel standing alone near a large wood not far from a little village in a far away land. Close to "Walkabout" is composition "Somewhere in a Dream" by composer and performer Hisham, who combines melodic pieces reminding music of Mars Lasar, and Middle East rhythms, belonging rather to the dervish fire dances. "Rhythm" contains one more theme by Lasar "Universe in Time" from his earlier album "The Eleventh Hour". On the face of it this electronic melody seems quite simple and not complex. But if you listen more carefully, you can find in it new hidden colors and even some hypnotism. "Universe in Time" is a rather mysterious and original composition.

More traditional (still, not less interesting) theme "Ever Returning" from the album "Flowing" by Bernward Koch, having soft, jazz sound and bossa nova rhythm. The artist Potsch Potschka, who earlier participated in group Nina Hagen Band, has surprised me. His "roaring" "The Journey" ? "Alegria" having complicated percussion rather remind sound of shaman dances. Airy keyboards by Ayman in "Zorba the Buddha" by its sound remind Andreas Vollenveider. Composition "Fire" from the album "I-Ching Symphony", presented by Frank Steiner Jr. Is a mixture of Chinese music with western electronic.

Compositions "Summer Rain" and "Bandole!" by a "sparkling" guitarist Shastro remind traditional flamenco, decorated by indian flutes, latin-american percussion and persian cymbals. And, of course "Rhythm" contains two compositions ("The Gates of Annwn" and "Rhianno") of group "Ceredwen", performed in the style of Enya and "Clannad". These compositions are full of celtic mysticism and spirit of ancient times.

It's a pity that not any composition of a brilliant melodist Nicholas Gunn was not included in "Rhythm". Theme of Nicholas Gunn, containing powerful drums and soft flute could make the collection more bright and remembering.

With the release of "Rhythm", Real Music has one more time proved that it is one of the most interesting and "alive" companies, recording New Age music at present.

Serge Kozlovsky