VEDVIK Tom / TILLMAN Martin
Cinematic Volunteer
(c) (p) 2001 Tom Vedvik and Martin Tillman
8tks/53mins

    " Cinematic Volunteer" is a delicate dish for any musical gourmet. The more you listen to this album, the more you desire to listen to this music again, and immerse in the magical worlds, created by two brilliant artists - Tom Vedvik and Martin Tillmann.
    Beginning with haunting sounds of cello and unhurried keyboards, this album slowly immerses you in its atmosphere. It is like a soundtrack to some film taking place in a city, which contours are washed-out and misty. What is this: Paris, or, maybe, London or Stockholm? Autumn rain falls as a tiny drops on a darkening road-way. The dusk is falling, air is filled with smells of something burning and petrol, and barely sensible aroma of musty leaves. Something unexpressibly-European one can feel in composition " Slowboat" .
    And here in the music of " Wings Over Water" appears the Orient. Cello and rhythm of percussions. The city gradually loses its European contours, becoming even more washed-out and misty. This is as if a sand, slightly rustling, starts flowing on the houses, slowly burying them.
    We are carried away to the curved and noisy streets of an Oriental city (" Migration" ). This composition contains distinct rhythm and vocals. Famous " soft" keyboards of Tom Vedvik create an unique ambient-surround.
    And again the music becomes quite European: combination of an exquisite cello and piano takes us to an old estate during a dinner (composition " Bon Appetit" ).
    And again, after a short break, we are in the Orient. Tibetian tunes appear in the music (" Monk In The Tower" ).
    Synthetic-electronical " Following The Bells" is full of mysterious voices. It contain rigid rhythms and echoes of remote civilizations. The Orient can keep its secrets.
    A lot of sadness and longing for the past one can feel in the " Echoes of The Caravan" . Sorrow of the parting, recollections of the long-gone things. Martin Tillman's cello becomes more elegant. Music acquires the Near-Eastern tint.
    Composition " Winter Orchestra" is a perfect Coda. Chorus and a polyphony of sounds. A hope and mercy. This music takes you back home. The jouney is finished. Now it is time to live your real life with all its non-concocted sorrows and joys...
    I was waiting for this album and I am not disappointed by new joint work of Tom Vedvik and Martin Tillmann " Cinematic Volunteer" . The albums contains the same well-known sound: cello of Martin Tllmann being combined with the setting of keyboards by Tom Vedvik. Splendid music and virtuous work of two artists. With that, this album is more eclectic, and the music gained more variety and spirit of experiment.

Serge Kozlovsky
email: serge_kozlovsky@tut.by
web site: http://sergekozlovsky.com

P.S. Translated by Alexander Petrov.