Although the genre of EM (Electronic Music) has lost quite a bit of popularity, there are still artists who maintain loyal to this type of music and compose genuine songs from their creative hearts and minds. One of those is Salva Moreno aka Psicodreamics. With Ancient Wisdom he delivers his 10th studio album to date filled with a soothing, meditative kind of music. Unlike artists like Yanni, Tangerine Dream of Australis, the emphasis in Moreno's music is on harmonies and flowing melodies. No guitars, only subtle percussion and on many occasions the leads are played by a synth sounding like a woman's voice. Sources of inspiration for his music this time were the Celtic myths, rituals of Druids and the 'wisdom of nature' among others.
The album's first track Forest Heartbeat is an ethereal song with echoing sounds and synths mimicking the sounds of nature. Drift away and let your tensions go, is what Moreno is trying to say here I guess. The next piece is ambient as well called True Spirit Of Nature. Again soothing enchanting sound-scapes as in the Lord Of The Rings movie when the Elves are leaving their homes to flee from the threat of Mordor. There's a change in style in Samhain Ecstasy: percussion, more up tempo and accompaniment by piano among others while the main melody is 'sung' by a 'woman's voice'. The way the piano is used reminds me of the song I Like Chopin by Gazebo. Kettledrums, strings and a female 'choir' are the prelude for a mid tempo tune with some highly original percussion sounds. The lead is primarily performed by a female 'voice' and we hear some guitar samples too. As could be expected from a title like Druids Trance, it's chill out time: gorgeous sequencers and slow melodies but still interesting because of the great textures has been able to create. In My Beloved Loneliness some of the sounds of nature are combined with a lead sounding like a Uilleann Pipe. The Ritual Of Love is a tune set to bring the listener in higher spheres: nicely built up with some percussion and lots of attention to detail if one listens carefully. Awesome bass sounds and a lead by the 'female voice' again in Earth Prayer, a tune featuring two chords and some percussion. Beltane Moon is my personal favourite, combining more pop orientated EM with the touch of the Spanish master of "ambient EM". Time to slow down and start dreaming again in Bewitched By The Faeries, beautifully flowing melodies, subtle orchestrations and samples sounding like a harp, surely inspired by the Irish folk music. The lights go down when the sirens are calling you in the last track Wisdom Of Trees and invite you to set foot in the dream world of Psicodreamics and you are advised to accept the invitation!
The album's first track Forest Heartbeat is an ethereal song with echoing sounds and synths mimicking the sounds of nature. Drift away and let your tensions go, is what Moreno is trying to say here I guess. The next piece is ambient as well called True Spirit Of Nature. Again soothing enchanting sound-scapes as in the Lord Of The Rings movie when the Elves are leaving their homes to flee from the threat of Mordor. There's a change in style in Samhain Ecstasy: percussion, more up tempo and accompaniment by piano among others while the main melody is 'sung' by a 'woman's voice'. The way the piano is used reminds me of the song I Like Chopin by Gazebo. Kettledrums, strings and a female 'choir' are the prelude for a mid tempo tune with some highly original percussion sounds. The lead is primarily performed by a female 'voice' and we hear some guitar samples too. As could be expected from a title like Druids Trance, it's chill out time: gorgeous sequencers and slow melodies but still interesting because of the great textures has been able to create. In My Beloved Loneliness some of the sounds of nature are combined with a lead sounding like a Uilleann Pipe. The Ritual Of Love is a tune set to bring the listener in higher spheres: nicely built up with some percussion and lots of attention to detail if one listens carefully. Awesome bass sounds and a lead by the 'female voice' again in Earth Prayer, a tune featuring two chords and some percussion. Beltane Moon is my personal favourite, combining more pop orientated EM with the touch of the Spanish master of "ambient EM". Time to slow down and start dreaming again in Bewitched By The Faeries, beautifully flowing melodies, subtle orchestrations and samples sounding like a harp, surely inspired by the Irish folk music. The lights go down when the sirens are calling you in the last track Wisdom Of Trees and invite you to set foot in the dream world of Psicodreamics and you are advised to accept the invitation!
In conclusion Ancient Wisdom is perhaps more ambient and chill out than some of the previous albums and because of the female voice samples I must admit this album will not be in my personal best list. Because my main interest is progressive rock I rather tend to listen to music with slightly more power, percussion and rhythm patterns. Still in my opinion Psicodreamics did come up with a truly nice and original album again and it will surely find its way to fans of the more ethereal, spacey type of music.
7 out of 10
Reviewed by Menno von Brucken Fock (Almeloord)
7 out of 10
Reviewed by Menno von Brucken Fock (Almeloord)
