Member:
Reginod
(Profile)
(All Album Reviews by Reginod)
Date:
11/16/2004
Format:
CD (Album)
I really don't much know what to say regarding Cybermonkey's 2003 release Planes, Trance And Life's Karma Wheels. It is what it is; to wit, a fine collection of 6 ambient pieces ranging in length from just over 7 minutes to almost 16 minutes. Reflective, meditative, introspective, serene . . . . those are some of the adjectives that might be used when describing the mood evoked (or accompanied) by the music on this album. If you live in an appropriate environment, you can effectively listen to it amidst the ambient sounds of nature; it can sound great when crickets, birds and the like are added to the mix, augmenting the broad array of sounds that this album brings to the fore.
Cybermonkey are a three-piece collective from Ontario. Tad Winklarz handles the keyboards, Marlon Kempmann plays the guitars, and Lisa Turner provides the voice. Eric Kempmann (not to be confused with progressive artist and PE member Eric Kampman) played mandolin on one cut. Winklarz and Marlon Kempmann wrote all the music, and the group recorded, mixed and produced the album.
Referring to this as "electronic music" would be somewhat inaccurate; although Winklarz's keys are integral to Cybermonkey's sound, Planes, Trance And Life's Karma Wheels takes a more organic approach, with an emphasis on creating moods rather than performing tightly arranged compositions.
Divided into three sections, the first cut "Gdansk" begins with "Along The Shoreline" incorporating the forlorn cries of seagulls into a liquid blend of keyboards; a cello-like timbre provides the closest thing to a melody and some light percussion is added, but the feel is the same throughout the first eight or so minutes. One might feel as if one is floating. The middle section "Rain Washed Tracks" veers into a deep, throbbing, bass-heavy percussion section, and "Memories Of Ghosts" closes the piece with Kempmann's guitar exploring the void on a bed of oceanic keyboards.
"Shakyamuni" is highlighted by a percussive melody which brings to mind the vibraphone/marimba sound of Pierre Moerlen's Gong. The use of spoken word is introduced and the album's multi-spiritual philosophical theme is cemented. The ending section of "Shakyamuni" reprises the drifting feeling of "Gdansk".
"Invocation" incorporates spoken-word quotes from several "prayers for peace, found in various religions of the world." Tibetan monk chants, lonely, sparse guitar, and stark, singular bells ringing out over a sea of synth-swells create the feeling of drifting on slow waves.
Locked into an icy-cool groove, the two-part "Caravan To Dharamsala" displays Cybermonkey's affinity for worldbeat. Layered chants are used to a great extent in this piece, along with the aforementioned Gong-style percussive touches.
"Border Highway" is one of the more aggressively-paced pieces on Planes, Trance And Life's Karma Wheels, held in place by more throbbing bass lines and chants. It offers Marlon Kempmann a chance to blend several different guitar sounds, some reminding me a bit of Nicky Skopelitis' work on Ginger Baker's Horses And Trees.
The last cut "Into The Ether" is aptly titled. But then again much of Planes, Trance And Life's Karma Wheels makes you feel like you're floating. Pleasantly. Fans of Steve Roach, Tangerine Dream, Paul Haslinger, Minico and the like will appreciate Cybermonkey. Good stuff.
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