Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

more - there is life

6/27/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
More

There is Life
self-released; 2013

3.8 out of 5

By Dan Alcantara
Adam More is the product of being classically trained as a composer and performer before falling in love with the sound of synthesizers. Recorded on his home computer in Toronto, Canada, More has created an expansive sonic landscape through the use of software. He writes by stacking sound on top of sound before going back and cutting out everything that doesn't sound like the song he's working on. In the music you can hear the freedom he feels in creating only for his own enjoyment. It wasn't until he had a pile of music on his computer that he decided to share it with the world. We can all be glad he did.

The album There Is Life begins with swirling clicks and pads that fade in gently before they fill your ears in “A Violet Cubic Sunrise.” This lays the foundation for a melody that is reminiscent of Ralph Vaughan Williams' “The Lark Ascending,” giving the illusion of movement and fluttering wings. “Mango Popsicle Sunset” opens with a trippy drum beat and chilled-out synth tones that sound as delicious as the track's title implies. Whales and sharks getting in each other's way are brought to mind in “Ocean Migrations,” followed by the title track, “There Is Life.”

Easily the strongest of the six, “There Is Life” makes perfect use of found sounds and radio samples to create a mammoth atmosphere that begs you to walk around in its borders. “Games” begins with a pulsing, rhythmic chord progression that feels like the beginning of a large sports event before falling into a world of whimsy and some of the creepy levels from Super Mario Brothers. It's a perfect study in dissonance and competing melodies.

The album closes with the expansive “Upward Clock Barrier,” which sits comfortably at 15 minutes and 52 seconds long. Now, that's a long time for the best of musicians to hold a listener’s attention, made even more difficult by the fact that, save the radio samples, this is a completely instrumental project. The track is held together by a constant, driving beat and also by the fact that nothing really happens until over six minutes into the track. Even though nothing really happens in this song until then, it still manages to hold my attention. This is the work of a very talented composer. There is just enough happening in the chord structure to keep my musician's mind interested in what's going on. All of that to say, this is a good album to listen to late at night. It's got just enough happening to keep it from being a sleepy snore-project while still maintaining a mellowness that suits those hours when your eyes feel like sandpaper.
twitter
soundcloud
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact