E.E.R.
 

John Lyell and Brent A. Reiland: Synthetic Universe (CD, 77:37); 
2002 7-3965-2
Solar Wind Productions, Inc.
E-mail: jlyell@wormholes.com
Website: www.wormholes.com

These guys’ first release that I reviewed was very much that Wavestar 
gestalt as in lotsa synths and a healthy dose of spaced out guitar. This 
latest release opens with an early 80s Tangerine Dream feel. Think 
Tangram. Easy-going, relaxingly sequenced, flowing and 
essentially well-done T. Dreamy material describes the first two tracks. 
Then things open up into more spacious territory of droning, swelling 
ambience with a space music/ alien spelunking adventure mood. Envision 
Brannan Lane colliding with Robert Scott Thompson and add a bit of 
dread looming throughout.

	Those folks digging the insertion of tribal rhythms and tranced out 
pipings with ethereal piano will like track four. (I am no fan of this type 
world music trance ambience. Skip track . . .) We jump back to subtle 
sequencing and relaxing synth swells and meanderings. My mind goes 
back to those many Euro synth releases of the early 80s once such was 
more widely in vogue. Interestingly nostalgic but not anything new overall 
happening here . . .

	Halfway into this disc things mutate again -- formless, shapeless, 
wandering synthscapes ambience with a sprinkling of harp-voiced synths. 
I recall Emerald Web’s work. Next track, ping-pong sequencing is back 
but with that soft lilting and angelic Suzanne Doucet warmth. So very new 
agey but with just enough spacey synth swells and fly-bys.

	Track eight and the tribal rhythms return for a space jaunt to cosmic 
plains of Africa. My first impression was early, early Patrick O’Hearn and 
his percussive synth works. (Next track please . . .) Track nine swings 
back around to that warm-toned minimalism of Suzanne Doucet and leans 
into the healing territory of Steven Halpern. Oh so analog this all feels, I 
must find my rainbow-hued meditation glasses . . . I am getting very 
sleepy here in a nice way but I sense nano-techs coursing through me . . . 
removing my ability to stop buying hot pink, self-actualization, ozone 
generatorsszzzz . . .

	Outro track is drones of space ambience that Tony Gerber and gang 
would whole-heartedly swoon over and I find it the best piece on the disc. 
That monstrous Klaus Schulze-ian/ Steve Roach-ish church organ drone 
makes me feel like I am in a grand cathedral in flight to the edge of 
eternity, to the Realms of the Holy of Holies. This is music to disappear 
by. Very, very nice.

	Overall, I’d have to say this release gets about a 7 out of ten as 
sequencing is really “olde school/ olde hat” for my tastes. I have done that 
scene too, too many times so long ago. Also, I rarely enjoy tribal 
percussives and that whole world music gig with synths. My call. When I 
look for space music/ ambient electronics it needs more innovative 
textures and structure and it should transport me 100% into other worlds, 
other times, other psychological states. Only the last track, “Light Years 
Away”, had this quality. If all the tracks, had been of this caliber and 
style, (which clearly Lyell and Reiland can do!), then I’d have given this 
release a solid 10. To me, Synthetic Universe only represents a sort 
of showcase of all the neat and creative aspects these artists can produce.

	Synthetic Universe is well done, but not a remarkable nor a 
cohesive concept release. Much within will be familiar and perhaps 
pleasant territory to synth fans but many of us “synth-heads” seek a novel 
rush of serotonin these days. Keep at it John and Brent!

		~   John W. Patterson, EER-MUSIC.com

Personnel: John Lyell - synths, vox, bass
Brent A. Reiland - synths, drum modules, bass, dumbek, recorder

Tracks: Ethereal Float, Dream of the Solstice, Planetary Caverns, 
Afterlife, The Edge of Forever, Enigmatic, Pleiadean Sky, Cosmic 
Serengeti, Zone 5, Light Years Away

Brent A. Reiland and John Lyell: Wormholes (CD, 70:53); Solarwind Productions 7-3964-2, 1998 E-mail: jlyell@wormholes.com Cyberhome: http://www.wormholes.com Cool, slick, hip, spacey, ambient, classy electronics, great guitar, dreamy transports of sound textures just beyond description, droning grooves, reverby, overdriven, oscillating, phasing, pulsing, throbbing, your aural synapses on overload and all those dopamine receptors in blissville - - this is Wormholes. I am amazed at the quality of material these two guys have served up as their debut release. Ten tracks run the gamut of well-honed Serrie-ish space music to Floydian space-rock without ever going overboard, they balance dynamics in perfect restraint. This is ancient darkened cathedral ambience or atop the Great Pyramid at sunset, soul-flight music. Take the journey, discover the rim of another galaxy, twist time into a sonic superstring but remember to turn your phone ringer off first before you leave. I positively guarantee that anyone who knows ambient synth, space rock, or any such eclectic electric genre needs this CD in their collection. Lyell and Reiland's Wormholes is one of the top ten space music/ ambient electronic releases Eclectic Earwig Reviews has been sent in 1999. I highly recommend this debut release as being up to snuff with the established greats of the genre. File your future copy right next to Serrie, Roach, Eno, Wavestar, and early Tangerine Dream. A cohesively cool synth and spacey guitar experience. I am eager to hear their next offering. ~ John W. Patterson

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