Darkfish Beyond Progressive Voyages Review PV052

Beyond- Darkfish - Progressive Voyages Review PV052

Beyond- Darkfish - Progressive Voyages Review PV052

Darkfish is the name for musician Shelia Maloney’s side Project that she has for her own synthesiser and keyboard-based compositions aside from her main gig as keyboard player in the David Cross band, where she is currently based, this is her initial solo project. Released in July of this year, this is a totally unique themed album that warrants deep listening to get the most out of it’s impressive music.

This is a 9-track instrumental album that includes 4 lengthy pieces that were originally part of the educational programme A Tour Of The Universe and 5 new pieces including a piece called) Pale Blue Spot which was inspired by the writing of Carl Sagan.

On this album everything was composed, created and performed BT Shelia alone, with only help with the mastering of the album.

The album Commences with Destination Forever which is a great instrumental piece of moods and atmosphere, evoking a sense of the sheer vastness of space and its infinity and it lack of an end, there is a bubbling synthesiser sequence throughout and lots of ethereal sounds and textures, I would suggest shades of Tangerine Dream here however  it stands up on its on right as well. As it is an engrossing piece of music, I’ve not seen the commission that this was for but based on this music I’m sure it was certainly of worth as the pictures on bandcamp show for each track

Second track is Endless Space which again is to impart just how vast space actually is trying to convey this musically is no easy thing to attempt to do, so this piece is all very Airy and large in its soundscapes, to seek to impart that vision in an evolving and subtly changing set of parameters is a big ask, however I feel that this track at least attempts to do that as best as possible, there isn’t a lot happening really, lots of deep bass notes and washes of synthesiser that seek to convey the essence of endless space, its it a somewhat cold and bleak sound much as endless space would be.

This album is possibly best experienced on headphones in the dark with a suitable beverage of your choice as you allow its sound to swirl over your head and take root in your imagination

Spiral Nebula is next, and the image for this track is of a Celestial body of swirling stars set against the darkness of space, this track has shimmering keyboards and a sense if calm and beauty, also uses ring modulation to get the pinging sound it is really quite impressive sounding, there is a lot of space in the sound which helps it sound effective as it does.

I feel this album will definitely have appeal for those who enjoy synthesiser music like Tangerine Dream or Kitaro or the like as there is much imagination and skill here in these semi-ambient pieces of mood music.

Next, we have Voyager which is about the amazing craft that is now over 15 billion miles from earth and is now beyond the Heliosphere (that is beyond the reach of the suns magnetic field and particles it is in Interstellar Space having passed Jupiter and Saturn and having explored their moonshine it’s 48 years to date mission, it is currently the most distant man-made object from earth. The track seeks to illuminate the amazing nature of this unbelievable voyage that Voyager 1 has undertaken in the 48 years since it was launched into space. The music it gentle and undulating with a distinct tone to it, and a sense if movement in its themes.

I like this track as it sounds very complete.

Next track is Towards The Stars which is again a very ambient soundscape of expansive synthesiser washes and textures, very Vangelis like in its tones and with great separation.

Planet Earth is blue follows this is a piano led melody backed with extensive use of synths to establish an almost pastoral sound, with lots of wind effects and noise generators to make the sound, it’s a simple piece but very expressive in tone, as it depicts the blue essence of earth in space against nothingness.

Leaving The Heliosphere is next which is about being beyond the influence of the sun and the isolation that you could perceive in that situation. It is quite an emotionless track really,  it sounds cold in its tone and without warmth.

Gravity well follows and it is largely based on sequencer motifs that re occur during the track There are a lot of deep throbbing moments here to evoke a sound of expansiveness , good use of different keyboards to create that effect, there is an almost tidal sound as waves appear peak and then diminish only to return again, there is a very new age type sound to the latter part of this album, This is an album that has to seep into your subconscious in order to gain maximum benefit from, possibly late at night listening although there is much to appreciate here in its skilful sounds and settings.

Final track is The Pale Blue Dot which is inspired by Carl Sagan‘s reflections on the vulnerability of planet earth sitting alone in the cosmos, its a brief piece but nonetheless its an impressive one. It is a very gentle piece that’s shows fragility and vulnerability equally well.

This is a very interesting album, One that is worth the time but it’s is not immediate and you will need to listen to it several times to get the best from it

Info here; www.darkfish-beyond.ba camp.com