ECHOES IN THE VACUUM

Alpha Wave Movement is the project alias for American artist Gregory Kyryluk, and the composer has been offering a wide range of discs in Progressive-Electronic and related styles for over two decades now, some of which can even be regarded as classics of the modern era. The deeply atmospheric and highly immersive `Cerulean Skies' from earlier this year could also be included in the list, and now Gregory takes a different approach for `Echoes in the Vacuum', a fully instrumental vibrant and eclectic collection of mostly shorter and somewhat lighter pieces, that still show great colour and variety, with a balance of anchored rhythmic and pure-ambient drifts, whilst also achieving a near-perfect unison of melodic approachability and entrancing atmospheres.

Opener ` Herzchlag des Universums' could very well be an outtake from Alpha Wave Movement's 2016 album `Kinetic' with its upbeat mood, infectious repeating themes and slinking dance beats. `Other Worlds' is a mysterious and gurgling deep- space ambient rumination, and then, quite unexpectedly, `Luna Lamentabilis' takes on a loved-up whimsy much closer to the swooning romance of something like Vangelis' `Ballad' off his much-loved 1977 LP `Spiral', or even the kitsch playfulness of the Yellow Magic Orchestra, and the piece frequently radiates sweet love and embracing positivity.

The opening moments of `Akasha' hint at one of those grooving pop-rockers that the Alan Parsons Project used to deliver, but instead it quickly turns into a sitar-laced groaning drift backed by a relentless lurching percussive beat, managing to nail that grounded earthiness and those floating cosmic reaches that often twist together on Alpha Wave Movement discs. `Solina Spaceways', sometimes reminding of French band Air in little moments, is mellow and laid-back without lacking momentum, softly jazzy electric piano soloing weaving in and out of confident lead synth themes, and comforting lovely closer `Safe Journey' brings restrained organ and approaching/retreating whirring washes teeming with the most precious of life lapping at spacey shivers and weeping electronic tendrils.

But especially memorable is the fifth track `Garden of Memories', where the most subtle of low-key reprising themes are repeated on fragile piano and shimmering harp (or a best synth impression of one!) piercing through lightly cinematic washing caresses of synths, slithering background bass and the gentlest of chill-out beats flitting in and out. It shows impeccable subtlety and restraint, is achingly beautiful and full of dreamy mystery and deep serenity.

`Echoes...' is melodic and accessible without lacking intelligence, offers countless cleverly memorable themes that inch their way into your brain after several spins, and can be enjoyed as a background listen without the deeper immersion required to appreciate the more complex and subtle AWM discs. It holds a strong crossover quality of related electronic styles that showcases Gregory's distinctive musical personality, one that's a world away from the endless Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre and Klaus Schulze clones, and it would make for a perfect introduction to the music of Alpha Wave Movement for newcomers. You know you have a special artist when even the (so-called) `less essential' releases are of such a high standard, and it means that `Echoes in the Vacuum' comes highly recommended.

Four stars.