Electronic Music realized in a live performance often possesses
a quality unattainable in studio works. In the practiced
spontaneity of live improvisation, what is played next really
matters as one cannot go back and recapture any given moment
once it has past. On THE ALCHEMY CONCERT (69'20") by The
Circular Ruins (Anthony Paul Kirby), the music was created live
before an unseen Internet audience. Even though the eight
tracks are each a work unto itself, the album provides a coherent
listening experience. The overall mood of THE ALCHEMY
CONCERT is pretty mellow. Beats and rhythms are introduced
slowly and provide a soft foundation upon which calm and silvery
synthesizer pads float. Choices in the way of timbre and tonality
reveal an artist who can trace his heritage back to the chillout
room - where perceptions vary with the individual. The
compositions themselves seem to have a basic structure,
around which Kirby adds the motion of melody, harmony and
spacey effects. This album centers on calm and friendly sonic
fantasies but does offer contrasting sounds with the occasional
darkening air castle or cross modulation. These moments add a
small amount of nonconformity and uncertainty to the overall
experience, which is ultimately less about music than it is state
of mind.

Tune in this weekend to STAR'S END for THE ALCHEMY
CONCERT by The Circular Ruins

For more on THE ALCHEMY CONCERT, access:
http://www.databloem.com

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STAR'S END broadcasts every Saturday night/Sunday morning
from 1am-6am (EDST) on:

88.5fm WXPN Philadelphia, PA
88.1fm WXPH Harrisburg, PA
90.5fm Worton/Baltimore, MD
104.9fm Allentown, PA

and live on the web...

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Chuck van Zyl
Host of STAR'S END Ambient Radio
http://www.starsend.org