Deeper

4 reviews for Deeper

1. Edgar Kogler – November 30, 2015

   The last work by David Wright also is probably one of the best ones he has made. The composer gathers very imaginative musical ideas in this album, under a general focus approaching Melodic Space Music. There also are Synth-Pop traits. The melodies usually are warm, lively. The rhythms are sequencer-based mostly, thus resulting into complex, powerful and impressive ones. These are ten themes, among which probably “Bamboo” is the most charismatic one. In all, Wright has created a thrilling sonic adventure in this work.

2. Steve Roberts – November 30, 2015

   An interesting release, ‘Deeper’ is impeccably produced and is stylistically closer to Callisto and ‘Walking with Ghosts’ rather than David’s previous release ‘Continuum’.
   However, ‘Deeper’ subtly represents a change of direction with greater emphasis on mood and texture with more shade than light and the music takes on a brooding, understated, more reflective tone.

   The set opens with ‘Nomad’ which originally appeared on 1994’s ‘Ocean Watch’ but has been completely overhauled and re imagined retaining elements from the Leicester Space Centre gig in September 2004 and is superior to the original sounding like a new track. The enhanced rhythms and textures and more strident lead lines give the piece more stridency and the confident soloing nudges the direction towards prog rock territory but David’s trademark jazz tinged tones imbue enough of his signature trademarks to make this classic Dave Wright fare.
   ‘The Sound of Waves’ is a gentler, more meditative piece, reminiscent in style to the chill out moments on ‘Ghosts’, and David is completely at ease with this romanticism but as he demonstrates so ably here, and throughout ‘Deeper’, there is more detail in the music and subtle tones of melancholy give the music greater substance.
   ‘The Sound of Light’ is another shorter, focused piece with some fluid soloing and is followed by the title track which features a fine, confident melody accompanied with lush strings and interesting rhythms.
   ‘Bamboo’ follows and concludes the shorter pieces which would in the old days been the end of side one. More ethnic tinged rhythms give this piece an edgier, fragmented feel and provide variation to the mix.
   The rest of the album is taken up with a 5 Part opus ‘Sea of Dreams’ and Part 1 is an impressionistic tone poem evoking mystery and wonder before the more rhythmic Part 2 introduces dramatic, cinematic strings which slowly build up the atmosphere. The mood changes enhance the track with lighter passages and sequences offset with more melodramatic moments, solos and treatments which whip up quite a storm, before gently winding down.
   Part 3 slows down the pace with ambient tones, thunderclaps and piano cross fading into more familiar rhythmic territory in Part 4 and melancholic strings and piano pile on the atmosphere in a wide screen panoply of sound.
   The final part is at 11.50 the longest track on the album. Continuing with themes laid down before, David produces hypnotic rhythms offset with emotive strings, a steady back beat and powerful solos that soar and weave through the mix, and whip up a veritable storm until around the eight minute mark the pace slows dramatically as the piece winds down to its stately and dignified conclusion.
   ‘Sea of Dreams’ was originally part of the ‘Dune’ project which may still appear in some form as part of a future live performance and that is something to look forward to.

   Dave Massey’s input is clearly discernible and generally enhances ‘Deeper’ as the production in 32 bit digital sound is excellent throughout. Doug Lester’s cover is intriguing too and will have you viewing the image from different angles to ascertain reference points!
   ‘Deeper’ displays the increasing maturity and confidence of the composer as he heads into the next phase of his career and represents another high point in a long and interesting journey. I hope it is not too long before we can experience versions of this music live.

3. Menno von Brucken Fock – November 30, 2015

   From the artist himself, presenting his works at the “E-Live” festival, I bought his latest effort. I never thought I would come to the conclusion that, given my tastes, this album would be the best one that Wright has released.

   Sultry rhythms, harmonic orchestrations, flowing solos and sensitive, easy listening melodies, all are in perfect balance on this album. Of course, Wright has developed his own style, which is not quite like Schulze, Jarre or Tangerine Dream, and his sound is different from a three or four piece band. Yet, in many tracks, we recognize the melodic ‘feel’ as with Jarre or TD (1980s), but Wright adds some more atmospheric and symphonic elements, so one is actually being drawn into a fantastic journey below the sealevel with lots of beautiful soundscapes. Fortunately, the horrors of the deep or the sometimes frightening cruelty of nature are absent.
   The ten tracks, including a 5-part suite called “Sea Of Dreams” sum to over 71 minutes. Sometimes the typical sound of a synth, and then the sound of a trumpet sample, occurs while subtle background ‘choirs’ alternate with somewhat hollow flute samples. Everything is laced with gentle percussion and a carefully balanced instrumentation. Considering the exquisite sound and the consistent high quality, this is a true must have for any fan of “melodic EM”.
   This is a truly nice album, however, not too complex or extremely challenging, except for maybe the somewhat messy interlude in “Bamboo”.
   Perhaps the slightly predictable melodies or maybe the dance beat in part of the last track could be the only negligible minuses of “Deeper”.

   I’d suggest you take a dive, you won’t regret it!

4. Synthtopia – November 30, 2015

   Deeper is the latest CD from UK keyboard player/composer David Wright. Wright is also part of the electronic rock group Code Indigo and the synth duo Callisto, and listeners familiar with the work of these groups will hear some similarities in his solo work.
   Deeper is a collection of melodic new age and symphonic electronica tracks. The CD cover hints at the music inside, which, at its best, is sensual, hypnotic and beautiful.

   Wright leads off with Nomad, a sequence-driven track that’s combines elements of 70’s-era Klaus Schulze with jazz and progressive rock influences. An ostinato runs through most of the track, and Wright layers solos over this using a variety of synth sounds and textures. At times, the synth work takes the track into more of a progressive direction, while at other times it gives the track more of a jazzy feel.
   The Sound of Waves is a relaxing new age track that starts and ends with the sound of surf, and in between explores waves of tranquil synth sounds. Some listeners may be reminded of the feel of Vangelis’ Ocean.
   The title track, Deeper, is a long crescendo. Wright starts the track with some quiet percussion, and then adds synth effects and solos using a variety of synth voices. As the track builds to a satisfying conclusion, adds strings and layers the various lead synth voices over each other.
   One of the highlights of the CD is the track Bamboo, which is a funky jungle synth romp. It begins with some deep electronic percussion, and then Wright adds pulsing, percussive synth keyboards and synth solos. About half-way through, Wright breaks it down for a moment before building the track back up. Bamboo borders on the club-friendly, without distancing itself too far from the feel of the rest of the CD.
   The last half of the CD is a five-part work, Sea of Dreams. These tracks flow together to make a larger work. Part 1 is largely ambient, using synth noise and drones to create a mysterious electronic landscape. This flows into Part 2, a relaxing sequence-driven track that builds to more of an orchestral electronica climax. Part 3 is a quiet interlude that mixes environmental sounds, sample-and-hold synth tinkles and muted piano and guitar work that brought to mind the quieter moments on Klaus Schulze’s classic Body Love. Part 4 is built on some of the same elements as Part 2, feeling like a variation on the earlier section. Finally, this fades into the last section, Part 5, which takes the same sequences and sounds but puts them into more aggressive context. The middle half of the track has a driving, almost techno feel, before Wright returns to a more ambient mood to close the CD.

   David Wright’s latest CD, Deeper, is a hypnotic blend of sequences, effects and synth work that should appeal to fans of both classic synth music and more recent new age and symphonic electronic music.