Pete Namlook & Dr. Atmo - Silence I-V (1992-2001) (Re-up)

×

Pete Namlook & Dr. Atmo - Silence I-V (1992-2001) (Re-up)

Close

The first two volumes of the Silence project are credited to Pete Namlook and Dr. Atmo while the following three are by Pete Namlook alone.
Silence (1992) is the one that started it all, Fax's first album release and one which caught the ear of both seasoned electronic boffins and dance fans looking for a chilled-out tonic after a night among the thumping beats of clubland.
Both this album and Silence II (1993) are collaborations with close associate Dr. Atmo and despite being at times almost new age in their choice of themes (a voice whispers sweet cosmic nothings like "we are all part of the universe") the music is outstanding. These beguiling, shimmering, reverberant landscapes are sometimes beatless and sometimes gently beaty with subdued live pads and cymbals. The 20 minute "Garden Of Dreams" is a particular mesmerising blend of slow Mid-Eastern rhythms with sighing and crying electronic chords.
Continuing the series is the the Persian-tinged Silence III (1998) which features Namlook on his own. Titles like "Mirage" "Into The Desert" and "A Ship On A Sea Of Sand" are just perfect; his sense of place is quite stunning and he understands the visual qualities of ambient sound exceptionally well. His creative range across entire series is impressive: from stately progressions of warm, organic-sounding orchestral synthscapes to atonal, purely atmospheric pieces of pure texture. When it comes to sound design Namlook’s attention to detail is faultless, which makes hearing his music on good hi-fi equipment especially rewarding. Silence III is followed by two more superb albums in the series.
The luminous piano notes and warm orchestral synths of "The Night Before I Left" from Silence IV (1999) might just be the most emotional piece of music Namlook has ever made, an elegy that's at once incredibly sad and jaw-droppingly pretty. From the same album is the extraordinary "Bedouin Love", a dark, swirling epic with thunderous Moroccan drums, a strange spoken Arabic monologue and chilling yet beautiful synthesiser chords.
Silence V (2001) is simply a good match to the other parts of the series. Neither better nor worse, just a good sequel that should please everybody who liked one of the former releases. The only obvious slight conceptual differences from previous Silence parts are the soprano vocals from Jenny Gibbert whose voice already appeared on Virtual Vices II and The Fires of Ork II, and the guitar showing up in the second half of the last track. No innovation, but sublime, yearning, classic sound.

×

Pete Namlook & Dr. Atmo - Silence I-V (1992-2001) (Re-up)

Close

×

Pete Namlook & Dr. Atmo - Silence I-V (1992-2001) (Re-up)

Close

×

Pete Namlook & Dr. Atmo - Silence I-V (1992-2001) (Re-up)

Close

×

Pete Namlook & Dr. Atmo - Silence I-V (1992-2001) (Re-up)

Close

×

Pete Namlook & Dr. Atmo - Silence I-V (1992-2001) (Re-up)

Close