hose who remember the promotional campaign for the film Alien surely know that "In space no one can hear you scream." Luckily the fact that sound cannot travel through the vacuum of outer space hasn't prevented numerous earthbound musicians from journeying to the farthest reaches of the universe.
Brent A. Reiland and John Lyell are two such visionary adventurers, presenting 10 relatively relaxing tunes on their debut CD Wormholes. Utilizing primarily electronic keyboards and guitars, the duo offers listeners an opportunity to visit exotic extraterrestrial locales like "Quasar Planes" and "Machine Shop Pluto." Most of the melodies are unambiguously ambient, but a few tracks, such as "Abandon Soul" and "Traveler," introduce slightly more ominous elements. Meanwhile, the songs "Remember" and "Star Child," both of which feature highly resonant and regal components, each suggest the potent metaphysical effects of the trek.
The artists, who composed, performed, engineered and produced the entire collection, created all of the computer-generated imagery on the package too. In addition to song titles and the obligatory acknowledgments to family and friends, the rather sparse liner notes also contain a brief (though not necessarily cosmologically complete) definition of the word "wormhole."
Erratic but enjoyable
People traveling through Reiland and Lyell's Wormholes will find themselves on a fairly erratic but ultimately pleasurable excursion. The jaunt begins with the subtle title track, a soothing number that generates a remarkably ethereal aural environment. Cuts like "Kronos," a high-spirited tune that features electronic effects similar to those popularized by early synth-pop star Gary Numan, and "Remember," with its enchanting waves of slow, synthesized sound, are also standout selections.
Other works are somewhat less hospitable. "New Worlds" emphasizes guitar parts that are at times a tad too dynamic for the accompanying melody, while the dulcimer-like tones on "Rain Harp Horizon," although vibrant, tend to be rather repetitive. Another weakness lies in the sequence of the songs, as the music doesn't offer a clear sense of linear progression throughout the disc. This haphazard placement, which perhaps might be appropriate for an unstable celestial wormhole, blunts the potentially powerful impact of the overall collection.
Such shortcomings regrettably mar this otherwise workmanlike album, yet they also inadvertently demonstrate that, regardless of whether an astronautic trip is conceptual or real, not every aspect of interstellar travel is likely to be perfect. Though at times it may be a rough ride, in the end a voyage through these Wormholes remains entertaining and enjoyable.
