Crosswords by Dom F. Scab

The last few years Michael Huygen no longer is the only and certainly not the leading grand master of EM in Spain anymore. All along, interesting releases come out in this South-European country, so that luckily the EM still is in the spotlight over a large territory for musicians and listeners both.

From the Berlin School this music from Scab sounds, with TD-like sequences (seventies till early eighties), also marked by "early-Jarre" touches like in "Lighthouse". The seven tracks are good for almost an hour of pleasant, melodious EM, of which especially "Dace", certainly in the first part, and also the number "Dizziness" reminds of the period "Stratosfear" by TD: catchy sequences, nice effects and less emphasis on plain little melodies.
The title track is built up fine, it has an undeniable Southern touch and starts in dark atmospheres.
Also the sixth piece "Ablaze" has a Middle-East influence and true enough, these are not my favorite tracks but certainly the most original. Listen to the exceedingly intriguing guitar synthesizer part, played by Odracir Lavid. Here and there rhythm is present, yet not dominating and certainly not fit for the dance floor, so that we hear a Spanish TD-clone working, with here and there an Eastern "trace".

All in all, a lovely little disk!

Menno von Brucken Fock / SonicImmersion.org

Music from a future too far away