Showing posts with label Instrumental Ambient Rock/Soundtrack Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Instrumental Ambient Rock/Soundtrack Reviews. Show all posts

8/28/2014

Instrumental Ambient Rock/Soundtrack Review: Kim Halliday-Halflight

Release Date: November 11, 2014
Label: Ravello Records

The first time I heard Kim Halliday’s Halflght it got my attention. Kim is a multi-talented artist covering many different industries and his partner Martin Lister was as equally talented. Unfortunately Kim lost his longtime friend and collaborator in May this year. 

Kim plays guitars, keys, and also provides words, contributes loops, programing and arrangements. Martin did all of the same except he did not provide words, however he did play the drums. They both cover an immense amount of ground in one recording. What I found so pleasing is how they put it all together.

My son walked in while I was playing the CD and said “This sounds like movie music,” and I replied it is! To me actually it is more than that. The blend of guitars, keyboards, loops and programming with just enough percussion makes for a great listen. At times I could understand the words and others I couldn’t but that did not take away anything from my experience, it all still moved me. It certainly does not hurt starting off listening that I love instrumental music and soundtracks such as this.

All the tracks are full of colorful expressions of emotions and energy, some clear and other spaces dark and unknown are presented then at times there is clarity and beauty. All of this is waiting to be discovered in each and every track. The musicianship is absolutely brilliant and at times breathtaking.

Halflight reminded me of one of my favorite albums at times, David Bowie’s Low. I am referring to the instrumental sections of that particular album where Brian Eno was so influential. I found it difficult to pull out any specific tracks as stand outs because I found the entire recording so absorbing. It flowed like a river and then came at me like an avalanche of sound and textures. I really appreciated the guitar especially as it must be difficult to match up to the rest of the sounds at times, so it all makes sense and can translate into something for the listener.

I had no problem processing this music; I found it beautiful, intriguing and thought provoking. The thought patterns it invokes and how each track title lines up with the music I found interesting. What it actually made me feel and think at any particular moment was a journey itself. For my ears, that is what I enjoy the most, the entire process going in then how it comes out with each thought. After it was finished I felt the primary reason for creating this music made sense…validation, the most important thing for artist to hear.

4.5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: ALL

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Write A Music Review Founder

August 28, 2014

Review Provided By Write A Music 

Tracks:
01.Fabric, Torn, Time, Slips
02.Cold Moon 
03.Otherworld   
04.Creepers
05.Hellingly Hospital
06.Bedsit Window/Telephoto
07.Only A Game
08. B104-82
09. Winter In Mitte
10.Halflight
11.Deluge
12.Gillespie Road
13. Drift
14. Varosha
15. High On The H&C
16. MEFF
17. 7 Deaths