Solarstone presents Electronic Architecture 2

June 8, 2011 Posted by Cosmin Lukacs in Albums

Solarstone presents Electronic Architecture 2

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Solarstone presents Electronic Architecture 2 This new instalment may have gone through separately setup in terms of playlist and sound arrangement, but it’s Electronic Architecture, where electronic music meets art, therefore both merged together ended up in something that only Solarstone can come up with – Electronic Architecture volume 2 – having signed to his own label Solaris Recordings, being a reminiscent of EA origins. While as long as many albums, the “side-project” nature of the work allows Rich to break away from exploring every corner of his psyche and just have a very good approach when it comes to a showcased album. There aren’t many left who doubt Solarstone’s skills in general, but those who might be concerned that an EA album means “pure art in its sound full-force of imagination” can rest easy. For a veteran who has seen it all come and go, longevity is to be applauded.

With nearly two decades within the EDM spectrum since his debut release, Solarstone is hitting supporters off in 2011 with this album in particular. As a 41-year old composer, producer and DJ, Rich’s veteran skills are certainly on display here as he challenges new audiences to acquire a taste for ’80s-’90s nostalgia while giving others an interesting trip down memory lane. Merged with the nowadays’ technique in relation to a newer sound, newer boundary of imagination, he rides through that memory lane in smooth fashion.

With his reconstructed intro, written and produced by himself, that’s a very nice remembering of the sound that made him unique, a very nice way warming up the listener to something that will alter the listener’s perspective on this second EA edition. Another personal reconstruction of “Prizma” from Matvey Emerson merges this second track with such ease into another danceable track that sets the mood of the album. Solarstone’s reconstruction of “Mist” from Piotr Truskowski aka Piotro is actually another melodic throwback, a nearly perfect Solaris product. A few minutes later, “Tokyo Nights” has Nick Stoynoff with yet another booster, a proper floor-filler, having the listener propelled into a new dimension. Featuring a message such as “…and no other love can be defined until that love has been probably understood” from the likes of ‘Book of Life’ the track and the album itself gets deeper and deeper into a whole new level of understanding. The more deeper the message, the more the listener would love it. Good choice I may say. Sun Jellie’s remix of Daniel Mahyad’s “Winter Solstice” is getting a better understanding of EA2′s descriptive sound. Later, “Uncontrollable” from Piotro serve as stand-out track.

There some selections that feel a little out of place, particularly Abdomen Burst feat. Yavanndiel’s “Solar Eclipse,” an electro offering that should be familiar to anyone who’s heard any other song with a slowstep sound-a-like. This kind of thing has a place on an Solarstone album, but it seems like an unnecessary tactic for an album that’s more a gift for the hardcore fans than a direct attempt to the more melodic others. The soulful vibes are then highlighted on Hybrid’s ”Numb,” a definite must-hear on the album. If only the entire album had that vibe… Indeed, there are times when EA2’s album takes steps back. Beats are abundant and they are great at times, but some take away from the flow of the album. While versatility is nice, it can be a detriment too, but Rich knows when to step in and swapping that over, therefore his own production “Big Wheel” gets back that ‘most-wanted’ mood of what we know him for, the Solaris sound! Another track that can be easily related to his own sound is “Silver,” coming from the Canadian producer and remixer, Peter McCowan aka Alucard. Rich delivers again on “Dice,” from Kazusa and Shingo Nakamura, mixing yet another danceable track with electronic intonations. It sounds as if it’s designed for a more enjoyable melo at its best or at least for disregarding the vocals. An extended reference on Rich’s reconstruction of Aerium’s “Icedive” just may be the album’s finest. A pure glimpse of heaven! The true sound of Solarstone even thou’ it’s not his own production, but his own reconstruction. Poonyk and Oxide care coming strong with “Weekend,” a pure trance anthem in its own way. The last track of this first CD comes from Elfsong with their latest Balearic Trance record “Eta Carinae,” a hot-tropic pads and chords with liquid synths and a substantive bottom end.

CD2 sees yet another Solarstone’s reconstruction of Aeron Aether and Embliss’ “A New Dawn,” featuring some emotions that goes straight to the soul, and is undoubtedly the album’s second CD opus. Janeiro and Soft follows with “Dreams of the Sea,” a suitable continuation to the EA catalogue, maintaining the integrity of the album. Mike Saint-Jules’ “Vespera” is that crafted track with a cohesive sound that merges with that special EA vision. solarSwarm Recordings assembled a talented array of under-the-radar producers, but this time we should focus on Jahawi Bertolli with his first single for 2011 “Nairobi to London,” a pure statement, that you can ‘score high, high above the sky’. Remembering Solarstone latest artist’s album “Touchstone” is the following track, being remixed by legendary Orkidea with additional guitar by Nigel Summers. Thankfully the best part of the album include this powerful remix from Orkidea, that once again returns to delivering proper album material. Proff remix on Medway’s “Resurrection” is another established track of the album, pursuing that Progressive-Electro sound, that alters with the new sound of the album. Things start on a much deeper music style with “Searchers Lane,” a radio-friendly summer jam with a special electric guitar featuring a more Trancy hook from Baltic Sound. Keeping the vibe alive, is Ozzo Effy with “White Wind,” that still appeal to the listeners so it feels more like a rhythmic track. Right now Solarstone still builds up the confidence of a great mastered album with Peter Liu’s “City of Dreams” (whichever that city may be), but according to the melodic line, it has to be an imaginary one or else a special one that he can easily relate to. With the sound already lined up to its master level, we are having Majera with “Escapade,” leading the vibe and opening to another great track from Nick Rowland on his remix on “I Dream” from Tilt. Great expectations from them with their Progressive Trance approach, coming and going fast enough to leave us wanting more. How typical The “Wasted Time” comes along later, a more laid-back track from Almar, being followed by Active Limbic System with “Vanity.” Solarstone’s dream to create such an album as this, gladly happened, therefore it couldn’t get any better to close the album with anything else but “Architect’s Dream” coming from Dj Orion and J. Shore. A dub version of it makes the difference indeed!

It’s certainly worth listening to and does manage to earn the credit for being an album to remember, a status it’s been granted by its playlist. As usual, the date for Solarstone’s next actual album seems to be up in the air, but “Electronic Architecture 2″ makes the wait a little easier.

Written by Cosmin Lukacs (TranceSound.net admin/founder)

Solarstone presents Electronic Architecture 2

Tracklist:

Disc 1 Tracklist:

01. Solarstone Intro
02. Matvey Emerson – Prizma (Reconstruction)
03. Piotro – Mist (Reconstruction)
04. Nick Stoynoff – Tokyo Nights
05. Daniel Mahaud – Winter Solstice (Sunn Jelly Remix)
06. Piotro – Uncontrollable
07. Abdomen Burst – Solar Eclipse
08. Hybrid – Numb (Kill City Orchestra Remix Reconstruction)
09. Solarstone – Big Wheel
10. Alucard – Sliver
11. Shingo Nakamura & Kasuza – Dice
12. Aerium – Icedive (Reconstruction)
13. Poo Nyk & Oxide – Weekend
14. Elfsong – Eta Carinae

Disc 2 Tracklist:

01. Aeron Aether & Embliss – A New Dawn (Reconstruction)
02. Janeiro & Sovt – Dreams Of The Sea
03. Mike St Jules – Vespera (Reconstruction)
04. Jahawi – From Nairobi to London
05. Solarstone – Touchstone (Orkidea Remix)
06. Medway – Resurrection (Proff Remix)
07. Baltic Sound – Searchers Lane
08. Ozo Effy – White Wind
09. Peter Liu – City Of Dreams
10. Majera – Escapade
11. Tilt – I Dream (Nick Rowland Remix)
12. Almar – Wasted Time
13. Active Limbic System – Vanity
14. DJ Orion & J.Shore – Architect’s Dream