“When Electronica is done in the spirit of those who brings synth&sequencer music up to this level, it gives an album like ADEM”
1 Adem (Part 1) 10:39
2 Adem (Part 2) 9:12
3 Adem (Part 3) 9:17
4 Adem (Part 4) 8:48
5 Adem (Part 5) 8:18
6 Adem (Part 6) 12:55
7 Adem (Part 7) 4:11
8 Adem (Part 8) 6:11
(CD/DDL 69:31) (V.F.)
(EDM, Berlin School)
Is Groove taking a psybient turn where the forms of down-tempo are struggling in a universe of multi-colored sound hoops and white noises? Regardless, this is another very unexpected surprise! From sounds and sound effects that grow like ink stains on blotting paper, ADEM has gradually developed a real obsession with me. Already at the first listen, when I reached the heart of the album, the syndrome of; I have to listen again takes a hold of my senses. I knew then that my friend Ron had struck a great blow. On this side of the globe, it's called a homerun! Who is C-Jay? Christian Jansen is a Dutch musician-DJ with a Dance-music style focused on sequencer movements that literally flirt with the Berlin School. To this level, I advise you to listen to Backslider to understand. He has a few albums to his credit, including this ADEM which appeared on Replug Records. This Finnish label specialized in Techno and Electronica produces only albums, most of them EP, in downloadable MP3 format. The leaders of the label, Henri Hurtig, better known by the pseudonym Cid Inc, and Dan Orsen, accepted that ADEM be produced on a CD manufactured by Groove NL. So, C-Jay's music is largely influenced by the innovative bands of the 90's Electronica, I think of The Orb and Underworld. Closer to us, we can think of Moonbooter and Stefan Erbe. ADEM therefore lands at Groove with some modifications in the mixing and mastering, as well as the choice of titles since the long and ambient Deep Listening Part 1 is absent. An excellent catch from Ron Boots, since this album is worthy of landing on CD. Hoping that Backslider is also found on
Groove NL, here's ADEM.
A nebulous layer infiltrates our ears, letting some isolated chords clink in its vaporous wake. Iconoclastic and percussive noises tinkle behind this veil of sonic mist, while the mist becomes matter and other pads stimulate the slow introduction of Adem (Part 1). It will take almost 5 minutes of atmospheric textures before the sequencer creates a structure whose hesitation rolls with a jerky effect in its static flow. Synth tears thaw to melt like sound crystals, accompanying this staggering march towards another rhythmic pattern, more animated and whose rhythmic counterweight ensures a good finely spasmodic imbalance. Synth layers with Tangerine Dream scents are floating on the finale, leaving our ears waiting. Songs of astral whales open Adem (Part 2). Elastic electronic effects decorate this decor which plunges into a soundtrack of the War of the Worlds genre, preceding a rhythmic structure which struggles to walk in this very successful apocalyptic decor. What catches the ear is the movement of the sequencer whose hypnotic, minimalist Berlin School style matrix strolls until it encounters boom-boom pulsations and chords clanging like hammer blows on a musical anvil. Nothing to write to his mother, Adem (Part 2) remains anchored in his stationary zone overloaded by a hybrid sound mass. Adem (Part 3) brings us closer to the Dub and Chill-out style of Christian Jansen with a psy-dance approach. Its rhythm is soft and is surrounded by hoops and other effects specific to the psybient genre in addition to a text half-sung and half-narrated by Christian Jansen, or someone else who is not identified in the artwork's info. After another introduction woven into sound effects of a psychedelic vision where some arpeggios are always hesitant to move, Adem (Part 4) follows the same evolutionary curve of Adem (Part 1) before exploding for a real rhythm of dance. It's very Moonbooter! Thereafter, ADEM becomes simply divine.
We must emphasize the tonal flora of C-Jay throughout this album where Dance-music is delightfully caught up in the sinuous and interwoven movements of the sequencer's rhythmic lines. Like in Adem (Part 5) and Adem (Part 6), two long minimalist movements with sound artifacts of ambient music and minimalist undulatory and progressive rhythms of the Plastikman genre mixed with Berlin School. It gives very nice minutes of EM animated by his memories of Electronica. After this foray into the Berlin School territories, the Dutch musician returns to his true loves, a Dance-music which seeks his true identity on this album. Adem (Part 7) follows a very Electronica evolution under an ambient din, while under steady resonant boom-booms, Adem (Part 8) screws us a superb melody in an approach which flirts between Stefan Erbe and Moonbooter. A very good title which concludes a very beautiful album and, possibly, an opening towards other horizons of Groove NL.
Sylvain Lupari (January 7th, 2020) ****¼*
Available at Groove NL
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