rel date 01-08-2004

Adventur Music 17

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Sven Hansen "Timeframe"

An adventure that takes you throug time with a timeship, so hop in and step into your future.

All things that are virtual , are not so virtual as you think.

Dare to take this adventure and your future will be altered.

Tracklist, 1Sense of Snow 2 Timeframe 3, Supralounge

Track1

track 2

track 3

Revieuw by Artemi Pugachov

Sven Hansen: Casio MT 70, Korg Polysix, Yamaha SY 22, Yamaha CS01II, Yamaha CS6x, Korg SQD-1 sequencer, Roland TR 505, Yamaha RX17. What we have here is a Berlin School album by Sven Hansen (aka Ivo Keers). The album features three long tracks brimming with sequences, atmospheres and lazy electronic grooves. Well, certainly unofficially there are two types of Berlin School EM, one is frenetic upbeat type of stuff (exemplified by some classic Tangerine Dream concert and studio material and by some bands influenced by them) and another one is laid-back, spacey type of sequencer music, pioneered by Klaus Schulze and also heard in Software's early works, with everything in between.

This album certainly leans towards that second category. In other words, it's clearly in the Klaus Schulze school of thought, although it lacks Klaus Schulze's dramaticism, instead presenting a relaxed brew of Berlin School with a "lounge" flair.

Song 1

"Sense of Snow" is the first of the three epics that starts in a mysterious way, with sparse notes, twittering synths and some atmospheres. Not bad. Already two minutes into the track and we hear a distant laid-back sequence that is joined by another bass one and a bass drum. It's amazingly unhurried - gorgeous stuff. I am reminded of early Software at this stage. Drum machine rhythm keeps things tight while the sequences settle into a nice, relaxed groove. This is music to watch the stars or travel through space. Some subtle soloing can also be heard. A treat for an EM gourmand! I enjoyed this track a lot and I can recommend it without reserve.

Song 2

"Timeframe" was performed live during a radio show. Twittering synths get things underway. Some organ notes appear and it all becomes very Klaus Schulzean. According to the fact that the music was performed live, there is a loose feel to the proceedings, if you know what I mean. After 2 minutes an echoing sequence appears, again, totally unhurried, taking its time to get under your skin. I like that kind of stuff - totally cosmic trip! Some brighter melodic sequences are introduced towards the 6 minute mark. After 10 minutes, different sequences are introduced and we are really starting to glide. The drum machine rhythm doesn't take long to join the party and the sequences have new members in their family as well, mostly those of the bass variety. The rhythm subsides for a few seconds, only to reappear a bit later. Sven then uses a nice solo guitar-like timbre. Delicious! Thus it goes on for the rest of the track (with some variations) and although it may sound tedious, it isn't. In fact, you will want more when this track is over, despite the fact that it's the longest of the bunch. At almost 39 minutes, it's a real treat for all sequencer / classic EM heads.

Song 3

"Supralounge" is another track in similar style (albeit more cheering), but I would probably do without some of the harsher sounds that crop up every now and then at the beginning, really making your hair split and spoiling the experience. Take away these sounds (that only appear for a brief stint) and you get over 17 minutes of wonderful analogue solos (a special feature of this track!), sequences and atmospheres. My only other gripe about this track is that it could use slightly more variation. "Timeframe" is an album that should appeal to fans of Klaus Schulze, Software and such, in other words, to fans of sequencer / classic EM / Berlin School music.