Bill Binkelman ("Wind & Wire") (USA) (part 2)

"Midway" is, simply, an amazing album and there is plenty of variety to be heard, although everything here is either nicely chilled or flavored with just the right amount of new age beauty to sound sweet without being cloying or syrupy. "Dansing" has a bit of a progressive sound to it with sweeping keyboards and a moderate amount of "rocking" sound to the guitar work, eventually bringing classic English prog bands of the '70s to mind (what with analog synths and a slight renaissance-era sound to the guitar at times). "Dreams" sounds like it came from BecVar's "Forever Blue Sky", although the synth work is much more adventurous which gives this "pretty" song a welcome slight edge. Pat Metheny fans will enjoy "Head on a Laps" which features delicate minimal guitar, played in a semi-jazzy style (although still considerably laid back in feel and tempo) along with a wooden flute sample that sure reminds me of the artistic touches Lyle Mays added to Metheny's work on, e.g., the early tracks off of that guitarist's album "Off Ramp".

Not everything is sweet and light here, of course; sometimes the chill-out is laced with a bit of mystery or darkness, especially on later tracks, such as "Mentors Shadow" with its smoky-dark drones, radio signal distortion and sparse guitar, or the ambient noir meets EM of "The Way" led by mournful synth choruses and, later, chugging synth rhythms (including what sounds like a saw being waved back and forth); or the SF-meets-cyber-lounge textures of "Thirty Seconds". Besides being what is almost assuredly the most accessible release ever from "Electroshock", "Midway" is also one of its most entertaining recordings. Each song is like a multifaceted jewel that, as the listener rotates it in his/her hand, reveals some new aspect of its beauty. Hats off to Siver and Trepakov on delivering a recording so full of unexpected surprises and musical wonder; and kudos to Artemiy Artemiev of "Electroshock Records" for releasing this fantastic album which earns my highest recommendation.

Bill Binkelman ("Wind & Wire")