Shulman - Endless Rhythms of the Beatless Heart

2 ratings since posting on Friday, October 26, 2007
Shulman - Endless Rhythms of the Beatless Heart
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Morp...
Morpheus Music
offline 21
*****
Shulman - Endless Rhythms of the Beatless Heart
STYLE
Lush downtempo electronica laced with international instrumentation and vocal performance. Endless Rhythms of the Beatless Heart effortlessly strays across genre boundaries, drawing together elements of ambient chillout, contemporary jazz, downbeat psychedelia and global fusion. At times there are even suggestions of prog rock as keyboards or sax are allowed to luxuriate in extended improvisational breaks. There are acoustic and synthetic sound sources used throughout the album in tight complement - Middle Eastern strings, electric guitar, violin, soprano sax, shahnai, zorna, ney bedded into a smooth sound canvas of warm washes and digital tinklings, gutsy bass lines and bright drumwork. All of the tracks feature the expert sonic manipulation techniques in which Shulman excel, lending a polish and luminance to the music and filling the air with sparkling peripheral effects. The percussive arrangements especially benefit from the richness of all the various hi-tech blips, bleeps, squelches and pulses woven in among the more traditional drum sounds, making for an engrossing rhythmic side to the album.


MOOD
Shulman introduce a worldly/other-worldly dreamy vibe right from the outset. The interplay of sharp, swirling effects, laid back grooves and international elements establish a mood that is both on the cusp of the breaking wave between contemporary and futurist as well as being somehow enigmatic and timeless. Echoes of the past haunt this ultra modern aesthetic - acoustic wavs from distant memories, vocoder voices and multilingual singing. Unlike many chillout releases Endless Rhythms of the Beatless Heart doesn't rely upon morphing repetition and simple variation of motif - rather these tracks are strongly structured with plenty of melodic detail and constant digression from the central theme.


ARTWORK
I have a partial version of the artwork for this album hinting at the attractive quality of the full package. The front cover sports a moody surrealist montage where a sand timer endlessly flows, pouring the dunes of a digital desert down into a single mound. A one-eyed face glowers from the lower globe lusciously tinted a deep bottle green. The seemingly abstract background suggests further horizons, a Dali-esque figure barely discernible in the lower left corner. This cut-down promotional sleeve provides credits and instrumentation information for the various tracks along with an explanation of the project, band history and all relevant contact details.

OVERALL
The highly respected Shulman duo returns with a completely new album following last year's compilation of oddities under the title Random Thoughts. This latest offering, once again released by the renowned Aleph Zero label comes as the culmination of four years extensive work in the studio. The album has a crisp digital edge that gives everything a sharp punchiness, a fine, clear sheen. The international acoustic sounds sit comfortably amid the electronic programming, so carefully crafted that the listener is mostly unaware of the cross over from live performance into synthetic artifice. There are meandering passages of almost abstract ambience, some driving beat music and everything in between - Shulman at their creative best.


WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM
Shulman fans won't need me to tell them that this album is a must for them. For those not yet in the know - this is a keystone release on this year's downtempo calendar. If you enjoy blissful, ethnically oriented electronica from the cutting edge - don't miss this one.
- Morpheus Music , posted 11/19/07
Shulman
Shulman
offline 116
*****
New Shulman Album Out NOW!
Hi

We are very happy and proud to announce the release of our new album entitled “Endless Rhythms of the Beatless Heart” on Aleph Zero Records.

For more information and samples please check out the e-flyer: www.aleph-zero.info/media/Al...Flyer.htm

Also we would like you to know that we updated our website with more free downloads and fresh info.


You can order the new album online directly from us at: www.shulman.info/shop.htm (Worldwide Shipping)

Or from these excellent web shops:

www.aleph-zero.info/shop.html (Worldwide)
cdbaby.com/cd/shulmanmusic4 (USA & Canada) ttp://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/ale/ale1cd008.html (Europe)
www.saikosounds.com/english/...lease.asp (Japan, Asia & Australia) www.backroadsmusic.com/index.php (USA & Canada)
www.juno.co.uk/products/287170-01.htm (UK)
techno.to/detail/coming.php (Japan)
ultimae.com/en/distribut...65/index.html (France)
www.beatspace.com/dettagli/dettaglio.asp (Europe)
www.wirikuta.at/web66/prod...EFJGJBEDBLO (Europe)
www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2614756 (Japan)
www.discobole.gr/product.asp (Greece)
www.goastore.ch/product_info.php (Switzerland)
www.musicaneto.com/disk_details.asp (Israel)
zolnet.co.il/shop/product_info.php (Israel)
www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitema...ain.jsp (Japan)
www.cisco-records.co.jp/html/i...40.html (Japan)
www.ear-rational.com/detail.php (USA)


Digital downloads of the album are available at:

www.ambient.us/shop/product_info.php phobos.apple.com/WebObject.../viewAlbum
payplay.fm/shulmanmusic4

free.napster.com/view/album/index.html
www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/2246004


High quality posters of the album are available for purchase at:

www.shulman.info/shop.htm
www.aleph-zero.info/shopp.html


We really hope you will enjoy this album as much as we do and would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continuous support =)

Thanks for reading.
Regards,
Shulman - Shulman , posted 10/26/07

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