[2011] Everdune - Legend Of The Aces

[Librina]

Type: Album
Country: Finland
Manufacturer: Great Britain
Release date: August 15, 2011
Number: AC 0010 DA (Alpha Centauri)
Duration: 01:04:41

01. Phenomenon (05:16)
02. Dune Run (05:13)
03. Beyond The Horizon (04:55)
04. Thunderstrike (04:18)
05. Desert Empire (05:52)
06. Operation Conquest (05:29)
07. Way Of The Warrior (06:25)
08. Dark Racer (Legend Version) (06:23)
09. Secret Movements (05:56)
10. Quantum Speed (Legend Version) (05:01)
11. Legend Of The Aces (04:48)
12. Star Visions (05:05)

You can buy this release on the following Internet sites:
https://lightracermusic.bandcamp.com/al ... f-the-aces
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/legend ... 1341879839
https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Aces-Ever ... B079F16H2D

Extra Information:

► Show Spoiler

"Legend of the Aces" is an electrifying Spacesynth/Synthwave album by Everdune that immerses listeners in a captivating retro-futuristic Universe. Paying homage to the golden age of Synthwave, this album combines pulsating beats, nostalgic melodies, and captivating storytelling to create an exhilarating sonic experience. With each track, Everdune weaves a vivid tale centered around "The Aces", a group of daring pilots navigating a vast and ever-changing Cosmos. The album's soundscapes are a vibrant fusion of analog synthesizers, infectious arpeggios, and atmospheric textures, transporting listeners to a neon-soaked realm of imagination and excitement. From start to finish, energetic and propulsive tracks invite listeners to embark on thrilling space voyages, while introspective moments delve into the emotional depths of the characters' journeys. This album transcends time and space, seamlessly blending nostalgic Spacesynth/Synthwave charm with contemporary production techniques".

[Librina]

Album Review by Staffan Ohman:

On this album Everdune takes us on a musical journey that leads to something that are beyond what we are used to hear. I'm always impressed by musicians who dare to take the challenge to make music that stretches the limits of the genre that we call Spacesynth.

The first impression of this album is that Everdune has chosen to go his own way & took some inspiration from the music that were made at the demoscene. From a musician perspective the album is interesting in several aspects and it is easy to like his unique style. The variation between the songs is great both in terms of tempo and sound and in aspects of melodies this album is a real goldmine as that is something that he has really focused on. The high detail level reveals that there are many hours spent in the studio which is appreciated by listeners like me who like to listen to the music over and over again.

Another thing that Everdune has considered is to build interesting song structures that are different from the usual copy-and-paste style that many musicians use. On this album the song structures are made in a way that makes them unpredictable and very interesting to listen to. Melodies are often played with a synclead-like patch and consists of long notes in contrast to the usual staccato style a'la Minoan War that is often used in Spacesynth. No album is perfect and on this album I wish that the sound of the lead voices would have been varied more because it feels like the synclead patch has been used far too often. In this case I would prefer a more soft and analogue lead sound.

The album cover feels a bit anonymous and does not represent the music in a good way. Probably it would have looked better with a more technological style with a lot of details because that is how the music feels like. The best song on the album is Dark Racer which is a real masterpiece with powerful bassline and catchy melodies. In my opinion the best songs are located at the end of the album and I especially like the slower songs like Secret Movements that have great atmosphere and feeling.

While summarizing this album it has to be placed at top level where I think it belongs. The music differs a lot from what we are used to hear in this genre which Everdune shall have credit for. It is recommended that you listen to the megamix at Everdune's website and make your own opinion and hopefully you have found something that you can wish from Santa this year. Everdune has spent much time on this debute album and it will be interesting to hear what his next material will bring. Will he be able to surprise us once again?

Assessment -

[Binary Ghost]

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