Among the Brian Eno's, The Orb's and the countless other amazing electronic ambient acts, there stands Global Communication. Anyone who's heard of them will immediately think of their timeless album, 76:14. However, Pentamerous Metamorphosis is Global Communication's and quite possibly the entire Ambient genre's, most valuable undiscovered treasure. As noted, the album is a re-working of UK Indie Rock band, Chapterhouse. When I say re-working here, I mean they ripped down all the key elements and created one of the most amazing ambient masterpieces of all time.
Alpha Phase opens the 5-tracker quite nicely.Dark, grueling and nearly sinister in nature, its abstract beats chug the track along before reaching a piano infused crescendo, where the strings fly, the melodies soar and the complex rhythm guides the track along until all thats left again is the one note drone.
Beta Phase pulls away and lets a lone flute guide the first the 2 minutes of the tune. Heavenly strings get dropped in and begin to give the track depth and feeling before they change up into an awe-inspiring melody before it all comes to together with a massive, bueatiful bassline pluck about halfway through which accompanies the strings as they guide you out of the tune.
Business picks up again when Gamma Phase gets dropped in. Much like Alpha phase, it also packs a low, morose and eerie vibe throughout the tune. Abstract basslines and lithe effects fuel this slow track along with ease through the 12 minutes it runs.
Delta Phase washes in and lush pads fall over the breath'y effects which pass as the tracks main rhythm. A cleansing guitar drops in followed by a deep bassline putting a very bueatiful spin on the tune while it continues on adding string elements which really compliment the guitar. Everything drops out halfway through and lets the eerie washover effects carry the tune before a bueatiful harpischord drops in. The guitar and bassline come back and the track continues on its merry way to its quiet end at about 9 minutes before it all fades down again ...
After a track so carefree and thoughtful as Delta Phase, you'd think youve reached the end of the CD. When the truth is, the journey is still yet far from over. The deep, haunting main backdrop melody of Epsilon Phase begins and is soon followed up by an Alphorn, a very low horn-like instrument which is used to amazing effect here. As of this moment in the track, you feel your on top of some distant mountain, miles from any civilization whatsoever. The perfect time to drop in one of the most bueatifully arranged and haunting melodies I myself have ever heard. More layers get added on top before the track drops off and in sweeps in the only vocals used from the actual Chapterhouse album. They compliment the quiet break in the track very nicely. Over the next 2 minutes, subtle layers drift back into the track before it all explodes again in a brilliant sunrise of awe-inspiring melody and haunting vocals. The track continues to build before dying down 3 minutes towards the end, leaving the last bits of vocals and the same backdrop melody to fade the track which only leave you wondering just exactly what planet you were just on.
Pentamerous Metamorphosis is THE diamond in the rough for any ambient fan. Simply one of the most overlooked and amazing albums of our time and simply put, if you have the ability to obtain this album, do so.
Alpha Phase opens the 5-tracker quite nicely.Dark, grueling and nearly sinister in nature, its abstract beats chug the track along before reaching a piano infused crescendo, where the strings fly, the melodies soar and the complex rhythm guides the track along until all thats left again is the one note drone.
Beta Phase pulls away and lets a lone flute guide the first the 2 minutes of the tune. Heavenly strings get dropped in and begin to give the track depth and feeling before they change up into an awe-inspiring melody before it all comes to together with a massive, bueatiful bassline pluck about halfway through which accompanies the strings as they guide you out of the tune.
Business picks up again when Gamma Phase gets dropped in. Much like Alpha phase, it also packs a low, morose and eerie vibe throughout the tune. Abstract basslines and lithe effects fuel this slow track along with ease through the 12 minutes it runs.
Delta Phase washes in and lush pads fall over the breath'y effects which pass as the tracks main rhythm. A cleansing guitar drops in followed by a deep bassline putting a very bueatiful spin on the tune while it continues on adding string elements which really compliment the guitar. Everything drops out halfway through and lets the eerie washover effects carry the tune before a bueatiful harpischord drops in. The guitar and bassline come back and the track continues on its merry way to its quiet end at about 9 minutes before it all fades down again ...
After a track so carefree and thoughtful as Delta Phase, you'd think youve reached the end of the CD. When the truth is, the journey is still yet far from over. The deep, haunting main backdrop melody of Epsilon Phase begins and is soon followed up by an Alphorn, a very low horn-like instrument which is used to amazing effect here. As of this moment in the track, you feel your on top of some distant mountain, miles from any civilization whatsoever. The perfect time to drop in one of the most bueatifully arranged and haunting melodies I myself have ever heard. More layers get added on top before the track drops off and in sweeps in the only vocals used from the actual Chapterhouse album. They compliment the quiet break in the track very nicely. Over the next 2 minutes, subtle layers drift back into the track before it all explodes again in a brilliant sunrise of awe-inspiring melody and haunting vocals. The track continues to build before dying down 3 minutes towards the end, leaving the last bits of vocals and the same backdrop melody to fade the track which only leave you wondering just exactly what planet you were just on.
Pentamerous Metamorphosis is THE diamond in the rough for any ambient fan. Simply one of the most overlooked and amazing albums of our time and simply put, if you have the ability to obtain this album, do so.