Asura – 360

I don't understand the people who claim there is no melancholy in this album, perhaps they listened to it in a bright mood, on a sunny day, and wrote their review based on their restricted experience.

There is an unmistakable mirky, cryptic wave of caliginous dust flowing all over this album starting to spread low and thick with the hauntingly beautiful 'El Hai', allowing some light in the following two tracks, then attentively dropping a shadow over 'Atlantis Child' again.

'Erase' sets a mystical mood that allows no sunlight in it's being.
'Halley Road' starts on a morning far away from earth, looking down from a distant spaceship at the sun slowly covering the blue sphere we inhabit, soothing us in the presence of a timeless black void, immersed in the hue of countless galaxies.

'Longing for silence' is an impeccable interpretation of the word "melancholy".

This spirit will haunt the subsequent tracks, a name like 'Le Dernier Voyage' doesn't leave much room for interpretation, but the darkness is tempered by a touch of candlelight throughout nonetheless.

The spectral vocals in 'Virgin Delight' end the ride with a last touch of arcane, gradual ethereal waves of burnished luminosity indicate hope for brighter days, but do not propose a hurried relief in any way.

Asura is one of my favorite artists, the tracks on this CD are quite all right, I have nothing bad to say about them... but I was missing the unique Asura feeling from this album. I am waiting for the new album!

I prefer Asura's previous offerings and I feel that this CD is too commercial....as another reviewer indicated you would play this music whilst putting your children to sleep.

Some of the music on this CD reminds of a movie soundtrack (a biblical epic or similar) and it's a slight disappointment but overall the album is not bad but it's not great. 3/5

WoW ! 5 STAR !

One of my favorites in Electronic Music genre & one of the best Downtempo,Ambient albums to date !!!

In my tiny corner of the world, snow is falling and winter has settled around me. Cold penetrates my very essence, and it is times such as these when I need emotional sustenance. 360 is a fourth album from Asura, which neatly fills that void. It is a musical cloak of many colors that opens with the stunning El Hau, featuring vocalist Ayten, who easily surfs the waters of Lisa Gerrard's Whale Rider period, finished with a Middle Eastern twist. Asura is the vision of one man, Lyon (France) based musician Charles Farewell, who guides listeners through beautiful vistas studded with psychedelic morning trance, IDM, and world beats. There is something for everyone, from the lush ambient strains of Halley Road to the global reach of Altered State, whose punchy back beats are gilded with Celtic airs. Atlantis Child's lazy, sun-dazed beats entangle these glad ears before yanking the rug from under me and catching me unawares with the uneasy, psybient strains of Longing for Silence. Robot tones usher in the final third of this piece, which veers from paranoia to melancholia. 360 tickles the pleasure center before it slides the stiletto silently through your emotional heart. Wonderful, woeful, and in constant rotation on my personal playlist. Stop by Ultimae to explore Asura's previous releases for the label. This album has been featured on Headphone Commute's Best of 2010 : Music For Awakened Spirits And Open Minds.

This is sweet, positive, relaxing music. Which is NOT what I liked Asura's previous albums for.

Trippy music is special. It's not supposed to cheer you up, not all of us have emotions and not all like to pep them by sweet music. There are certain musical keys, timbres and captivating melodies, that make this psychedelic music what it is, a slightly melancholic, mysterious trip. 360 does not have them.

I think Charles Farewell just felt like composing a sweet, simple music, probably to put to sleep his children easier and earn some money in the process, I don't know.

one of the albums that put's together al the things that make's us go flying and enjoy the beautiful sounds high in the sky somewhere

5/5. Very good album. of course ..i have this album :))

Magnifique!

Even though Asura is not my usual cup of tea - I prefer darker theme and music that reflects the shadowy part in us - this is just the Greatest Caress for the Soul...

nothing more than love,love,love.....