Posted on: April 26, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Ottoman Palace starts out Mediterranean, and the track allows Amberfern to create a bold sounding title. The track kicks into high gear at about the 50 second mark, providing listeners with a brief glimpse of the hustle and bustle of a marketplace. Moving from that, there is still a quick tempo and motivated feel to this introductory track. Moving into Es Grau, Amberfern shifts the album’s paradigm considerably; the song is much more atmospheric than the introduction would indicate. I believe that the inclusion of these two tracks so close together works; Amberfern is able to include these diametrically-opposed styles to great success.

With listeners unsure of where he will go, Amberfern creates Deya. The bells that lead off this track draw listeners’ attention, while the background will elicit comparisons to chimes blowing in the win. Deya is an epic sort of track, telling listeners a story with each guitar line or piano roll. The later efforts on the disc – Lemon Grove, the penultimate Luigi’s Bar and the finishing White Sails, Blue Sea – push the disc that much further. Lemon Grove is a track that touches upon the cold night of a desert; as the track continues to spin, a city-scape comes into view.

Amberfern takes listeners on a number of distinct journeys on Mediterranean. Rather than be a diffuser set of recordings, I believe that his musical talent and ability to arrange each track to the greatest possible benefit makes Mediterranean into a must buy. Hit up the Real Music website for a number of Amberfern’s titles.

Top Tracks: Ottoman Palace, Serrania de Ronda

Rating: 8.1/10

Amberfern – Mediterranean (Distant Horizons Series) (CD) / 2012 Real Music / 11 Tracks / http://www.realmusic.com

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