Komarovo Review

As with all slaapwel releases, reviews are scarce. But when one does come up, they've been mostly good and kind to us. Here's a review for Greg Haines' Komarovo piece, released a couple months ago. I still have a copy or 3 lying around, send an e-mail if you want it.

After four previous great releases our favourite lullaby label Slaapwel Records is back with a new one. This time the honour goes out to Greg Haines to lull us to sleep. For this he created a one track album called Komarovo, which clocks in at 30 minutes.

Since his previous release Slumber Tides from 2006 we didn't hear much from him, only a few collaborations with Xela, Wouter van Veldhoven and Machinefabriek crossed our ears. So it was about time to get something new. Where on Slumber Tides the focus was on recordings from cellos processed with many computer effects, here Haines makes uses of piano and organ to create his lush soundscapes. Though, again things get reworked through the computer and old tape delays.
The source for the recordings comes from a live performance done in a church.
I think only some editing has been used to the original recordings because the organ sounds are still clean and recognizable.

In the begin soft soundscapes start out while creating a dreamy, though melancholic mood. Soft piano play is added to the whole increasing the tranquillity. Slowly from this opening the organ tones emerge. First soft as background filling but slowly developing to a dense layer of dominating drones.
While this happens the piano becomes slightly reworked with some effects. The sound becomes more warped, while the drone wraps around the piano like a warm blanket. Eventually the piano is completely gone and you are left in a bed of harmonic organ tones creating it's own small overtones and distant melodies. A sparse piano note does surface from the depths, but for sure at this time the dream really hits in and there is no escape until waking up again. While chords die out others are set in filling the harmonic tones with even more warmness. To eventually fade out again, leaving you behind in your sleep with your own dreams.

Slaapwel does it again, 'cause again this release is suitable for sleeping. Though not only is it a one way ticket to neverneverland, it also is a lovely release just for listening pleasure. It was really time for some new solo work by Greg Haines and as expected the wait was worth it.
Potential top 10 material.

Taken from: http://www.earlabs.org/release/review.asp?reviewID=1478