Sacred Skies (Best of AD Music Vol 2) (2005)

“This is another superb compilation that shows a more orchestral and tribal aspect of AD music”

1 The Plains (Bekki Williams) 2:14

2 Nandana - Paradise of Indra (Catalin Marin) 5:52

3 Angel Dust (Witchcraft) 3:39

4 Fallen (Code Indigo) 2:58

5 Over Turquoise Seas (R. Fox) 6:16

6 Taiga (David Wright) 5:00

7 Call of the Earth (Code Indigo) 6:30

8 Under the Same Sky (B.Williams) 2:33

9 Sacred Skies (David Wright) 4:05

10 Flame Sky (David Wright) 4:50

11 Iceberg (Catalin Marin) 4:03

12 Jumping Air (Raviv Gazit) 3:09

13 Night Flier (Bekki Williams) 5:02

14 Three Sisters (Robert Fox) 4:38

15 When the Morrow Breaks (Enterphase) 2:52

16 Setisphere Part 1 (Callisto) 5:34

17 Cathedral (Witchcraft) 4:44

18 Code 11 (Code Indigo) 4:23

AD Music ‎– AD48CD

(CD/DDL 78:34) (V.F.)

(E.M. New Age. Prog Rock EM)

After the success of Ocean of Light, AD Music returns with another excellent compilation, SACRED SKIES (Best of AD Music Vol 2). A second compilation in 2 years for a label that chooses its artists wisely, may seem enormous. Especially in 2006 where AD Music only produced 3 albums, all very good by the way, and this compilation does not touch any of its releases. It shows the depth and quality of this label. This compilation is different from Ocean of Light. The coherence of the harmonies is still present and seems ideal for creating another DVD, but the titles proposed are more rhythmic, more energetic. Certainly, there are always superb sweet melodies, like the exquisite The Plains from Bekki Williams, an original track, where good enveloping and dense layers progress on bass pulsations and a nice pan flute. Under the Same Sky is another superb romance with a romantic piano nestling in the embraces of a violin synth with melodious and comforting layers. Kind of like Fallen from Code Indigo. Angel Dust, with a superb sweet and haunting voice, is another beautiful melody from Witchcraft.

Catalin's Nandana-Paradise of Indra portrays the quality of the material found in AD Music's catalog. Catalin offers us a track with flavors of Olympus and orchestral arrangements that can easily be compared to Vangelis. Gregorian choirs open this tribal fresco to the rhythms of the paradise islands of the Ancient Greece with local percussions and stringed instruments. On a sustained rhythm Nandana is majestic and twirls on flamboyant synths with powerful orchestral arrangements. A title very close to what are doing Mannheim Steamroller and Robert Fox. This next big star on AD Music can be heard with the powerful and harmonious Three Sisters and the intriguing Over Turquoise Seas. Two tracks from the early 90's which show Robert Fox's talent as a composer, and above all as a producer. David Wright is one of the gems of AD Music. In addition to presenting us his superb space bolero in Taiga, that you should at least listen to once in your life, he wrote the other unreleased track of SACRED SKIES (Best of AD Music Vol 2); the title-track. A title whose tempo gets accentuated on an ascending sequence, knotted of harmonious layers. The rhythm is supported by hammering percussions and a superb guitar with plaintive solos. Flame Sky, his 3rd track here, is an intense linear movement with good guitar chords that float on a superb violin mellotron. Robert Fox and David Wright are also members of Code Indigo which presents us 3 titles, including the very Oldfield Call of the Earth and the sensual Code II which starts with powerful and arrogant riffs burying itself under superb guitar solos. And if power and unbridled rhythms appeal to you, Jumping Air by Raviv shows you that all genres intersect at AD Music, as long as it remains in the field of EM. Enterphase and Callisto are the only tracks influenced by the enveloping Berlin School style. Two good titles which demonstrate the versatility of this production house.

SACRED SKIES (Best of AD Music Vol 2) is a superb compilation that shows a more orchestral and tribal aspect of its catalog, always favoring a melodious artistic approach with rich arrangements. Another good collection which brings together 18 beautiful harmonious titles with fluid melodies and brilliant arrangements which raise the fibers of our soul.

Sylvain Lupari (December 21st, 2006) ***½**

SynthSequences.com

Available at AD Music