Planes, Trance and Life's Karma Wheels by Cybermonkey

Reviews:

"In retrospect, it can be seen that TAD WINKLARZ, Recording Artist (GOLD ALBUM) of CHALK CIRCLE fame, was contributing his ambient influence even then. Cybermonkey allows that creative effort to more fully evolve and the results are inspiring. Teamed with MARLON KEMPMANN and LISA TURNER, the band explores new horizons in sound and spoken word. The following is a review of their newest CD. Cybermonkey's newest cd, Planes Trance and Life's Karma Wheels, is a musical soundscape of ambient sound, interesting instrumental combinations and in some cases spoken word. My favouite track "Gdansk" is the definite highlight and my favourite piece by the band to date, strong on mood and landscape. It would lend itself well to works of film and pictures - without them this piece lends to great travels of the imagination and provokes thought. Findland Filmaker, Aki Kaurismaki, once said that in film he uses silence as a means of deep communication between strangers. Without the addition of spoken word in film the silence allows you to create or experience your own. This can be true in music. Without the visual aspects, the instrumentation alone entices you... leads you... wants you to image, to create those personal pictures, to think and travel the heart and mind. "Gdansk" does just that. It creates a journey thru images, experiences and describes worlds to explore. Much of the tracks on this disc, by nature and length induce this. "Gdansk" is the finest piece on the disc. A great creative work. Next to "Gdansk" my favourite would be "Border Highway." This track offers intensity and drama. It almost feels live. Very much of a highlight track. A full creative effort. Excellent. This is high quality material. "Caravan To Dharmasala" is also a very strong piece having a very dreamstate quality. A linear journey of interesting instrumentation. An overall stand out track. Overall, this work inspires, uplifts and compells reflection. Incorporating spoken word from various Spiritual teachings produces a thought provoking environment. Creative intrumental pairings and interesting compostion invokes a dreamlike soundscape on some of the tracks that allow the listener to image and explore. For those who are drawn to music with depth and positive messages, this music will uplift and inspire. Well worth a listen."

--SCOT TURNER - Program Director / The Beat / Vancouver (2003 - 2004) - Program Director / Music Director / Energy 108 / Toronto (1992 - 2002) - Announcer / CFNY / Toronto (1984 - 1992)

"Luckily, this CD delivers such a deep, variegated, funky selection of tracks that it's been in heavy rotation at the Hypnagogue home since it arrived--despite the clunky title. PTLKW is a solid, Middle Eastern-flavored ride, relying heavily and wonderfully on hand drums and flutes, that changes gear often enough to keep it interesting while showcasing the band's talents. The real core is this CD is the combo of "Caravan to Dharamsala" and "Border Highway." "Caravan" bleeds turmeric and saffron, blending diverse elements with deep funk. On "Border," Cybermonkey cuts loose, with a club feel from the hand drums and slashes of razorwire guitar. The volume, at this point, goes up."

--JOHN SHANAHAN - Hypnagogue

"Hypnotic is another word that springs to mind! Not a lot to appeal to the progressive rock fans then but those who also listen (as prog rock fans tend to do) to music that incorporates different world sounds and influences, Cybermonkey is a class act."

--PHIL JACKSON - Acid Dragon (#39)

"The second takes you on a mystical journey. "Caravan To Daramsala" is an extended world-groover that builds relentlessly over tuned percussion, leading to the "Border Highway" -- for my money the best piece here, and a direction I'd like to see Cybermonkey pursue. Finally the arc of motion returns to rest with "Into The Ether" as the band, and hopefully listeners, breath a collective "Om". Maybe not for every progger, but excellent for a quiet, refreshing, hour with headphones and the lights dimmed."

--STEVEN DAVIES-MORRIS - Progression (#48)

"I am asked sometimes about my descriptions of music. Some say, can they REALLY be that good?......... CYBERMONKEY IS THAT GOOD. Planes, Trance and Life's Karma Wheels is a masterpiece. Go Listen to them on Soundclick, then visit their homepage, go get the album. Treat yourself, ask someone to buy it for you for Christmas, send a letter to Santa, but whatever you do get it."

--NIGEL POTTER - ANUBIS SPIRE ONLINE JOURNAL

"On my first listen I forced myself to hear it all, but subsequent listens resulted an increasingly itchy finger at the skip button!"

--ALAN FREEMAN - AUDION (#50)

"The music's trippy, far-out and well-executed and, perhaps most importantly, it has a spine. It doesn't just lie there, expecting you to 'get it'. Rather, it comes for you, takes hold and makes you better for having heard it. Recommended for those on a spiritual quest or those who think that they might be."

--JEDD BEAUDOIN - Sea of Tranquility

"In long winded tracks, Cybermonkey builds its mood with an extreme of repetition. The title of the album indicates Trance and this is certainly part of the music, albeit in a very subdued and relaxed fashion. Pointers can be given to electronic music (a bit of TD, a bit of Gandalf) and to the Ozrics with which they share a psychedelic feel. Some of the chosen ingredients of this band have been used a bit too much to evoke a world music feel in the past and this does reflect somewhat on my appreciation. But it does not prevent it from being an excellent album to relax with."

--JURRIAAN HAGE - Axiom of Choice

"If the intention of this album is to offer a calming aura whilst still retaining some thought provocation, then it very much achieved this for me. As I have stated above and in the past I do not claim to have any expertise in the area of what might generally be termed 'ambient' music. However over the last few years I have listened to quite a few albums within this genre and can only conclude that Planes, Trance and Life's Karma Wheels holds its own within this crowd."

--BOB MULVEY - Dutch Progressive Rock Page

"It is what it is; to wit, a fine collection of 6 ambient pieces. Reflective, meditative, introspective, serene ... those are some of the adjectives that might be used when describing the mood evoked (or accompanied) by the music on this album. Karma Wheels makes you feel like you're floating. Pleasantly. Fans of Steve Roach, Tangerine Dream, Paul Haslinger, Minico and the like will appreciate Cybermonkey. Good Stuff."

--REGINOD - Progressive Ears

"Prog o non prog, ci interessa ben poco: 'Gdansk' ci solleva e ci culla tra suoni fluttuanti, tra scogliere al tramonto e sguardi persi nello spazio; 'Shakyamuni' (che recita la prima lezione del Buddha) e 'Caravan to Dharamsala' ci ipnotizzano grazie a echi world music e possenti ritmi trance; la tibetana 'Invocation' è un florilegio di preghiere raccolte da tutte le religioni del mondo."

--DONATO ZOPPO - MovimentiProg

"The entities of World Music's probably most progressive manifestation."

--VITALY MENSHIKOV - ProgressoR

"Cybermonkey gets neo-mystical as Planes, Trance and Life's Karma Wheels turn through various ethno-influenced excursions."

--DAVID J. OPDYKE - AmbiEntrance

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