The Monuments Of Mars by Mark Dwane

The presence of soft e-perc lends rhythm without earthiness to the pleasant tuneage, injecting lazy but compelling tempos to the electronic melodies. Mars is the focus of the instrumental music on this 39-minute CD, grounding the space music to closely examine the foreign geological formations of our curious planetary neighbor. The nature of sounds utilized by Dwane varies from the crystalline crispness of heavenly airs to the inspired heights of denser melodics. Although much of the music exudes a stately calm, elements of subtle dynamics scurry through the mix, accentuating riffs and focusing the music's emotional impact. This music may be ambient, but it also possesses strong compositional vibrancy. Delicate melodies assert themselves with understated power, contrasting aural textures with demonstrative ease." -- Matt Howarth / Space.com

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"MONUMENTS OF MARS" is a classic work of super-sonic space music. From the dense waves of sound to the powerful currents of rhythm and deep resonant melodic themes, the entire production / conception is top notch. Add just the right mixture of spatial effects, literary cosmology and you have a great debut effort."-- Archie Patterson / EUROCK

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"... The music not only has the exotic, visionary quality that so many people are looking for now, it actually conveys a sense of "place". The fact that everything but the percussion is MIDIed from guitar is astonishing, and contributes to the evocative and captivating immediacy of the music." -- Brian Earle, Clear Productions

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"... I have seldom encountered a complete set of works such as "MONUMENTS", that has so enthralled me from the first time I heard it and failed to lose its intensity time after time. Discovering "MONUMENTS" is like finding a marvelous symphony in which every movement leaves the listener longing for more." -- Ken Keith, WCIN

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"...Dwane vividly evokes an atmosphere of crumbling alien grandeur in these new-age instrumentals. A big, slow, timeless sound." -- Jim Aikin, Keyboard Magazine

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"... Stunning work! Mark's compositions and personal style are completely original. Everybody, and I mean everybody that I know who has heard this album has been heartily impressed by it. You'll be too!" -- SYNTHESIS

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