Welcome to the Music CDs of David Wright

The seed of this album was a mainly improvised concert David did as part of The Gatherings series in the States. It was a quite inspirational performance but unfortunately because of technical issues the tapes were not usable. David therefore treated it as a studio album of all new material, putting right what needed 'fixing' but as far as possible keeping the original 'key structure, development and mood'.

A very quiet solar wind effect is joined by a deep bass rumble then explosive thunder claps, reverberating into the night sky. All this provides a rather dramatic start for what is basically the introductory and appropriately titled track 'The Gathering'. Things calm down substantially for 'Desire - part 1'. Little note droplets fall onto lush tranquil pads, enough to soothe the most stressed mind. A slow peaceful, faintly ethnic, rhythm starts up as we flow into 'A Solitary Moment'. A beautiful melody floats above it all seeping into the very soul.

The pace increases a little and a plucked string acoustic guitar type loop bounces wonderfully off the original melody- quite exquisite it all is too. Again we flow into the next track (all the first seven numbers seamlessly progress from one to the next) 'Panic Attack' but instead of the rather frantic music I was expecting we again return to deeply atmospheric tones and effects- I know it is an overused term but 'cosmic' really does fit the bill here. A similar rhythm to that found on '...Solitary Moment' appears on 'Emergence' and another delicate little melody drips like water gently landing on a mirror lake.

Another lovely guitar type loop gives that little extra oomph as we continue through to 'Out of the Blue'. 'Desire- part 2' is basically a reprise of the first part, in other words as chilled as it is possible to get. We pause before entering what is effectively the first track on the second half of the album, 'Secrets of the Mist - part 1'. The sound of a calm sea breaks onto a peaceful shoreline. A brass type melody calls out like the sun rising above the horizon (even had a bit of a Spaghetti Western feel to it!) then ethereal pads float from the speakers like an early morning mist burning off the water. 'Evolution' introduces a tinkling sequence like heat shimmers over a scorched landscape. A second sequence and driving rhythm really pick up the pace as we enter the most forceful passage on the album so far, that lovely laid back brass melody still shining above it all. A bass line with real attitude adds a contrasting bite. Wonderful stuff!

We now enter the three-part title track, still in quite a groove, the main addition being more wordless ethereal vocal effects. A stunning lead solo adds an even greater element of class. This album just gets better and better! 'Part 2' calms things down again with the return of water on shore but now all rather eerie and melancholy. Another excellent bass line can be heard then a ticking rhythm adding a little structure as things become more syncopated but with a wonderfully moody edge. As we move into 'Part 3' a piano lead is added which softens things a little but there is still a sense of determined purpose here that will not be diverted from its path. A second absolutely corking lead takes turns with the piano which itself responds and becomes even more inspired. Absolutely fantastic! 'Secrets in the mist - part 2' provides a spaced out and moodily melodic atmospheric finish. I would say that after the incredible 'Walking with Ghosts' this is my favourite David Wright album. (DL, Synth Music Direct - March 2008)

The art of captivating an audience with musical poetry! It is September 2007, and at a superb concert in Philadelphia (the USA Gatherings), David Wright performs Momentum, a superb musical ode that reaches the harmonious depths of Walking with Ghosts, the epic work of David Wright released in 2003.

A soft reverberation grumbles before exploding under the effect of uncontrollable thunder and lightning. The elements of nature merge into "Desire part I" hinting at a misty, ethereal landscape. Synth oscillates on beautiful crystalline waves, plunging the listener in a sound sea of crystal blue. Romance and melancholy flirt with a jazzy approach, and the sound become denser, more enveloping, with a beautiful motif. David Wright wraps us in an angelic world which progresses with fine percussions and splendid symphonic synth in "A Solitary Moment". The tempo increases with a synthesized guitar, plucking sound effects which amalgamate with percussions with the beats of a forgotten civilization. Light and romantic, chords scintillate on this soft movement on a progressive rhythm which fades into the fog of "Panic Attack", (a dramatic title in true Vangelis style),and reappears in "Emergence", increases on "Out of the Blue" and fades out on "Desire II", thus ending Momentum's first half.

Waves of solitary nostalgia open "Secrets in the Mist I". An atmospheric, ethereal synth stretches slowly its symphonic breaths, the movement slips delicately into the first sequences of "Evolution". Another pulsating sequence is added, merging hypnotism to a syncopated rhythm that increases its pace gradually and retains the haunting synth from "Secrets in the Mist I". Like sirens that lay beneath the sea, "Momentum I" the superb synth lead has a deep mood and undercurrent, and a beautiful bass line and slightly tribal percussion. The splendid harmonious structures prominent on 'Walking with Ghosts' is in full evidence here with superb orchestral arrangements. "Momentum I" is full of wonder and imagination with synthesized horns and pads fading on the shores of "Momentum II". Here everything dies out, and is re-ignited with the sensual introduction of "Momentum II" increasing its harmonious structure to reach its point of origin on a melodious piano which initiates the path of Momentum III. A superb ending with a movement even more fluid and sensual, with a combination of strident percussions and violins that are full of sadness and hope - David Wright at his very best! As all good things end, "Secrets in the Mist II" concludes with an atmospheric final from where the soft breaths of a synth fades into the waves.

Momentum is a work which depicts a sensual melancholy in its harmony - a veil of sadness. It is a superb musical odyssey that will stand the test of time as it rekindles our memories. A splendid opus, not only in the EM genre, but in the musical world.

Deeper is a collection of melodic and symphonic electronica tracks. The CD cover hints at the music inside, which is sensual, hypnotic and beautiful.

Wright leads off with Nomad, a sequence-driven track that's combines elements of 70's-era Klaus Schulze with jazz and progressive rock influences. An ostinato runs through most of the track, and Wright layers solos over this using a variety of synth sounds and textures. At times, the synth work takes the track into more of a progressive direction, while at other times it gives the track more of a jazzy feel.

The Sound of Waves is a relaxing new age track that starts and ends with the sound of surf, and in between explores waves of tranquil synth sounds. Some listeners may be reminded of the feel of Vangelis' Oceanic.

The title track, Deeper, is a long crescendo. Wright starts the track with some quiet percussion, and then adds synth effects and solos using a variety of synth voices. As the track builds to a satisfying conclusion, strings are added and Wright layers the various lead synth voices over each other to great effect.

One of the highlights of the CD is the track Bamboo, which is a funky jungle synth romp. It begins with some deep electronic percussion, and then Wright adds pulsing, percussive synth keyboards and synth solos. About half-way through, Wright breaks it down for a moment before building the track back up. Bamboo borders on the club-friendly, without distancing itself too far from the feel of the rest of the CD.

The last half of the CD is a five-part work, Sea of Dreams. These tracks flow together to make a larger work. Part 1 is largely ambient, using synth noise and drones to create a mysterious electronic landscape. This flows into Part 2, a relaxing sequence-driven track that builds to more of an orchestral electronica climax. Part 3 is a quiet interlude that mixes environmental sounds, sample-and-hold synth tinkles and muted piano and guitar work that brought to mind the quieter moments on Klaus Schulze's classic Body Love. Part 4 is built on some of the same elements as Part 2, feeling like a variation on the earlier section. Finally, this fades into the last section, Part 5, which takes the same sequences and sounds but puts them into a more aggressive context. The middle half of the track has a driving, almost techno feel, before Wright returns to a more ambient mood to close the CD.

David Wright's latest CD, Deeper, is a hypnotic blend of sequences, effects and synth work that should appeal to fans of both classic synth music and more recent new age and symphonic electronic music.