Skulptor - "Natural" ( Wired Music - 2007)

[ThiagoNaka]

Artist: Skulptor

Type: Álbum

Name: Natural

Label : Wired Music

Release date: Jan/2007

Case Type: Jewel

Mastering: Sonic Vista Studios(Ibiza)

 

Tracklist:

 

1.-The Strings (8:13)

2.-The Great Escape (11:37)

3.-Sonic Boom (8:09)

4.-Northern Lights (8:30)

5.-Force of Gravity (8:38)

6.-The degrees of Freedom (8:30)

7.-Scream 4 Life (8:06)

8.-Beautiful (8:53)

9.-Soaring (8:31)

 

Intro:

 

“Natural” is Lipe Forbes´s second album. After some sucess releases as a High End Records former, he moved to Wired Music.

For those who knows his music, this album shows a more mature style from Skulptor. From massive techno leads, throught electro groove to pop vocals:it´s still here mixed with trance music. But much more well structured, and with a finest and very singular sound quality. I don´t know for sure the BPM`s, but as fas as I remember the range here is from 142 to 146. I can say it´s a full on album, but expect something different...

Skulptor brings here two great guitar players also. Roberto Votta is a classic music player, and gave a smooth feelling , with flamenco influences. Eduardo Foo is from rock and metal music, and gave the power from the chords and tripping solos.

And I´m very glad to have a colaboration here, finishing the album.

 

Review track by track:

 

1.- The Strings: maybe my favourite track. I love the bassline here. Starts with a sample from a scientist who made “The String Theory”-awesome theory btw. This a groovy track, starts with some lead layers, to become a great melodic tune! At the break the first guitar touch with Roberto Votta, then Eduardo with his solo. And the after break is fu**ing groove, at least for me who loves power offbeat bassline. Expect the typical Skulptor´s chords and fx´s.

 

2.-The Great Escape: the hit of the album. With vocals from BT, this track is a big epic trance track. Starts with the lyric, some pianos and violins. The track starts in a experimental way. The bassline sounds “squared” at the begg, and then the famous sine bassline; also some freak fx´s. But this is pure trance music: melodies, chords, vocals, mixed with some twisted leads. The track has a big break, full of vocals, and the climax shows the typical K-BBB transposed bassline. A big hit for sure!

 

3.-Sonic Boom: imo this is the twisted track of the album. A lot of sample work, and the Skulptor´s tecnoish leads. The track changes itself a lot... I like the after break when the music is at climax with a massive bassline changes to a powerfull groove one!

 

4.-Northern Lights: here psy trance mixed with uplifting trance. The tracks starts with a great buildbup, with pads, effects and melodies. At the middle of the track, a change, and a epic melody shows the style of the track. The power K-BBB bassline after the break for sure can make a lot of ppl dance.

 

5.-Force of Gravity: one more track with BT samples, here other fav for me. It has the same trance touch from The Great Escape, but here the music is much more minimal. And also the lyrics here sound great! Nothing much to add, awesome smooth track!

 

6.-The Degrees of Freedom: My fav trackname here... lol... It´s a full on tune. Nice leads and fx´s, with a great break buildup-I like the melody mood here. For sure the powerfull break of the album. Kick-Bass-Melody really “in tha face”.

 

7.-Scream 4 Live: Again Lipe with a more experimental track. Groove bassline, smooth melodies, and nice guitar touch at the beggining. Eduardo Foo starts with some notes, but at the break an awesome and inspired solo! And I say inspired, cause the guitar solo(from 4.23 to 5.40) is the real first take without solo-structure briefing or sample work after recorded . It´s 100% Foo´s trip.The track here becomes massive, with more layers, and when u think the track is over, it changes to a powerfull full on.

 

8.-Beautiful: Mixing BT´s vocals and twisted background, here Lipe made a massive track. U can hear he can change the track a lot, and it does not sound wrong. Progressive melody, trance lead, psy trance bassline, pop vocals... It´s all here!

 

9.-Soaring: To finish the album the track that I made with Lipe and Roberto Votta. After bunch of complex music, this tracks sounds very minimal imo. Straight bassline, a lot of fx´s but not so much melodies layers together. Playing some flamenco influenced guitar, Roberto gives the touch for the epic break. Maybe it´s my track, but I really liked how the melodies fits each other after the break.

 

Conclusion: Very solid album. If u read the review u can think this is one more full on album, with vocals, “high tech” production, guitars and all this progressive influences.... But it´s not! Skulptor´s style is really unique. I think I can´t say any artist that could sound similar to his style or sound.

 

Reviewer order of preference: 1(!!), 5(!!), 9(!!), 6(!), 7(!), 3, 2, 4, 8.

 

Note from the reviewer: U realise that I know Lipe, and been at his studio a lot of times during this album making. I hope I made a critic review, but it´s a fact I like his music.

[Sideffect...]

mmmmm I like skulptor previous album before,

more subtle, continue of psychedelic and no climaxes,

here more cheezy but still floathing climaxes,

sometimes a bit simple,

 

but still enjoyable....