by
Lloyd Barde-Backroadsmusic - USA In
dreams, there's no imagined thing that's too absurd, too strange.
Frequently Bruno's music comes from that inexhaustible source.
On ad Libitum, he creates atmospheres that take you inside yourself.
This Argentine musician now lives and works in Spain, as does Max
Corbacho. And his newest of half a dozen solo releases is an ambient
album of great beauty. Like his popular Visualia Bruno uses more
acoustic (sounding) instruments like piano and guitars, often reminiscent
of fine film music.
There are also tracks on the album that are built from atmospheric
sounds that sound a bit like the music of Steve Roach.
Other pieces are accompanied by a nice rhythm or a melancholic piano
track with a lot of reverberation.
This is an impressive and enjoyable CD by a very versatile musician.
by
Phil Derby-Editor & Publisher ElectroambientSpace - USA
What a delicately striking album this is. Part dark electronic,
part new age, part soundtrack music, ad libitum all blends together
into a wonderful tapestry of sonic imagery.
From deep reverberating piano to lush atmospheric textures to cool
electronic grooves, each element is perfectly placed.
Hipnoide starts with the aforementioned piano, melancholy and lovely
in a Harold Budd sort of way, simply gorgeous.
Tympani is used to great effect in Intention, enhanced by various
synthetic touches, strings here, percussion there.
The quiet understated mood continues with Devoción, dominated
by piano, strings, and something resembling harpsichord.
It is more orchestral than electronic, and quite moving. Deceptive
beauty is a soft ambient piece, with a slowly breathing organic
drone
as its centerpiece; its title could serve as a two-word review for
ad libitum in its entirety.
Oniria is another piano-infused number, perhaps the most delicate
piece yet, intoxicating.
Oppio opts for sad tones that resemble oboe or perhaps bassoon.
Just when it seems the album has set a definitive path in the direction
of all things quiet and reflective, two of the last three
tracks challenge that just a bit.
Luminae Psicoactive leaves me grasping for words to describe exactly
its style and sound.
Though it sounds more acoustic than electronic, it reminds me of
the lush textures of the Cocteau Twins.
The title track adds tribal drums and occasional chants, and then
the disc closes with perhaps my favorite, Lúdico.
The coolest computerized rhythmic groove is laid down, courtesy
of Max Corbacho, and Sanfilippo adds rich synth pads to perfectly
enhance the proceedings. Ad libitum is a breathtakingly beautiful
and complete packag.
by
Bert Strolenberg- Journalist E-dition Mag #8 - The Netherlands
The new
album features a certain feel of romance and infiniteness.
At times its quiet, but it can also grow out to beautiful symphonic
grandeur
like in the third track Devoción. Next to delicately shaped
soundscapes we also find environmental sounds, samples, fxs
and some intimate piano, which make up a nice atmosphere. Sometimes
it even gets a bit dreamy and contemplative.
The short title-track features some chant and tribal rhythm.
But Bruno made the most impression on me with the strong closing track
Lúdico, which is quite reminiscent to what Max Corbachos
achieved on his album Moontribe: pulsating rhythms over
drifting soundtextures. Recommended.
by
Andy Garibaldi- CD Services - Scotland From
Spain, and a close musical partner with similarly styled synthesist
Max Corbacho, comes this latest release and, while it would be
classed as "space" or "cosmic" music, it's really
a good deal more varied than that term implies.
For a start, most of the tracks have melodies running through them,
or to be more accurate, have a strong thematic and melodic content
that sets them apart as more than just space synth tracks.
From
tracks that have rhythms from acoustic and electric drums and percussion
to tracks that simply soar and drift on layers of gorgeous
synth landscapes, there's a whole host of soundworlds on this 9 track,
fifty-three minute album.
Musically there are obvious hints of people like Roach, Vangelis (the
cosmic, spacey passages of Vangelis that is), Brennan (in particular
only more varied), but throughout it all, there's both a warmth and
a sensitive passion that resides at the heart of the music,
and makes it so enjoyable.
Whether,
rhythmic or floating, each track has that sheer quality of existence
that means you would be hard pressed not to play all
of this every time you sit down to it. In short, essential listening.
by
Paul Rijkens- Dutch progressive rockmag iO Pages - The
Netherlands I
am very impressed by the CD Visualia of this Argentine musician who
lives and works in Spain.
Therefore I was very anxious to hear more of his work. Well, his new
album ad Libitum again has become an ambientalbum of great beauty.
Hipnoide opens the album with calm but full and impressive pianosounds.
This runs into Intention where hypnotic percussion supports sultry
synthesizerparts.
In comparison to Visualia Bruno on this CD uses some more acoustic
(sounding) instruments like piano and guitars.
In the fine and melodic Devoción this can be heard very well.
This is almost filmmusic.
There are also some tracks on the album that are built up from very
beautiful atmospheric sounds, like Deceptive Beauty, Oppio and Lúdico
that sounds a bit like the music of Steve Roach.
This piece is accompanied with a nice rhythm. Oniria is a melancholic
pianotrack with a lot of reverberation while Luminae Psicoactive
and the titletrack could also serve as music for films. Again, this
has become an impressive CD of this versatile musician