Realignment: excerpt from xlr8r issue 9 1994 review

This new release from Canadian adham shaikh is quite remarkable and length. – Most tracks run 20 minutes. His selections of noises and structures are unique and intriguing.

Some tracks are soft yet very densely layered, uplifting ambient pillows to dream on. Other tracks seem to reside in a haunting eerie darkness of beautifully strange frequencies and tribal tendencies. The first track “Pulsation (Oscillation Vibration) ” begins and ends with a soft spacey techno pace. What lies in the middle are pleasant layers of noises, frequencies and feelings that on might experience leaving the earth’s atmosphere, orbiting rapidly around an aimlessly wandering asteroid and then re-entering the atmosphere!

Track tow “Quazar” could be a soundtrack to a very groovy cyber (and yes ambient) film not yet in existence. This track seems to be made with certain images in mind. Track 3 “Oberon (grey matter)” is a wonderful supplement for any environment. What begins as slightly electronic and austere goes through very subtle changes right before your ears and before you realize it you have been floating forever with only love and clouds in your mind.

Track 4 “alternate spectrum (transmission)” is a nice combination and balance of seemingly organic sounds and very electronic sounds. This track isn’t as long as the others but just as powerful and developed. All the music on Adham shaikh’s CD appears to have been designed to take the listener to specific places with specific feelings.

The music is moody and full of many brilliantly executed transitions from the deep dark and eerie to the beautiful and heavenly. These types of transitions could come across as awkward and amateur, but seem very very natural here.