Xan composes and produces his own brand of Electronic Music with influences ranging from Berlin School, Prog Rock and Dance Music.His music is composed and produced in his own Ouroboros Studio. Xan is one half of the synth duo The Omega Syndicate with David Gurr. The opening track, “I”, sets the mood for Quantum Waves, a down-tempo piece based around some very subtle percussion which put me immediately in mind of “Drawn from Life” by Eno and Schwalm. The next track, “II”, begins with chimes immediately summoning up spirit of “Exit” and making way for one of the rhythmic highs of the release with the sequence carrying the whole thing along, gradually building the tension, a Xan Alexander speciality, before strings and a melodic lead combined with effects provide the release needed before we reach the next track. “III” (spot the trend) replaces the sequence and rhythm with drifting atmospherics and choirs evoking “2/1” from “Music for Airports”.
A distant piano underpins growing layers of noise, a coming storm which builds up and “IV” sees it joined by chimes which repeat in clusters as the noise drifts away before it has chance to swamp the soundscape. “V”, I mean, “Wave” (sorry, got carried away there) sees the return of the noise, which serves to highlight the melancholic theme played on ‘tron flute. More FX and echoes join the soundscape before a Michael Brook-like percussion adds some movement to the mix with the resulting music sounding like from Gandalf’s finest, on “The Universal Play”. “Particle” sees the percussion replaced with a syncopated pattern of raindrops and the noises of the previous track replaced by a searching brass motif answered by the next track, “Duality” which sees the return of the uptemponess of “II”, the rhythm is joined by a ‘tron melody and carries though until it’s overtaken by the sound of breaking waves to fade. Every album has to finish and “Agents of Chaos” brings this album to a close and it is a perfect finisher; Xan goes into full-on Tim Blake mode as a high tempo uplifting sequence is joined by driving percussion and soaring lead which manages to hang on as the track makes some tricky key changes before a breathy lead sees this rollercoaster of a track come to its inevitable (and unwelcome) end.
“Quantum Waves”, like all good music takes you on a journey though an hour of rhythm, melody and atmosphere spread across 8 movements. If you don’t currently own any of Xan’s recordings, shame on you and now is a good time to start with this release, his strongest to date. If, however, you already know how good Xan’s music can be, this is a worthwhile addition to the rest you already own.
Stuart Judd
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