Bionight

Artist: BIOnight
P: 2002
As usual with BIOnightT we start with the title track. Deep ominous pads mix with windy effects. Out of this emerges a very nice melodic sequence and relaxed rhythm. Another sequence is added before things steadily become more complex. For the first three minutes it all worked rather well but then maybe a little too much was going on. Sometimes when I listen to it, it seems to work but then at other times there seems to be conflict between the many layers. A fantastic really deep menacing sequence gets 'Saturdaydown' underway and as with the previous track they through everything at it including the kitchen sink but this time things soon steady down, chugging along nicely on the back of a rapid sequence / rhythm combination.
This gradually becomes less cluttered leaving space for a ringing lead line to shine. There is a pause in the sequence before another enters creating a rather pleasant relaxed environment. Even in the fifth minute when a further sequence comes in, combining well with some melodic pads, the beautiful mood already created is maintained. It's an excellent track which keeps the attention throughout. 'Snowy Park' is simply gorgeous, a more melodic combination of sequences you couldn't possibly want with beautiful lead detail over the top. Stunning, absolutely stunning.
'Motherwater' is another track that starts straight off with the sequences and some excellent rhythms. The combination this time though is a dead ringer for Klaus Schulze during his 'Drive Inn' period. A mid paced sequence emerges from a sort of splashing explosion on 'Evolution Dawn'. Soft ethereal pads provide a lovely backing. In the third minute lead duties are taken by an excellent dreamy organ. This is a track which works because the combination of sounds chosen is perfect and the temptation to over clutter what is already a winning formula is resisted. It's a good way to finish the album.

Artist: BIOnight
P: 2005/ 2015
The Italians "Mac" and Sbrizzi FaBIO together make up BIOnighT. This is their fifth album since 1999 and it took them a lot of trouble to get made despite a considerable investment in new gear. The CD is almost one hour long and divided up into seven tracks of flowing melodic music from the direction of 80's TD and JM Jarre.
Although the sometimes droning sequencers and additional drum sounds betray a slightly more modern approach, there are plenty of moments where you can blissfully sink back in your chair and truly imagine that you are listening to a forgotten TD CD. The basis of the majority of the numbers is usually an uncomplicated sequence, that barely alters in tone or rhythm, whereby I occasionally get the feeling that things are a little monotonous. This particular criticism comes from someone who likes variation and thus does not apply to everyone!
The fact that the perhaps over-simplified basis is generously compensated for with, amongst other things, the building-up of added riffs, a different-sounding background orchestration or a quiet little melody line makes "The Art of Friendship" an attractive record that will appeal to a large audience.
 

Artist: BIOnight
P: 2007/ 2015
"Return To Earth" starts with resonating bells and fat synth pad. This is pretty haunting stuff. Soon a terrific sequence arrives, making this short opener a true Berlin School gem. The track's got anthemic qualities, too, especially once the drums come in. One can see how BIOnighT's sound has evolved from their previous efforts released several years ago. The music has become more powerful but at the same time crystalline-clear.
"Sinus Iridum" has reflective harp-like sequence coupled with cello leads. This is almost Classical music in its scope and feel. What a surprise and what a great track it is! All textures are organic and / or sampled and yet everything is arranged like an EM piece. Subtle synthetic bass pulses can be heard that do not, however, interfere with the flow of this acoustic-sounding number. Everything then stops abruptly as we are left in a windswept landscape. Bass drum beats a couple of times and then goes away. Strange sounds like electronic flies swarm around the stereo spectrum. The bass drum pattern constantly repeats until a relaxed section supported by a steady drum rhythm appears. Is that the theremin I hear? At least it sounds like it. Excellent, moody music! If you like epic EM (and I mean epic in the sense of Symphonic Rock) then you must listen to this!
"Floating Thoughts" begins with sparse melancholic notes. After a while some fat synth pads appear. What a reflective track, this one. Although "Back To Orion" is a collective work, this particular track was composed entirely by FaBIO with some contributions from Mac. A tinkling sequence appears towards the end, never really becoming a mainstay, the track remaining essentially an atmospheric number.
"Moon Rocks" starts with strange sounds as if multiple balls are jumping off the floor. However, this one turns out to be the "pop single" of the album. It's a good song that somehow reminds me on an updated version of French band Space. Excellent work with sound here, the guys really managed to fill all the stereo space, resulting in the music sounding very intense, but at the same time open-ended, not compressed as is often the case with recent releases. The next track is "Little Gravity", composed entirely by Mac. Sequences galore would be the description of it! Excellent, excellent pulsations, and that unmistakable "classic EM" feel. Pure cosmic power! Sorry, been away just enjoying the GORGEOUS sequences on this track! In stark contrast, "Falling" surprises with an aggressive sequence, heavy drums and excellent echoey analogue leads. Very evocative of its title! By now it is quite clear that "Back To Orion" is one of the best (if not the best) releases of 2007. At least in my book, it will be right up there with the top ones!
But wait, there's one (long) track left, called "Ride On the Moon". Abstract sounds give way for a bass sequence. It is then joined by various synth sounds and Mellotron choir. This track has a rather loose structure, akin to mid 1970's Tangerine Dream. Until the upbeat drum rhythm is introduced, that is. After that it turns into some rocky EM with a bite to it that only a couple of Italian guys like Mac and FaBIO could achieve. It all then calms down, leaving us with the sounds of wind and a tolling bell. Synthetic textures then attack us from all sides before calming down again. A pad is heard and a nice relaxed sequence starts. More sequences are added together with one of the tastiest synth solos I've heard! This is some EM to die for.

Artist: BIOnight
P: 2010 / 2015
Here we hear 5 tracks, some which are new and some which are remixes from the Density Waves CD. Very melancholic and sentimental tracks with some very good sequences.

Artist: BIOnight
P: 2002 / 2015
We start 'Daybreak' with an excellent brace of nice deep bass sequences with a really interesting stereo effect. Its very infectious head nodding and foot tapping stuff. A lead line meanders over the top but really it's the sequences which will grab you. A rhythm is tossed into the mix and things get even better. It's an absolutely cracking opener!
'Mosse Dal Vento' calms things down a little with nice symphonic pads. From quite early on though you can hear a relaxed sequence forming very low in the mix. This gradually becomes more audible but doesn't intrude on the serenity of the whole. Another excellent sequence gets 'Nodune' underway. As with the previous track however the pace is initially sedate. A very deep bass beat (not of the dance variety) is then added rather low in the mix without shattering the mood. Little melodic touches come and go but the main melody, a piano one, waits until the third minute before making an entrance and very nice it is too.
'Mind Probe' literally fizzes into life on the back of electronic effects then the pace is quickened again as a rapid sequence surges forth. This is very late 70's sounding. The sequence could have come from Tangerine Dream whilst the lead line would have lived quite happily on a Klaus Schulze album and yet they combine together extremely well. 'Metropolis' is another playful rhythmic sequencer driven piece. It's full of energy and fun and even though only short it packs a lot in. 'Rachele' is also short and sequencer based but is a very different kettle of fish as even though it is full of pulsations the feel is much more tender. 'Boreal Light' has a lovely swirling atmospheric beginning. The inevitable sequence emerges out of ethereal pads. Another joins it but rather than blast forth they gently subside to allow a new sequence to take over. It's actually quite a delicate track constantly changing in keeping with the natural light show it is named after.
'Daybreak (FaBIO RMX)' is just as pulsating as the opener but certainly different enough to warrant an inclusion. The mood is more thoughtful; somehow a feeling of space is created in a track which is actually quite busy. 'Sequoia Rossa' uses a bubbly dreamy sequence as the basis for a rather relaxed track. Drums do come in about half way through though I didn't really think they were necessary but they don't intrude on the gentle mood too much before departing to leave us in a lovely state of float to finish.

Artist: BIOnight
P: 2010 / 2015
This is a mix between modern Berlin School style like Rainbow Serpent use to play and the older titles lke Encore from Tangerine Dream. Always full of sequences and some melodies that fit perfect.

Artist: BIOnight
P: 1999 / 2015
BIOnighT are Sbrizzi FaBIO and Mac from Italy. In 1999 they released their debut album 'EgoHeart'. EgoHeart is never off on an ego trip, although their music is mainly inspired by the classic electronic music of the '70s. Inspired not plagiarized! The wide influences on EgoHeart spread out from techno to celtic music. This is fine intense classic electronic music - a very good album for a debut.

Artist: BIOnight
P: 2009 / 2015
Cosmic Music, Berlin School, call it whatever you prefer, it certainly is about a voyage through space. Incredibly enough, for the first time FaBIO and I agree on the fact that this may be our best album to date...
 

Artist: BIOnight
P: 2002 / 2015
Stunningly beautiful plucked string and piano lead lines get the title track underway. They are initially left in isolation to weave their magic but in the third minute some faint synth colouring is brought in. A minute later yet another fantastic melody replaces them as well as a beautiful harp type sequence and slow rhythm. This is some of the most delicate and yet heart warming EM I have heard in quite some time. 'I Wish' begins with yet another lovely melody, this time on guitar. The rhythm is sympathetically gentle but it seems to lose direction a little in the middle section, it's as if they are trying too hard, adding too much to it when it would have probably been better to keep it simple. 'Jump 16' starts with a nice chugging sequence around which two more excellent melodies meander, one piano the other more typical synth. It's another winner. 'September 1724' is a rather short but extremely beautiful piano / flute / strings interlude, yet again the melodies are really not notch.
'Lady River' has a very Christmas feel to the initial main melody. Other delicate lead lines come in and it's all rather nice but could have done with a stronger hook. This couldn't be said about 'The Losers' however as I was grabbed by the exquisite guitar lead line right from the off. And it gets even better backed by piano and other lovely supporting lines. In many ways it is similar to the title track. It wasn't until near the end however that I realised it could have been completely acoustic (though I bet it isn't) and non-the worse for it. Next we get a remix of 'Songswell by Mac which isn't too dissimilar to the original except that it might be slightly 'tighter'.
'Littlecutesongfromtheswissmountains' should surely win some sort of prize in the silly title category and it takes longer to say than the thirty seconds it lasts. Yes, it's just as twee as you might have expected. 'Thing' begins with Oriental touches but soon settles down to a very pleasing infectious chugger. 'A Life' has a mysterious dark atmospheric start, not too dissimilar to something you would find on a Kirkwood album but the sequence that emerges from it is much more standard fair and as with the rest of the CD the lead line is rather restful rather than music to go berserk by. It's as if we are slowly waking from a fitful sleep starting a calm new day. In the fifth minute another melodic sequence starts up accompanied by more tuneful lead lines which reminded me a little of some of the IC label's acts such as GENE or Peter Seiler. With five minutes to go the foot is put on the gas but things soon calm down again in a gentle sea of bubbling sequences. BIOnight's most tender album so far.

Artist: BIOnight
P: 2006 / 2015
This album marks some changes in our musical activities. First, we no longer meet in the BIOlofT (FaBIO's home studio) to write and record our music to then move all the instruments to the Synthuary (Mac's home studio) to mix the material, but the whole process from writing to mixing is now carried out at the Synthuary.
Second, now BIOnighT play entirely with VST instruments and effects to avoid the hassle of wires and cables as well as to enjoy the amazing creative freedom given by virtual instruments.
The result is a relaxed album that freely moves from Berlin School stuff to New Age (to Mac's horror!) that hopefully will give a pleasant time to most of you.

Mac of BIOnight, 2006