Canovas, Javi

Artists: Javi Canovas
P: 2020
Deep Berlin School Sequencermusic.

Artists: Javi Canovas
P: 2011
After 2 very ambient albums Javi Canovas offers us an EP full of sequenced and heavy rhythms. It’s a desirable return to the roots wished by those who had succumbed to the tempting rhythms of Nights of Brightness. Gravitational Waves is a 3 tracks EP filled with sequenced adrenalin. A heavy EP with rhythms and resonant sequences which are sometimes wrapped by soft mellotrons. In fact Javi Canovas makes a temporal journey, there where heavy and mysterious Berlin School was the prerogative of the analog years; the 70s!
And all of this compressed power begins with the hard-hitting Solar Dome whose opening passes by a line of twisted synth where fragile arpeggios roam there and dance too. They skip on oscillating curves of caustic reverberations while a heavy sequenced movement frees big juicy and frenzied chords. The rhythm heavy and nervous, Solar Dome unfolds then at great pace with a powerful undulating sequential movement of which zigzagging chords abound in a boosted resonance. It’s a heavy and infernal rhythm which sinks into lines of a synth to foggy and ghostly breezes that is not without recalling the murky depth of Tangerine Dream or Redshift. Feverish arpeggios twirl around and dance on this infernal structure where the rhythm is forged in a powerful sequential movement with chords that still splash with their reverberations, while very slowly this sequenced fury is quietly going slow. But it’s a much nuanced calm which brings with difficulty Solar Dome at doors of more limpid sequences but as much feverish on a stationary rhythm and encircled by a synth of mist. After an intro where metallic choirs sleep in the abysses of chthonian sub-soils, Elephant Trunks in Space livens up with a crossed lines sequential movement which flow rapidly. Chords open up at full speed, leaving on their passages trails of metallic mists which sigh under the heat of the speed. Another sequence joins the leading one. It flickers nervously with hybrid tones and nervous ascension beneath a superb fluty mellotron. As much hard-hitting than Solar Dome, Elephant Trunks in Space is more melodious and exalts of a splendid depth with its heavy crossed sequences which criss-cross a hyper rapid movement beneath fine parts of a fluty mellotron. That’s a wonderful track that allies sequential strength and melody and which ends its exhausting race beneath breaths of a solitary synth. After an intro to strange murky breezes, Dispersionl offers a beautiful melodious sequential movement with chords which skip finely. Another sequence is adding and draws an echo shape in the shade of a soft fluty mellotron filled of the analog year’s sonorities. Quietly the movement is growing in size and heaviness with chords which cavort and resound, wrapped of a fluid synthesized fog. In spite of its chords which skip nervously and with a heavy resonance, Dispersion evolves between heaviness and tenderness, a little as a blend between Solar Dome and Elephant Trunks in Space, but with a mellotron to more accentuated and fluid breezes.
We can say that it’s a luck that Gravitational Waves is only an EP of a 28 minutes length because I doubt that my ears and my loudspeakers, as well as yours, can take as much heaviness, resonances and tortuousity over a longer period. Gravitational Waves is a monument of weightiness where the melody invites itself in strangely powerful musical contexts. It’s an EP that wants to be a revival for the heavy sequenced music of analog years. In short, an EP all indicated to fans of TD (Franke era), Redshift and Ramp. It‘s very good and strongly livened up, as EM should be a little more often. Gravitational Waves is a solid EP that we can get at MusicZeit download site for the price of a song!

Artists: Javi Canovas
P: 2014
Retro / analog / Berlin school

Artists: Javi Canovas
P: 2005
Warm synth tones, vaguely like organ music, hang in the air for several minutes, creating the atmosphere. Just before the 6:30 mark the sequencing starts up and male choirs ring out over the top, signaling the arrival of another solid entrant in the Berlin school class. Just before 8:00 a cool filter effect morphs the sequence a bit, as a spacey wind blows through. Next up are the vintage synth leads, lending a dramatic flair. This section does a solid impersonation of Tangerine Dream around the Tangram period. The sequencing continues on the attack, growling assertively as the intensity continues to build just so. Drums are added toward the end, modulated not unlike TD’s “Through Metamorphic Rocks.” It’s an epic piece on a grand scale to start the album most promisingly.
“North of Circle” starts low and distant, as if tentatively exploring its way onto the sonic terrain. Choirs return, and sequencing returns in short order, propelling things briskly along. If you like other Teutonic artists like Navigator, Kubusschnitt, Gert Emmens and so forth, this should be well to your liking. “Zenith” concludes the hour-long synthfest with more of the same, deep space wanderings to begin, followed by slowly wavering electronics, and the obligatory sequencing, fastest of all here as it spins nearly out of control.

Artists: Javi Canovas
P: 2009
It is one long 70 minute track but with many different sections. It was recorded live but you would never know it, sounding like a wonderfully crafted studio album of all new music. Fizzing electronics give way to the first sequence and even at this stage the quality shines through. It is rather melodic, bouncing along beautifully. A second sequence nestles with the first perfectly as a gorgeous slow lead hovers above the pulsations. Yet another sequence comes in, packing quite a punch, the melody swelling in response. The sequences then build to such amazingly powerful proportions, diving this way and that. Just turn up the volume and make the ground shake. This is absolutely awesome stuff. In the twelfth minute things subside to a rather spooky section lasting just a couple of minutes before another earthquake of a sequence bursts through, full of rumbling bass and enormous energy. Things are softened slightly by a contrasting flutey lead line and whooshing effects. A higher register sequence enters flying over it all, the initial sequence storming back creating even more wonderful mayhem than before. Very gradually the intensity subsides only to return again in wave after wave. By the twenty sixth minute we are given time to get our breath back, relaxing in the beautiful gentle pads. A fizzing lead adds a little detail before things become really deep then rather stormy. Javi has already shown us what he can do with power sequencing, now he shows us that he is also an expert at atmospheric descriptive music. The images that come to my mind are of a rather strange rainforest. A slow pulse can be heard, as if something is awakening. A brace of playful sequences change the mood once more, like rays of bright light twinkling through the canopy above. The tone is optimistic and the pace fast. The sequences start to surge, gaining power all the time, sounding like a crackling raging fire. This section then changes in character once more as yet another sequence / melodic loop is thrown in the brew, like a giant crushing all before it- absolutely amazing. There are so many elements to each section, every one fitting perfectly with the whole. Things start to subside as a single slow lead settles over it all like some vast hand smothering all beneath it. We then get another gentle interlude, this time with lovely solo piano. It’s really quite tender stuff, softening us up nicely for the next sequential barrage. It starts off simply enough with a sturdy twangy sequence, a second rapid one darting in and out of the pulsations like a wasp around a picnic table but then as more and more roller coaster sequences and mellotron are introduced we are once again in the middle of another blistering turbo charged wall of sound. Pure Berlin School Heaven! If you are into sequencer music this album is simply essential.
 

Artists: Javi Canovas
P: 2006
"Light Echoes" is one monster of an album, filled to the top with excellent sequences. If you like sequencing and more sequencing, Light Echoes is the ticket, again it features three lengthy excursions into all things Teutonic.
The title track wastes little time getting up to speed, and sounds much like AirSculpture, with a synth lead that mimics an electric guitar solo. Though Impasse was good, this sounds better, more polished. The effective layering of sequences is hypnotic as they dance about each other. Very upbeat, it would be hard to be down while listening to this. The last five minutes are given room to breathe as mellotron flutes and ethereal synths play brightly.
“Two Toned Rock on Mars” is up next, again reminding me of AirSculpture or perhaps Create as dreamy textures start us off. Once again a stonking sequence rises up out of the mist, full of bubbly energetic electronics. Cánovas tends to find a cool groove and ride it out, with generally solid results. Here he allows for more delicate touches and a more expansive feeling, as the song moves back into dreamy reverie before its barely half over, allowing plenty of time to explore the subtler side of synthesizer sonics. A bit of soft piano even gets into the act, a nice touch toward the end.
“Interpherometry” not only serves up another solid slice of Berlin school energy, it also gives me an excuse to look up the word, apparently a term used in both holography and astrophysics, fitting in well with both the main theme and the cool cover art of Light Echoes.
 

Artists: Javi Canovas
P: 2020
Sounds like TD Rubycon or newer TD 70s compositions. Very analogue sounding sequences.

Artists: Javi Canovas
P: 2020
"Having just listened to this album I would kind of describe it as like a soundtrack to a science fiction film based on an alien planet, or just a cohesive collection of musical impressions, like what TD might have done with Sorcerer but 40 years on! First track 'Freedom' started beautifully with pleasant ambient atmospheric swooshes. Relaxing reflective, simple and effective. 'Outward' has metallic effects echoing from ear-to-ear, a drum-like rhythm builds then a speeding sequencer appears then we are getting deep pounding meditation interspersed with metallic sounds, then fades out. Interesting mix, and enjoyable. 'Toward The Unknown' starts with a deep organ sound, a rhhythm builds with sequencing going mad, wonderful body moving stuff! Layers weave through each other like going on a fantastic journey. Wow! I loved this one! 'Re-Echoes' lives up to its name. Effects and a deafening rumble of power rises in anticipation, effects are echoing like reverberating shockwaves, you feel like you are standing between two metallic buildings that resonate sound bouncing off one another. 'Inductance' has a brief ambient intro and a huge deep sequencing along with metallic effects, sequences bouncing along up and down in crescendoes, an almost Kraftwerk like track. This is fantastic, my favourite piece so far! 'Demarcation' has a huge filmic burbling sound and metallic echoing, strangely like Vangelis. There is ambient atmospherics flowing with electronics. My imagination was far away. 'Until The Extenuation' has many sounds and atmospherics building with a mid-paced rhythm, rather percussive in nature, much was going on to keep your attention fully, but not over-cluttered. Pleasantly different. 'Cataclysm' starts with sequencers and a deep rumbling building with swirling wind effects, more being added. A storm is brewing heading for a 'cataclysmic event' like an epic tornado swirling around in a couldron of sounds and effects, sonic booms in the distance and aftershocks echoing. Fantastic track! 'Drops Of Solitude' has metallic stirrings along with a two-note deep hypnotic rhythm, metallic sequence arrives with more effects driving along quite nicely. It would work very well as a movie trailer. 'The Wait' starts with rhyhmic tapping and drumming sounds and a dancey sequencing, then a groundshaking deep bass sound underpins, then synth sounds are introduced into the mix, this continues nicely to the end. 'Volatile' starts with loud ambient noises and sequences come quickly building with urgency, sounds and effects come and go. This is a powerful mix of sounds that could form part of a much longer piece. 'Quadrature' begins reflective ambience and a deep sequencing bubbles into a rapid frenzy building louder and a drone together with this feels like you are being sucked into a black hole. A full-on barrage of sequencing, effects ricochets everywhere and it all seems to end by folding in on itself. 'Storm' is a perfect way to end the album. A huge atmospheric storm is brewing and growing in strength and power. I imagine the sky turning dark as big black clouds spell doom. This is a sequencer-free magestic and awesome piece of music". Review by Geoff Mason

Artists: Javi Canovas
P: 2017 / 2020
Berlin School sequencermusic like TD end of the seventies.

Artists: Javi Canovas
P: 2008
If you like upbeat melodic sequencer-based EM, and if you haven’t yet discovered Spanish musician Javi Canovas, you should head right on and check out his latest albums, including this one, Nights of Brightness.
“Nimbus” starts things off crisply and brightly, really getting the feet and/or the body moving depending on your inclination. “Elipse” is just as lively with a rollicking beat and fun synthesizer sounds.
“Metallic Core” has a moderate tempo with hypnotic loops. “Mr. Ivan” is the liveliest yet, even playful. “Fugitive Star” mixes things up nicely again, with mellotron flute and low-key chugging sequencing. And so it goes, alternating dance-friendly numbers like “Beta” with dreamy drifters like my personal favorite, “Protoplanet.” It is the longest track and closes out the disc on a high note. Highly recommended.