Divine Matrix

Artist: Divine Matrix
P: 2012
Easily the best so far from Steve Barnes, who is honing his talents as Divine Matrix with some superb space music creations. "Atmospheric Variations" presents a drifting, gently rhythmic style with nicely programmed sequences giving a genuine contemporary Tangerine Dream feel. Nothing is overdone here, there is a wonderful subtly that draws you in, and Steve cleverly allows some nice sequences to build with variation while underpinning some exquisite drifting pads and atmospherics and interesting rhythms and melodies.
Steve also knows how to bring tension and dynamics in and out of the musical spectrum, along with some clever twists and turns that never depart from the overall spacey feel of the album, ensuring that our attention never wanders. There are some real gems here, from the excellent sequencing of "1000 Light years" to the magnificent, awesome TD inspired "Birth of a Cyclone" to the gently spacey title track. This is a stunning album worthy of any melodic em fans investigation.

Artist: Divine Matrix
P: 2020
Beachcombing is a stunningly beautiful album of ambient music. It is delicate, gently mysterious and evocative, while being gorgeously serene and calming. It invokes the feeling of being wrapped in a warm blanket of contentment. Steve is able to conjure up the most amazing musical landscapes with his gentle sequences, intricate atmospheric effects and multilayered pads. The music sounds modern and yet it recalls the halcyon days of classic 70’s electronic music and in particular, Tangerine Dream. Easily one of Steve’s best albums!

Artist: Divine Matrix
P: 2021
Soundscapes Vol 3 ‘Celestial Phenomena’ continues the Divine Matrix vision of deep ambient, electronic space music.The opening drones and gentle piano notes drifts effortlessly to our ears like shooting stars on a magical night. The scene is set and each track presents a varied and beautiful soundscape. We are captivated by the gentle, mysterious and delicately evocative scenes. This is not ‘new age mediation music’, but it could easily work as such, because the music is so gorgeously calming. It invokes the feeling of drifting through space with serene contentment. Steve’s ability to continually conjures up these amazing musical landscapes with gentle sequences, intricate effects and multilayered pads is impressive. Technically the music sounds fresh and modern. And yet it recalls the halcyon days of classic 70’s electronic space music.

Artist: Divine Matrix
P: 2015
‘Cloudsurfing’ is the first in a series of planned ambient excursions from Divine Matrix, whose contemporary electronic works have proved very popular in recent years. While previous albums have tended to be more rhythmic and sequencer driven, here on ‘Cloudsurfing’, it’s all about slowly evolving textures and gentle, pulse like sequences. The effect is also highly evocative, painting surreal and hypnotic soundscapes with otherworldly overtones. The effect is one of drifting through a strange, alien landscape. Crystalline sounds and spacey effects dance delicately across warm, thick pads, the sound washing over the senses. The music may be ambient, but Steve Barnes knows enough about his craft to ensure his creations have enough form and structure to be involving and interesting. Tracks like ‘Ominous Sky’ and the title track are actually quite beautiful and typical of Divine Matrix at its best, and even at this albums darkest, it is never ‘threatening’. Everything is beautifully produced with a depth and warmth sadly lacking in a lot of music of this style. If good quality ambient, electronic space music is your thing, then this should be right up your street. Fans of Divine Matrix will love it!

Artist: Divine Matrix
P: 2021
Heart of the Shaman is probably the finest Divine Matrix work to date. It has deep undulating tones and slow burning, driving rhythms and occasional gothic inspired vocal layers. So this album shows a shift from his more cosmic orientated music and so becomes a darker and more ‘earthy’ affair. This is quite simply a powerhouse performance, expansive and stunning in its scope and it demands your attention. From the astonishing opening track ‘Into the Deadlands’, through to the final thought provoking ‘Shadow Whispers’ and ‘Lament to the Dead’, Divine Matrix evokes gorgeously evocative atmospherics and hypnotic rhythms and sequences that cast a captivating spell. So there is an otherworldly feel to the music, because it engulfs you. It pulls you in and is so captivating and almost sensual in its feel. And it is amorous, it is moody…and it is quite simply magnificent!

Artist: Divine Matrix
P: 2013
Divine Matrix has proved a very popular discovery for fans of melodic and atmospheric sequencer style em. Its founder, Steve Barnes, carved out a niche for himself in the 90’s producing modern dance music and has transferred those musical skills to superb creative effect as Divine Matrix with a series of popular albums over the years on AD Music.
For those familiar with Steve’s  music, “Helios” will be a joy after nearly 5 years since his last release as it continues in the same melodic, thematic and creative sequencer style of electronic music. For those venturing into the cosmic worlds of Divine Matrix for the first time, prepare for a wonderful, gently rhythmic sonic journey with shades of Tangerine Dream at their melodic and atmospheric best. As one would expect, the production is of the highest quality and Steve’s ability to create and weave a sublime musical tapestry to holds the listener through the music landscape put him up there with the best in the genre.

Artist: Divine Matrix
P: 2013
Another exquisite journey to the stars from Divine Matrix, whose gently rhythmic, melodic style of sequencing reminds one of 80's Tangerine Dream, but done here with a more contemporary feel. Full of great themes, gentle strings and drifting , ethereal pads.

Artist: Divine Matrix
P: 2011
This is contemporary melodic chill-out of the very highest calibre and perfectly illustrates Steve's grasp of melody, sounds and rhythms. It's a completely different style and sound to Steve's new age music debut on AD Music, "New Day", yet it retains the core of Steve's musical style with warmth and strong musical structure. It also perfectly illustrates how close the new age, electronic and chill-out music styles can be in the hands of such an accomplished artist.
The album sways between gently rhythmic, like the aptly named opener "Faith in Chaos" with its clever use of delicate sequences and sounds, and moody and melodic like the "The Crystal Womb". The 13 tracks are varied and present a coherent "whole album" with some pieces being so strong thematically, you'll be humming the tune to yourself afterwards, while others drift along purposely, displaying deep atmospherics and some nice ethereal interludes.
The strength of the album though is undoubtably Steve's ability to mix his strong melodic sensibility with atmospherics, clever contemporary rhythms and a diverse sound palette, resulting in an album that engages the listener on so many levels that you'll want to have the CD on repeat play.

Artist: Divine Matrix
P: 2022
Journeys’ is another masterful electronic music creation by Divine Matrix. This continues the UK synthesist’s unique vision of ambient, electronic space music. From the opening base pulse of ‘Blue Horizon’, with delightful sequences and catchy rhythm, the listener is hooked. ‘Fast Train to Tokyo’ continues to captivate with it glorious rhythm and base. Once again it’s underpinned by memorable sequences driving the track forward. The next three tracks slow things right down, taking the listener into more contemplative, ambient style music. They are no less involving though, and titles like ‘Gliding on Thermals’ and ‘River from Source to Sea’ are as evocative as the titles imply. The tempo picks up again with ‘One small Step’ and the exquisite musical odyssey continues with gentle rhythmic motion through ‘Walkabout’ and ‘A Path Less Trodden’ through to ‘Journeys End’. Each track is a wonderful, colourful vignette that confirms Divine Matrix’s’ status as a purveyor of quality electronic music that is both modern it style and technique, yet which also cleverly recalls the classic 80’s style of Tangerine Dream and other luminaries.

Artist: Divine Matrix
P: 2022
A stunning and masterful electronic music creation from Divine Matrix that continues the UK synthesist’s unique vision of rhythmic electronic space music.‘Sequencer Drift’ contains delightful themes and catchy rhythms, captivating the listener with memorable sequences that drive the tracks forward. It does exactly what is say on the tin and fans of the Tangerine Dream style of electronic music will love it!Evocative and always interesting, nothing outstays its welcome. Divine Matrix has a knack of perfectly capturing what was best in 80’s em in a modern setting. Indeed, Divine Matrix’s continues to confirm his status as a purveyor of quality electronic music that is both modern in style and technique, yet which also cleverly recalls the classic 80’s style of Tangerine Dream and other luminaries.

Artist: Steve Barnes
P: 2009
"New Day" contains 11 tracks of soothing and drifting electronica that features superbly played piano and acoustic guitar themes over the most chilled of rhythms. There is a warmth here that is almost sensual; melancholy yet uplifting; contemplative yet always involving; beautiful but not sugary. "New Day" is one of those albums that will be on repeat play as you discover the wonderful depth and subtlety in Steve's emotional and dreamlike music. The delicate, melodic piano themes are infectious and will gently caress you, putting you under a spell that will find you gently tapping your feet as the chilled rhythms come in to play. Whilst there are clearly nods to the likes of Mike Oldfield, Ludovico Einaudi and Debussy, "New Day" remains an original album with a clear identity that is both beautiful and incredibly rewarding.

Artist: V/A
P: 2012
After Midnight' celebrates the 100th AD Music release and is a collection of previously unreleased instrumental, chill-out style tracks written especially to celebrate that landmark. Contributing artists include Code Indigo, Robert Fox, Bekki Williams, David Wright and many more who have pulled out all the stops on this one. There are no fillers here, just 14 memorable and varied compositions that provide a timely reminder, if one was necessary, of the depth of creative talent on AD Music. There is something here for everyone and listeners will discover each track an instrumental winner on a CD that will be on repeat play.

Artist: Various Artists
P: 2011
"A Little More Night Music" is the 6th volume in the essential "Best of Series" taken from the AD Music catalogue, building on the success of not only the series to date, but in particular the hugely popular volume 5 "Night Music". Therefore, "A Little More Night Music" follows in a similar 'late night listening' mood, with more beautifully evocative music carefully chosen to reflect mysterious journeys of discovery through emotionally inspired soundscapes, destined to become your own personal soundtrack of the mind. This compilation perfectly illustrates the depth and variety found in the AD Music catalogue, presenting contemporary melodic music that crosses the new age, electronic and space music genres with consummate ease.