Smile on the Void

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
A Produce utilizes both electronic and acoustic instrumentation to create atmospheric and evocative sound environments. He recently released SMILE ON THE VOID, his first solo album of new material in five yeras, which followed his first Hypnos release ALTARA, a collaboration with Hypnos founder M. Griffin.

Album Description
The first solo Hypnos release for A Produce, following his critically acclaimed 1999 collaboration with M Griffin, ALTARA, this is also the first A Produce solo album of new material since INSCAPE AND LANDSCAPE (1996). One of the underappreciated greats of the ambient/atmospheric genre, A Produce masterfully demonstrates with SMILE ON THE VOID his unique approach -- blending deep, churning ambient atmospheres with compelling yet restrained trance rhythms.... a truly luscious, deep and rich sonic stew.

Tracks:

smile on the void
night curve
the big sleep
visions
inner sanctum
i woke up dreaming
spirit room

Album Description

The first solo Hypnos release for A Produce, following his critically acclaimed 1999 collaboration with M Griffin, ALTARA, this is also the first A Produce solo album of new material since INSCAPE AND LANDSCAPE (1996). One of the underappreciated greats of the ambient/atmospheric genre, A Produce masterfully demonstrates with SMILE ON THE VOID his unique approach -- blending deep, churning ambient atmospheres with compelling yet restrained trance rhythms.... a truly luscious, deep and rich sonic stew.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding sonic enviroment, great to listen to in Alaska.........2001-08-01

I just love music which matches the feel of the great expanses and small beauties of my home, Alaska. This CD by A Produce is grand throughout, and perfect for viewing landscapes and/or imagining spaces. I have played this CD many times on an Alaskan public radio program, and always receive positive feedback from a wide variety of listeners. Recently, music from this CD, and another hypnos release "Solo Translatio", were featured on the solstice program, "Dome of Light". The music was prefect for watching the sun circle around the horizon on the longest day of the year. It will be equally as wonderful for watching the aurora in the dead of winter. I highly recommend this CD for cleaning out your inner spaces, and making room for new beginnings.

Outstanding sonic enviroment, great to listen to in Alaska.........2001-08-01

A Produce has produced another masterpiece.......2001-06-02

After being absent (as a solo artist) for a few years, the ambient/space/trance artist has returned - and how! Smile on the Void is a masterpiece and is destined to be a classic. Several different elements, from drifting drones and gentle keyboards to percussive/rhythmic beats to the creative use of electric piano and even electric guitar, this CD stands toe to toe with what I have always considered to be the artist's best release, Land of 1,000 Trances.

Some songs are darker in shade, but even those are suffused with either an emotional neutrality or even a warmth that makes this much more accessible than a lot of dark ambient music. The beats and rhythms are never so pronounced as to overpower the wonderful melodic and ambient musical landscapes.

The album is a sonic trip through the sleep cycles, including wakefulness, dreams, REM sleep, and then awakening. But this is not some new age music namby-pamby crap. Musically, this is challenging, complex, and should satisfy even jaded elitists with its various ambient/space textures.

If you have never picked up an A Produce album before, this would be a great place to start. If you're already a fan. you're in for a treat - in fact, you're in for a fantastic experience (use headphones, for gosh sakes!).