Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Rafael Toral - Space Elements Vol 1 [Staubgold - 2008]

Though this is deceptively entitled vol one this is the third release connected to Rafael Toral's space project which finds him once more creating a distinctive sound which is best described as space bound improv jazz electronics. Think a less sterile,  looser, quirky and human take on Frank  zappa's latter day Synclavier compositions and your half way there.

The album takes the strange alien sonic promise of 2006’s Space; the first album to utilizes Rafeal unique electronic  improvised sound and basically fills it out, makes it more listenable, atmospheric and ultimate more satisfyingly odd.  Rafeal's electro spacey burps, blips and groans are enhanced and given depth  by sounds and tones of:  alto Trombone,  Pocket  Trumpet, electric bass and flute. Along with the rhythmic tone and atmospherics of the following: Shaker, Maracas, Udu Drums, Claves Timbales, Cowbell, Cymbal and  Guiro. The tracks tone remains often quite drifting & lose yet still dense and active; where 2006’s space  was more spread-out and random, there seems more logic and atmospheric sense here through the sound has lost none it's spaced and strange air. The pace is fairly varied too going from: ghostly floating vibe like constructions that feel like your drifting in-side  a space bound Aurora Borealis, to complex space jazz meets varied percussive tone manipulation, to doomy toning space bell meets scratched improv texturing and beyond

Space Elements vol one finds Rafeal building and filling in his strange sonic universe to a make a highly compelling, active and distintive release- really if you have a taste for any type of dense improv music or experimental electronic music in general this is a must have item

Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5

Roger Batty
Latest Reviews

Rafael Toral - Space Elements Vol 1
Though this is deceptively entitled vol one this is the third release connected to Rafael Toral's space project which finds him once more creating a distinct...
190226   Columbia Noir # 7: Made In Br...
180226   Brutal Shift - Pain Has Broug...
180226   Jakob The Liar - Jakob The Li...
170226   Illustrious Corpses - Illust...
170226   Furious - Furious(Blu Ray)
170226   Re-Animator (40th Anniversary...
160226   Non Toxique Lost - 026750,9
160226   Asmus Tietchens & Achim Wolls...
160226   Parajekt - Parajekt
150226   Ekin Fil - Bora Boreas
Latest Articles

Crude ‘n’ Hope-corroding Wall...
Back in 2024, I got my first taste of Absurd Reality, and I was so impressed by how crude and nasty its take on walled noise was. Behind the project is South...
290126   Crude ‘n’ Hope-corroding ...
231225   Creepy Images Books - Killer Art
221225   Best Of 2025 - Music, Sound &...
041225   The Spectral Sounds of The Pr...
281025   Michael Hurst Interview - Unb...
071025   Xiphos - The Rise And Fall Of...
030925   Third Window Films - A Label ...
130825   HNW fest- Barcelona- 12th Apr...
250725   Raté interview - Walled-in F...
180625   Matthew Holmes - Of razor-sha...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2025. Twenty four years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom