ENTICING AMBIENT SOUNDS FROM PROMISING YOUNG ARTIST!
November 1998
BRIAN VASSALLO: BEYOND
Brian Vassallo is a relatively new name on the block. Not surprising,
this, since he has been musically active mostly within the confines of
his four walls. At a young age, he discovered he had a passion for music
and more importantly, electronica. This passion grew stronger when he
discovered the works of pioneering artists such as Jean Michel Jarre and
Vangelis, yet, at the same time, he also followed with a keen interest,
the synthesised metamorphosis of electronica, as it evolved and probed
deeper into the dance scenario. From techno to trance and electro to
ambient, Brian was taking in a flood of influences, so that when, at the
age of 16, he bought his first synth, he started to experiment with his
own compositions, not exactly in a bid to formulate songs, but rather in
an attempt to construct soundscapes that captured what Brian often
refers to as musical translations of human emotion. Inspired by these
same emotions, he infuses diverse sounds to better convey the mood
inspiring the music that is the backbone of his work. Perhaps a more
accurate description, as can be experienced when listening to his debut
album, 'Beyond', is a music score for a movie, except that there is no
movie and the only visuals available are all in the mind. Released
locally only recently, 'Beyond' is a six-track concept album. The songs
here all verge on the ambient side of electronica, and their tranquil
moods will appeal not only to chill-out regulars but also to new-age
afficionados. In just over half an hour, Brian Vassallo has managed to
paint an aural picture that, first and foremost conveys a feeling of
infinite space. This he does through his soothing music, six tracks that
definitely bear the timbre of Vassallo's own influences. 'Beyond' is a
blend of Orbital's 'Insides', Mike Oldfield's 'Songs of distant earth',
and a mild dash of Jean Michel Jarre and Vangelis thrown in for good
measure. At a time when the local scene is evidently enjoying a fresh
breath of life, this impressive debut, extending beyond the familiar
characteristics of contemporary music, is a very welcome addition.
Recommended weblink: www.brianvassallo.com
