When making a gapless album a keepsake is that it has to flow effortlessly and I don't mean blending from one track to another. The compositions has to take you on a journey, it has to make you get caught up in the sounds, the notes, the harmony. When it has been executed right you forget about the time and it makes you reflect on the past, the present, and the future. When it has missed the mark, you're counting the minutes, you're pausing the recording, you are thinking, "what else can I be doing right about now.
The new album from Rich Brodsky aka Atomic Skunk is truly the former.
The new album, "Portal" takes you on a journey from one imaginary place to another and the cool thing about it is that when I came from that journey I didn't mind going again.
His first LP, "Binary Scenes" blew not only me away but so many others that came across his skillful masterpiece. The mixture of electronic and acoustic instrumental sounds combined with sound loops was fun, hypnotic, and a thrill to listen to over and over again. "Portal" continues that journey into the unknown. Some artists have to worry about the "sophomore jinx" but not Atomic Skunk.
When first hearing "Portal" the first thing I thought of was Andreas Vollenweider's "Down to the Moon" album (which is a gapless) the difference is that Atomic Skunk flows from beginning to end so flawlessly. Atomic Skunk truly takes you to different lands, different universes in the span of a little over an hour. With this well crafted piece of music it is truly audio brought to life. What I love about this album is that how thee journey begins and as it proceeds to another time and place it doesn't let you turn away, not for a second.
From the title track, "Portal" it was as if curiosity got the best of me because when you see an unknown doorway, you're afraid to venture through it but you do not want to have any regrets so you plunge right in and you begin the trek that you don't know if you made the right decision.
With the second track, "Dhalang" you come to an unknown place that makes you feel as if you discovered Shangri-La which means you're happy that you looked your fears straight in the face and took the dare to leave your comfort zone, but the best is yet to come.
What is so wonderful about "Portal" it takes you from land to under the sea to the depth of space and even to an enchanted fairy tale place.
I loved the track, "The Waltz of the Frog Prince" where it took me back to a time when staying up late at night in bed reading the Grimm Fairy Tales. One thing about the original fairy tales when you truly reflect on them is that they were really dark stories and this track takes you to that place but in the end the outcome is good.
When listening to the tracks, "Osiris" and "Once More Around Ganymede" it takes you on a journey of time and space. The beauty of these compositions is how he (Atomic Skunk) blends synthesizers, loops, audio voices for the feel of time travel. I can see these tracks being used for NASA when checking out beautiful photographs of our galaxy from the Hubble Telescope and when you hear "Forest for the Trees" you are right back when you first began your exploration.
This is an work of art for the ears that should be treasured and a must for your music library. This album is made to be shared with friends for a nice, intimate get together or when you need to unwind, let go, reflect and just like you self be caught up in the moment of nothingness.
Atomic Skunk's Portal
{Album Playlist}
o1. Portal
o2. Dhalang
o3. Nautilus
o4. The Waltz of the Frog Prince
o5. China Doll*
o6. Osiris
o7. Once More Around Ganymede
o8. Forest for the Trees
*Grateful Dead cover
Album Cover by Michal Karcz
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