Review from Pulse Magazine, May 2002
http://www.pulse.towerrecords.com
MA JA LE & JAMES
JOHNSON
Seed ( Hypnos )
****
Many of synthesist Steve Roach's adherents have followed him into the
abstractions of the drone zone in the last decade. That's left scant few
inhabiting an ambient terrain that articulates a more serene and melodic
space. On Seed, Ma Ja Le, an ambient guitar/synth duo from Milwaukee,
teams up with fellow ambient explorer James Johnson. They pull aside drone
zone fog for a mesmerizing CD that slowly reveals intricate depths beneath
its placid surface. Undulating synthesizers merge into a slow trance step
on "Yaquona," while "Methane Sea" is a gorgeous, ambient
drift of long, crying synthesizer lines and yearning guitar. They transmit
elongated Morse code through aquatic space. While their debt to Roach
is evident both on their floating music and the techno-tribal udu drum
thud of "Outside In," together Ma Ja Le and Johnson have finally
germinated a voice of their own.
By John Diliberto
Ma Ja Le/James Johnson
"Seed"
By Dodds Wiley
This is a stunning collaboration by three of the most gifted artists in
the ambient genre,Christopher Short,Paul Vnuk Jr.,and James Johnson.Together
with one vision they have created a sound world of rich textures and beauty
that transports the listener to a different space and time.The sound flows
effortlessly as the interplay between these artists conjures up the concept
of all life originating from some type of seed.The production on this
disc is awesome with a perfect balance ,blending guitar ,synthesizer ,percussion,flute,
piano,effects and much more into a magical sonic garden.
Yaquona [part 1] sets the stage with a swirling introduction,a collage
of synth,guitartronics,percussion and effects.A tribal rhythm starts and
marks the smooth transition into Yaquona{Part 2],a stately procession
of intriguing sound.Up next is" Methane Sea ",eighteen minutes
of beautiful flowing and drifting chords,with some nice guitar.Some snaky
flute sounds and percussion entice the listener into the next track ,the
slightly oriental sounding and intoxicating "Outside In".The
fifth track"Hibiscus Ceremony" features some lovely piano work
by James Johnson.Finally the last track "Seed" takes the listener
on a long voyage through distant galaxies to the ends of time.
This is one of the very best ambient works and is highly recommended!
It is space music of the highest order and a must for any electronic music
lover's collection.Hypnos Recordings has added another masterpiece to
it's catalog of high quality ambient releases.
Wild Rose Café
KTPR-FM (Fort Dodge) and WOI-FM (Des Moines)
Ma Ja Le/James Johnson “Seed”
Outstanding music coming from you guys on Hypnos. Seed is such an
amazing recording. I have never heard anything like it by anyone...
ever. This is the newest sounding "ambient" recording I have
heard in
many years. Just delightful, mysterious, straight ahead at times, and
a
great depth.
John Pemble (host)
http://www.synthmusicdirect.com
Ma Ja Le / James Johnson "Seed"
Compact Disc / 6 tracks / 73.38 mins
Gurgling sounds and effects and shapeless textures abound in this richly organic sonic expanse.
Jumping right into the deep crevasse, 'Yaquona (part 1)' is dark yet delicate, with soft undercurrents brewing and bubbling. There is a feeling of uneasiness or foreboding, something amiss is about to happen.
It becomes
unexpectedly bright and shimmering near the very end. A
vague semblance of rhythm, which soon grows into a deep reverberant
plodding beat, begins part two. You feel the need to brush away the bugs
in the dank musty cavern. The
sounds conjure up detailed images, very compelling stuff.
'Methane Sea' has, surprisingly, a Vangelis-like lead, adding some melancholy melody to the mostly formless echoes. Rich delicate atmospheres are beautifully done here.
This track also appears on the limited edition 'Live Under A Harvest Moon,' but the version on 'Seed' is over 15 minutes long, a more fully developed piece.
Resonant flutes and more bleating drums dominate 'Outside In,' a tribal number with cool eastern touches.
I'd feel almost cheated if a James Johnson CD didn't include an excellent piano solo, this time in the form of 'Hibiscus Ceremony.' His sparse playing amidst more synth textures has a very calming effect. You may need to return to it after the brooding, haunting title track that closes out the disc.
Another track from 'Harvest Moon,' here it is twice as long and twice as dark. The benchmark for dark ambient has to be Robert Rich and Lustmord's 'Stalker,' and this finds itself in similar territory. Downright spooky, but deliciously so. (PD)
2002 © Phil Derby / Synth Music Direct
Great to hear this latest Hypnos release. Very nice stuff which will be winging its way on to my programme very soon.
Nice to see the HDCD indicator light up on my deck as the music started, too! I think that this is the first "ambient" CD that I've ever seen mastered in HD.
Chris Meloche
Host / Producer: Wired for Sound (CHRW-FM)
http://www.ambientvisions.com/12222001.htm#seed
Ma Ja Le / James Johnson "Seed" (Hypnos 2001/2002)
"Seed" is the long awaited and much anticipated studio collaboration between James Johnson and Ma Ja Le (Paul Vnuk, Jr. and Chris Short). The album is a natural follow-up to the y2k live CD, "Live Under a Harvest Moon." The disc features a hybrid of two styles, neither of which dominates, both of which compliment. The new style is symphonic tribal minimalism.
Ma Ja Le's tribal interacts superbly with James's expansive and meditative minimalism. The artistes' mutual preferences for experiMENTAL sonic possibilities provide the recurring theme that holds the set together. The deep and ethereal ambience is absolute ear candy. There are distinct symphonic synthesizer echoes. Chris's "guitartronics" are subtle and powerful. James's "synthetic architecture" is gentle and dynamic. Paul's "synthscapes" are colorful and gray.
At the time of this review, Paul, Chris and James were still looking for a label on which to release this amazing CD. That search should be a short one!
(They found a label. It will be a Hypnos release. That is no surprise at all!)
Reviewed by Jim Brenholts, author of "Tracks Across the Universe: A Chronology of Ambient and Electronic Music"
