Erik Wollo: Wind Journey

Written by Mat Mckenzie

last updated 2008-09-14 17:54 CET

Fans of superbly melodic synth and guitar music please form an orderly queue.

Music critique

Artist: Erik Wollo

Album: Wind Journey

Playtime: 01:10:14
Record label: Monumental records
Released: 2001

planet origo rating

Erik Wollo - Wind Journey

Although the name is familiar to me, I'm pretty sure this is the first full album I had ever heard by Erik Wollo, the acclaimed Norwegian multi instrumentalist, and I can honestly say that it won't be the last! This album is superb.

Taking the vital statistics first; it's a 70 minute long album comprising an amazing 23 tracks of melodic instrumental synth music blended with both acoustic and electric guitar. The album is essentially in two halves, the first 8 tracks followed by 'the seasons suite' which is a collection of short musical representations of the seasons.

I confess that the guitar isn't my weapon of choice being an electronic music specialist, 'but' I love them when used mainly for lead melodies as they tend to be on this album. I guess this harks back to the time I first discovered Pink Floyd and Tangerine Dream.

I always feel it's helpful to have a few reference points when reading about music. Obviously your own ears are the best judge but if the examples are at least 'fairly' close to the music in question it gives you an idea. To that end I would list the following albums as a good indicator of whats in store; Universal Ave. by Double Fantasy, Mind over Matter - The Colours of Life, Bob holroyd's Fluidity & Structure. Even aspects of Pete Bardens - Seen One Earth, The Guitar Orchestra - The Guitar Orchestra and the track The Pump by Jeff Beck aren't too far away and yes you are right in thinking that I'd only heard The Pump because it was on the Risky Business soundtrack!

The opening track is a mere minute and a half long but already it gives you an idea of where the album is going - all the components of what you are you are going to hear later are laid out before you. Continuing the pace, Wind Journey 1 fades straight in and establishes a powerful presence with a rhythmic sequencer line bubbling underneath and strong lead guitar and synth melodies over the top. Musically it is quite different, but still somehow reminded me of Micheal Hoenig's 1978 masterpiece Departure from the Northern Wasteland. This becomes stranger again if you check out the original artwork for the Hoenig album - it's remarkably similar to the Wind Jouney cover as it also features balloons taking off. Confirmation if any was required that music is more than capable of triggering strong images in the mind.

A drifting melodic interlude slows the pace down and prepares the listener for more dreamy synth pads to weave into the mix. A superbly melodic guitar melody takes centre stage to give an overall Ash Ra New Age of Earth feeling - a gorgeous sun drenched beach would be the perfect place to listen to this. The album as a whole seems to be broken into slightly longer more complex pieces with strong melodies and themes, punctuated by short ambient pieces. Awakening starts off as quite melancholic but towards the end we are rewarded with a brilliant melody and synth voice that reminds me of L'Enfant from Opera Sauvage by Vangelis. In complete contrast, Insula is very similar in sound to Andy Summers great solo album The Golden Wire. The mood of the album is generally quite consistent but the style varies considerably; not enough to break the relaxed mood just enough to keep your interest.

Wind Journey 2 marks the end of the first half of the album and it's one of my favourite tracks having an absolutely killer melody, being full of tension and building up as beautifully as it fades away. It also complements Wind Journey 1 at the start of the album - which is always nice, you get a feeling you've been on a journey which is exactly what he's trying to achieve here I'm sure. If you like Mind over matter you'll love this track - it's got a lot in common.

Sea marks the beginning of the 'seasons suite' and it magically conjours up visions of seabirds riding the thermals as they drift above the ocean. Seamlessly on to the next track Open Land and the melody and emotion just keep coming, it really is brilliantly absorbing music. I don't think the track titles have been given casually either, it's easy to get a mental picture from them which matches the music itself - Rain for example sounds exactly like....rain!

Suzanne Ciani fans will like Early Autumn as it would sit perfectly aside tracks off her Neverland album - very relaxing stuff. Passage of time has a definite Love on a real train vibe which fades off into the quite melancholy Aurora Borealis. The last track of the album Home, begins with the same tinkling wind chime effect thats heard at the start of the album. It's another gentle piece which reminds me a lot of Edgar Froese - Stuntman - though that's probably mainly due to the synth voice used.

I've always felt marketing electronic music is notoriously different; for a start there are countless genres and sub-genres. Fans also tend to be fanatical about their particular genre and rarely crossover, so how do you pitch an album which crosses several boundaries? I can't see Wind Journey in the same category as a Chillout Ibiza compilation, there are to many searing guitar leads to be pure ambient and 'New Age' would do it a major dis-service in my opinion.

The fact this album reminds me of 'so many' different pieces of music doesn't help either but it is a testament to the albums diversity. for example I can also hear similarities to Jan Hammer and David Gilmour but it certainly isn't a direct copy of either, I never thought that once it's just a familiar feeling you get when listening. I really couldn't put my finger on what 'individual' signature sound this album has, but nevertheless the overall effect is relaxing, dreamy, atmospheric, ambient and above all 'melodic'.

Suffice to say that fans of any of the other artists mentioned here plus people who like Mike Oldfield are probably going to enjoy this album. I liked it the moment I put it on which can mean long term I'll get bored with it, but I think there's enough variety here to keep me returning to it and finding something new. It creates a wonderful mood just to have on in the background if you're too busy to listen properly or if you have the time - sit back and enjoy the magical journey.

Clearly I'd give this album a resounding thumbs up! and I can't wait to hear the album he is working together with Steve Roach on, should be fantastic.