Album review

Sven Väth Accident in Paradise 1993

Last update: December, the 28th 1997

 

Sven Väth
Accident in Paradise (1993)

EYE Q 4509 93989-2

01 Ritual of Life [13:08]
02 Caravan of Emotions [12:28]
03 L´Esparanza [10:25]
04 Sleeping Invention [3:20]
05 Mellow Illusion [9:10]
06 Merry-go-round Somewhere [1:27]
07 An Accident in Paradise [6:24]
08 Drifting like Whales in the Darkness [6:42]
09 Coda [1:23]
Bonus tracks:
10 L´Esperanza (single edit) [3:53]
11 Ritual of Life (Tribal Acid Mix) [8:25]

Total Time: [75:35]
 

Overview

This is the 1st official album Sven released under his own name, actually it´s an release of
Sven and Ralf Hildenbeutel.

It´s a quite good, but very varied album, a mix out of Ambient, Classic, Dark Ambient, EM,
Kid Stuff and Hard Trance.

It doesn't fit quite right into the triangle but it´s too good not to be honourable mentioned.
 

Track per track review

01 Ritual of Life [13:08]

It starts with a very dark atmosphere, strings reminiscent of "Dead can Dance"
At the 1 minute mark a digeredoo enters the scene followed by a deep African percussion
line. After 3 minutes an Ambient House/Trance rhythm/bass sequence  is added while the percussion line
still remains in the foreground.
Fragments of a melody are added to the simple main accord scheme soon.
The rhythm is highly influenced by the African percussion work. All in all it´s an unique peace,
I like that one although there's no real melody..
 
02 Caravan of Emotions [12:28]

Ambient with a Piano sequence and some wind/percussion effects. It´s a floating piece reminiscent
of Eno, IMO. A melancholic synth melody appears after ca. 3 minutes. Slow one-handed Piano improvisations
complements that part.
 
03 L´Esparanza [10:25]

Synth string chords start our trip, a slow Break Beat
rhythm (reminiscent of ENIGMA) is added soon.
The bass line is really nice. This is probably the best track.

I agree with Duane Ott "It's bloody freaking brilliant".
(Quoted from the GoldTri list)

04 Sleeping Invention [3:20]

Water sounds and a strange voice bass sequence are the background
for a beautiful classical harpsichord/Synth flute theme plus female *instrumental*
vocals (similar to Lisa Gerard of "Dead can Dance" fame). Sounds Baroque
styled, IMO. Does anyone know "Baroque by candle light" from Chris Hinze ?
That track would fit on that album, strange, isn't it ?
 
05 Mellow Illusion [9:10]

The beat turns on again with Ambient House/slow Trance rhythms.
The smoothy atmosphere sounds similar to TD´s Dream Mixes,
a nice froggy TB 303 and an old fashioned analogue synth sequencer
plus a really nice analogue sounding mono synth melody complements this jewel.

The rhythm and sequences are fading out after ca. 6 minutes,
remaining a smoothy and peaceful Ambient atmosphere.

06 Merry-go-round Somewhere [1:27]

Kids are playing in the background while Bandeon chords and Music Box
sounds are creating a simple kid tune, exactly what the title promised.

07 An Accident in Paradise [6:24]

This is hard trance/techno. Even a bit too hard for my taste and
that track doesn't fit very well to the others, IMHO.

A 4-4 beat monster meets several TB 303 bass lines, better than run-of-the-mill
techno but not great.
 
08 Drifting like Whales in the Darkness [6:42]

Dark, dark Ambience,  no Whale sounds yet,
you can hear a submarine sonar echo instead,
a great scary tune.

09 Coda [1:23]

This is Classical harpsichord/flute stuff, nothing else !
Baroque is calling again, I'm even realizing some little Fugue techniques.

I really like that little tune, it´s quite difficult to play live on a harpsichord, btw,
even for better *amateur* pianists, I guess it´s just a MIDI tune.

10 L´Esperanza (single edit) [3:53]

It´s more a remix than a radio edit, the rhythm
is more bassy and complex, sounds like a Enigma rip-off now.
Unfortunately too short to be brilliant, IMO.
 
11 Ritual of Life (Tribal Acid Mix) [8:25]
 
A kicking bass drum on 1 and 3 and another freaky, froggy TB 303
worm is added to the original track, bites me, that monster beat :-)