Firedancer by Paul Nagle
AMP Records, PO Box 387, London N22 6SF, UK.
AMP-CD024
1. Firedancer (4.46)
2. Vulcan's Forge (4.04)
3. Sons of the Desert (5.44)
4. Aftermath (2.08)
5. Sword of Flame (5.18)
6. Sandalwood (4.24)
7. Lava (6.08)
8. Torchbearer (7.05)
9. Morning Light (4.00)
10. Forgery (6.34)
Gear : Korg DSS1, Korg 03R/W, Roland MKS50, Roland Jupiter 6,
Yamaha TG55, Roland D110, Yamaha DD12,
Korg Wavestation A/D, E-Mu Vintage Keys Plus,
Roland A30, Creative Labs AWE32.
Firedancer opens with a very '80s Schulze sequencer pattern,
using a strangely resonant sound. Other layers fade in and
help build up the sound and a rhythm track comes in. The
lead line is very typical Paul Nagle territory, with a
good balance between vague washes and direct melodies.
Vulcan's Forge is dark and dramatic. Big fat Roland
string washes and 'uphill struggle' rhythm (for want
of a better description). Some very bluesy chord
sequences and excellent fake-guitar work put Paul's
stamp firmly on this track. Hammered metal percussion
completes the scene.
Sons of the Desert starts off sounding like electro-
pop in the early '80s vein. Ah, it's starting to
turn more exotic now. Think of 'Living on the Ceiling'
by Blancmange and you're getting there. Later on,
things get a bit more manic. Images of fanatical
suicide bombers, burning oilwells, Saddam. In fact,
there's a bit of a nod towards Hawkwind's Hassan-
I-Sabah (don't know if Paul is familiar with this
track or not).
Aftermath is well scary. Dark and mournful. Some
very nicely executed abstract effects.
Sword of Flame is, appropriately, an epic adventure
track. The march of a conquering army. Ah, some nice
Franke-trademark sequencer 'rolls'. Synth-brass and
synth choirs trade anthemic licks then tubular bells
herald a more settled plateau of strings and high
melody.
Sandalwood is one of my faves. An exotic incense-
filled soundscape. The flute lead is beautiful
and natural and the wind chimes sound like they're
being wafted by gentle breezes rather than being
triggered by electronic switches on a keyboard.
Later on things start to pick up into a waltz-
time rhythm not unlike some sections of Oldfield's
Tubular Bells. Can't shake the image of veiled
belly-dancers (not that I want to shake it, you
understand, ahem).
Lava starts off with some excellent compositional
'visions'. I take my hat off to anyone who can
conjure images using notes rather than sound
textures, and Paul does this admirably here.
Bubbling rivers of lava engulfing everything
in their path. Thick clouds of sulphurous smoke
blocking the sun. Animals and people fleeing in
panic (Calvin would love it !). The orchestral
string work is excellent, especially with the
gear used.
Torchbearer is my fave track. Big, deep cinematic
soundscape to start with. Lovely sequencer work
and high, liquid strings suggest Thief by TD,
but then things develop into a more '90s feel
with resonant ravey sequencers and squelchy
bass. What's this ? A real melody makes this into
a commercial possibility. Think of Oxygene 10
by Jarre (done three years earlier !). A bluesy
piano theme enters later and the sequencers
go into bass overdrive. It would have been
easy to go into rave mode, but instead Paul
chose to go for an achingly beautiful melody
line which could have come straight out of
Vince Clarke's mind.
Morning Light has all the trappings of a new-age
flop - sparse piano notes reverbed off into the
distance. Instead of going down the Harold Budd
path though, Mr Nagle gives the mighty Tori
Amos a run for her money on the old Joanna (UK
rhyming slang for a piano). Caution - musician
at work ! The melody and chords are similarly
Amosesque and powerful. Killer track !
Forgery sounds to me like a soundtrack to a Hercule
Poirot mystery. Very French chords and a Hank
Marvin lead guitar invoke images of Citroens,
Parisian backstreets, capes and wide-brimmed hats.
There is a real guitar lead ably supplied by Jim
Lowe, with bass guitar supplied by Dave Robinson.
At the end, the sound fades to a 'small speaker'
like at the end of "Have a Cigar" on Wish You Were
Here. Just in time to switch the TV off ? Oh, hang on
a minute - this is the same tune as Vulcan's Forge,
but I'd say that Vulcan's Forge was the REAL
Forgery, with its fake guitars, etc.
Interestingly, this album sounds deeper on headphones
than it does over speakers. The only slight criticism
I have is that things would sound so much better today
on better gear. Somebody give that man a Kurzweil
K2000 and a killer reverb unit !
At the moment, I'd place Firedancer as my second fave
in the elements series :-
1. Earthshaper
2. Firedancer
3. Skyrider
I've yet to hear Wavemaker and Live Elements.
Reviewed by Grant Middleton
(
geocities.com/sunsetstrip/lounge) (
geocities.com/sunsetstrip)