Search - Mark Dwane :: Atlantis Factor

Imagine a civilization captured on a CD....

Russell J. Grasso | Massachusetts, USA | 06/24/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the most tangible of Dwane's first three CDs and one that any electronic musician would be proud to have written. The story-telling is done by lyrical lines expressed by strings, flutes, and synthetic voices, recanting the glory of Atlantis, while neo-rock backbeats and wonderful electronic orchestrations enoble our senses. There are first rate moments in "The Factor", such as counter 3:28 in "Chalidocean", the Atlantean's description of their capital city. "Song of the Dolphin" is a new age composition as lush as they come with crystalline arpeggios, offstage effects, a free-lancing solo flute and violins shimmering until dawn. "Atlantean Magic", the most melodious cut, has Atlantean female voices paraphrasing their culture's considerable technological stature. "Reign of Chaos" conjures up the end of Atlantis in beautiful but tragic majesty. The grand foreboding chord progression is what we point to when we want to demonstrate the power of synthesized music. But it is the last cut, "Eternal Echoes", that touches our very soul, a piano and string epilogue to the legend of Atlantis. We don't feel the anguish of Atlantis's destruction so much as the power of her legacy, forever preserved for us here. If this number jerks a tear, it is hard to tell whether its from the sadness of Atlantis's demise or the remarkable beauty of what Dwane wrote here for his string section. He sucessfully captures the feel of eternity, in a style outside of his usual realm, here in this remarkable conclusion to a remarkable CD. It may seem to the Amazon.com browser that Dwane went the way of Atlantis seven years ago. However, he has three more albums since 1993: Paradigm Shift, The Nefilim and Archives available from other sources."

Excellent Mental Soundtrack

Rick | NC | 12/14/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've had this CD about a year and I always look forward to putting this in my player and drifting away to mental images of the ocean. This one may take a few listens to grow on you but it's one you'll keep coming back to- it has a tendency to call you back to it, somehow. Highlights include "Chalidocean", that features a mellow and melodic theme with a sensual female vocal singalong chorus. There's another track with vocals representing the lost citizens of Atlantis that is quite haunting. In various places thoughout this CD, there are ocean and watery sounds in the music to give it that aquatic ambience, although this is not one of those sound environment CD's. Put this one on when you're alone, close your eyes and it's a totally relaxing journey. A definite must-have CD if you want to hear some New Age music that is a cut above the rest."

Mark's third effort - still on track.

Rick | 11/03/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A good blend between Mark's first two efforts, the calm and mystic Monuments of Mars, and the more rhythmic Aliens... People have been dissapointed that this CD contains only 40 odd minutes of music. But it is all worthy."