2013-12-14 1:55:40 ¶ ●

Fanart source: Yoshi.

On to the next album: Medium, also by Clark “Plazmataz” Powell. Okay, fine, the guy in the picture’s more of a sooth than a medium, but whatever.

2013-12-14 4:02:00 ¶ ●

By Clark “Plazmataz” Powell

The strummed mandolin in the first half inspires visions of calm Mediterranean beaches. The second half skews a little more cheerful, shifting the scene to Caribbean shores with a bit of calypso rhythm. With a pretty strong honorable mention to Rain, this one’s my top track for the album.

2013-12-15 4:01:00 ¶ ●

By Clark “Plazmataz” Powell

With that rising, funky violin intro, it makes a perfect accompaniment for the discovery of a new world. The song rolls in waves. At times it’s improvisational and muted, only to be followed later by another crescendo.

… wow, I did really describe a violin-driven introduction as ‘funky’. I’ve got no better words, so there it is.

2013-12-16 4:02:00 ¶ ●

By Clark “Plazmataz” Powell

Image source: Homestuck.

The main rhythm sounds like it’s played by inevitable grinding gears, or maybe an elevator making its way down to an unfathomable horror. The violin melody brings with it a bit of an Eastern vibe.

2013-12-17 4:02:00 ¶ ●

By Clark “Plazmataz” Powell

Starts off with a light melody, yet surrounded by impending danger. The artificial sonic beat in the middle is cool, but my favorite part’s the outtro. With that unsettling, ultra-low synth growl behind the bouncy piano melody, the final two minutes is a dead ringer for a song that John could have played to wake up his denizen.

2013-12-18 4:03:00 ¶ ●

By Clark “Plazmataz” Powell

The thin, reedy soprano synth melody gives it a new-age feel, but sort of in distress, what with the malicious percussion in the back. I had to replay it a couple of times to catch the Westminster Chimes in the middle around 3:10: the melody is there, but the key’s so different from the rest of the song, it almost hides in plain sight.

2013-12-19 4:01:00 ¶ ●

RATING: 9 / 13 – reminds me mUch of home. so peacefUl

Well, Calliope might think that this album is peaceful, but that’s probably only because she grew up on the blasted ashes of Earth long after its demise.

Medium is the first solo album by Clark “Plazmataz” Powell. It’s primarily symphonic and atmospheric in tone. Many of the songs contrast a high, natural, treble melody against a deep, synthetic, industrial background.

And there’s a lot of ambient effects and sound scattered throughout. It’s very professionally done: always to enhance a track, never to overwhelm it. The effects bounce between natural (rolling waves from Light, showers from Rain) and otherworldly (the quasi-industrial synth noises from Heat, the main melody from Clockwork).

Given the album’s title, it does very well to set a mood, to describe each of the particular settings it targets. And as a bit of background music, it excels.

Click here for individual song reviews for Medium.