This follow up release to the band's first outing Fuse (2004) is important for its ambitious first half concept piece entitled "First Orbit", a nine part epic endeavouring to portray the feelings of Yuri Gagarin, the first man ever to venture beyond the earth's atmosphere and see the world from the outside in.
The work is a most enjoyable mix of electronica and symphonic styled instrumentals. The opening part, "Vostok" is a bright neo-progressive arrangement, perhaps embracing the excitement before the launch whilst the later tracks develop the various themes of the journey's unique experiences from weightlessness through the first orbit to seeing for the first time the shadow of the earth and sunrise over the poles. The whole work hangs together very nicely reminding me a little of Mike Oldfield's Distant Earth album. Smooth layers of keys provide the undercoat for bright synths and soaring guitar lines. In its lighter moments we are treated to some rather tasteful piano, especially pleasantly presented on the moving "Polar Sunrise". In the celebratory closing track "Lap of the Gods" we also hear some sax - real or keyboard/sampled I'm not sure.
In the second half of the album, summarised as "Nocturnes" the artist turns his hand to lyrics, although the first song "Desire" was written by the singer, Gabrielle Agachiko. Nothing very prosaic here, but again the strength of the instrumental works shines through these rather banal love songs. The choice of female singers does improve the result though and provides a nice counterpoint to the first "side". In "An Inspectre (sic) Calls", the music takes a light jazzy turn but other than this I don't hear much to merit the "nu-jazz and fusion" influences which the composer claims. Perhaps the best of the Nocturne set is the haunting, atmospheric "Frightened Whisper" with Penny Moorhed's breathy vocal matching the mystical feel of the song.
As to who plays what on the album or who Visible Breath are I can't say as the album is as silent as their website on the matter. The music is the work of one Aylsebury based person who goes by the pseudonym of Dun Strummin which I think he must have got off a beach hut somewhere! They do mention guest vocalists on a few tracks but that's all so I assume he does the rest. Its perhaps taking modesty a step far! The album is available on cdbaby.com and on itunes. Whatever, fans of Camel, Mike Oldfield, Kerrs Pink and melodic prog/electronica in general should enjoy this.
Track Listing
First Orbit
1. Vostok
2. Into the unknown
3. Weightless
4. Siberia
5. First Orbit
6. Earth shadow
7. Cosmic Midnight Surfer
8. Polar Sunrise
9. Lap of the Gods
Nocturnes
10. Desire
11. An Inspectre calls
12. Moonlight Fiddle
13. Frightened Whisper
14. Aurora
15. Silence of the night
16. Winterlight (bonus)
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