EER-MUSIC.com HOME PAGE

EER-MUSIC.com
MEET THE STAFF HERE

Niklas Ahman Generator (mp3.com DAM CD, 2001)

Niklas Ahman, a composer and guitarist from Sweden, provides nine tracks
of guitar-centered, ethereal instrumentals on Generator.  Ahman
has five years of music scoring for film and commercials in Sweden under
his belt, along with other projects for his experimental and free form
contemporary songwriting. 


Generator ranges widely in style, from the crunchy prog feel of
the title track to the Spanish guitar of "Rental Car" and the Allan
Holdsworth style fusion leads in "Irascible."  "Catwalk" mixes acoustic
guitar and Latin flavored percussion.  Ahman blends these styles well,
with drum and percussion guest performances on several tracks providing
the only other live musicians on the record.  


Ahman plays electric, acoustic, and synth guitars, along with voices and
sounds.  The crisp guitar work moves with clean skill on both electric
and acoustic guitars.  The ambient passages ring with intriguing
textures and subtle noises, including voice used as a noise or an
instrument rather than singing any lyrics.  Generator sounds
impeccable, with all instruments and layered synth chiming through clear
and bright.  


The major weakness in Generator is a lack of depth in the music
that comes both from some of the synth programming and from the
songwriting.  Plain drum and bass programming over much of the record
leaves the music feeling sluggish, without much spark of interaction
between the parts or musicians.  The live drums and percussion on about
half of the tracks help, but the programming leaves the bass guitar
sounding flat within uninspired lines, before breaking out with some
flair toward the end of the record in "Catwalk" and "Timebomb." The
songwriting favors ethereal and ambient passages overlaid with long
guitar solos, without many elements in the writing to engage the
listener.  "Nina," in particular, rolls on over 12 minutes even though
most of the song is one big classical guitar solo over synths that
slowly build a swell over 10 minutes.  Ahman uses melodic and sonic
ideas to keep his solos as interesting as he can, but they cannot drive
the music alone.


Generator makes an enjoyable backdrop without drawing focus to
itself, but it doesn't ensnare or captivate the listener and make them
want to experience the music repeatedly.  Generator shows a
strong cinematic or soundtrack influence, which leaves it more ambient
than most rock or fusion.

Reviewed by Scott Andrews [scottandrews@his.com]



More Info:

http://www.niklasahman.cjb.net/ 


GO BACK
RETURN TO:

To purchase this recording and get more info, soundclips, etc.
CLICK ON ARTIST'S NAME ABOVE
OR . . .
Please visit my BUY IT E.E.R. NOW INDEX PAGE
OR...

Please try my brand spankin' new 
EER and AMAZON.com QUIK-LINKs
buyer's guide to recommended music.
OR ...
 go to my LINKS page and find the vendors' section. 
Happy hunting!

Observe how the word
wheel reverses direction
if you try and read words.