Brian Vassallo

Brian Vassallo is a relatively new name on the block. Not surprising, this, since he has been musically active mostly within the confines of his four walls. At a young age, he discovered he had a passion for music and more importantly, electronica. This passion grew stronger when he discovered the works of pioneering artists such as Jean Michel Jarre and Vangelis, yet, at the same time, he also followed with a keen interest, the synthesised metamorphosis of electronica, as it evolved and probed deeper into the dance scenario. From techno to trance and electro to ambient, Brian was taking in a flood of influences, so that when, at the age of 16, he bought his first synth, he started to experiment with his own compositions, not exactly in a bid to formulate songs, but rather in an attempt to construct soundscapes that captured what Brian often refers to as musical translations of human emotion. Inspired by these same emotions, he infuses diverse sounds to better convey the mood inspiring the music that is the backbone of his work. Perhaps a more accurate description, as can be experienced when listening to his debut album, 'Beyond', is a music score for a movie, except that there is no movie and the only visuals available are all in the mind. Released locally only recently, 'Beyond' is a six-track concept album. The songs here all verge on the ambient side of electronica, and their tranquil moods will appeal not only to chill-out regulars but also to new-age afficionados. In just over half an hour, Brian Vassallo has managed to paint an aural picture that, first and foremost conveys a feeling of infinite space. This he does through his soothing music, six tracks that definitely bear the timbre of Vassallo's own influences. 'Beyond' is a blend of Orbital's 'Insides', Mike Oldfield's 'Songs of distant earth', and a mild dash of Jean Michel Jarre and Vangelis thrown in for good measure. At a time when the local scene is evidently enjoying a fresh breath of life, this impressive debut, extending beyond the familiar characteristics of contemporary music, is a very welcome addition. - Michael Bugeja

Brian Vassallo – Beyond (Self released cd; 1998) Well, what is got here is electronic spacemusic from the Maltese ( !) musician Brian Vassallo, who steps forward with an album he already seems to have released back in 1998. It's a pity it remained so long in whatever vault, as this is a real gem for fans of the genre. There's only 31 minutes of music split in 6 tracks, in which we enter the vast territory of space, accompanied by great floating synthwashes in the openingtrack "Are we Alone". After a while things develop in a soft bouncy Berliner School-structure, but the vastness of space remains, also when we get in the realms of "Distant Stars" with atmospheric wind-effects. The 4th track "Where are we going" returns to some light Berliner School sequencer/rhythms, both engaging and offering a vast soundspectrum. "Heartbeat above Earth" is another deep floater with echoing piano-keys, warm but with mysterious undercurrents, before we delve in the closing title-track: this is an overall adventurous, slightly eerie soundscape drifting off into the deep cosmos, which is abruptly cut-off after 3.36 min. although the journey just started, so this really needs to be properly fixed. The mastering & production of the album are outstanding, headphones are a must. All in all, Beyond is a strong debut of which I do hope lots of the same quality will see the light. Spacefans out there, make sure you check this one out ! - Bert Strolenberg

Good things often come in small packages. This gem of a half hour is some classic space music in the vein of the greats like Jean-Michel Jarre and Jonn Serrie. "Are We Alone?" starts very much like Jarre's classic "Oxygene Part VI," in fact, with that sweeping pseudo-wave crashing synth sound. Classic space music wafts across your living room as it evolves, full of wonderful gentle vintage sounds. The coolest sequence picks up the pace on "Out There," along with a nifty beat and full rich pads forming a melodramatic undercurrent. The melodic synth lead is cool, too. Moving into complete drift mode is "Distant Stars," with whooshing sounds accompanied by bright echoing piano. This one really captures the mood of Brian Eno's classic, Apollo. It fades out so slowly that the music seems to disappear before the equally long fade in to start "Where Are You Going?" But once it arrives, it brings the highest-energy track. Once again, the sequencing and beats are excellent, irresistibly catchy stuff. This is followed by the quietest deep space excursion on the disc, "Heartbeat Above Earth." Similar in feel and composition to "Distant Stars," it remains distinctive enough and strong enough to more than warrant inclusion. "Beyond" rumbles in low as the spaceship's engines shift gears, slowing to explore the outer realms. It's a rather ominous ending, but it works, including the abrupt ending. Set up your planetarium, lie on the floor, and enjoy it. - Phil Derby - ElectroAmbient Space

Brian Vassallo's debut recording, Beyond,
may be short (it clocks in at just over 31 minutes long) - but what a fantastic 31 minutes it is! If you love classic spacemusic, Beyond could become one of your favorite recordings of recent memory. Six tracks are divided between soaring drifters full of all manner of retro synths evoking the golden era of the Hearts of Space record label, and quasi-Berlin EM cruisers. All of the tracks are solidly engineered and produced, with a spacious sound field (headphones are a must, in my opinion).

"Are We Alone?" opens the album in grand jaw-dropping fashion - swooshing synth washes, whooshing sonic effects, echoing tones, and dramatic analog chords combine to evoke a true sense of the cosmos. Minor key undercurrents and lush drones are carried along in a current of bouncy Berlin-like drum rhythms and soaring synths on "Out There" (one of my favorite tracks on the CD). "Distant Stars" reverses field with its plaintive and heavily echoed digital piano (notes seem to go on forever - receding further and further into the distance) evoking the vastness of deep space, helped along by whooshing solar wind effects and subtle drones deep underneath the piano. "Where Are We Going" returns to the bouncy rhythms of "Out There" but this time the mood is emotionally lighter and also more of a straightforward homage to Berlin school music. Warm melodic keyboard chords flow over percolating sequenced beats and synths. Later, more retro synths enter the track, yielding an even warmer sound and bringing a smile to my face, as I recall the LP recordings by Larry Fast (a.k.a. Synergy) that I first played way back in the '70s.

Two more floating spacemusic tracks remain on Beyond: the serene "Heartbeat Above Earth" (Michael Garrison meets Jonn Serrie perhaps?) and the uncharacteristically more sparse ambience of the title track (which is a dark formless scary short trip into forlorn synth choruses, strange reverberating rhythms, and mysterious drones). Beyond, indeed! The only fault I can find with the track is that ends very abruptly - almost too much so.

Brian Vassallo will hopefully be encouraged by a positive response to this fine recording. Beyond may signal the start of a great spacemusic artist's career. According to the copy of the CD I have, this music was recorded in 1998! I don't know where it was hiding all this time, but I sure am glad it's surfaced. If you're a fan of the golden age of spacemusic (mid to late '80s), you will be too. - Bill Binkelman - Wind & Wire