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Stunning new Double album from the UK's best-loved Symphonic Synth Music artist, incorporating styles that have originated over the past three decades!
It’s an ambitious project containing New Material plus some new versions of a handful of older tracks - A kind of retrospective in terms of influences and styles, and includes a VANGELIS inspired track, a TANGERINE DREAM inspired track and an EDGAR FROESE inspired track!
The styles cover David’s 30 years in the business, and includes material recorded with other artists, such as a Previously Unreleased track with KLAUS HOFFMANN HOOK (of MIND OVER MATTER / COSMIC HOFFMANN) one with CARYS and another with ROBERT FOX.
Davis Wright says of the album …
“‘Stranger Days’ was originally intended to be straightforward compilation, but it evolved into a journey; a journey through sound and styles reflecting the luminaries of the electronic music genre whose music I have loved since the early 1970’s and whose influences have shaped my music since I recorded my first album in 1989.
So as a result, this album includes a lot of new and previously unreleased music alongside re-recordings of a handful of tracks.
It has been a labour of love, taking 18 months to complete. It incorporates music from live performances, studio sessions (in some instances tracks that were overlooked and forgotten!) and reworked tracks and remixes.
It also includes some collaborations with and input from friends and musical colleagues whose influences have helped evolve and mature my musical output over the years. I hope that they feel as enriched by the process as I have been.
Stranger Days also marks a change for me, a shift if you will, into possible new directions. What will those directions be and where will they take me? I have no idea … but I do know I still have more to say … and so I will continue to produce my vision of electronic music.”
‘Stranger Days’ comes with an 8-Page Booklet, and here are some details of all the tracks in contains…
Disc 1 …
‘A Moments Contemplation’ was composed and recorded in 2018 specifically as the opening track for ‘Stranger Days’, and as the title suggests, it is indeed a very beautiful, contemplative and emotional piece of music.
‘Re-Connected’ was originally released on the 2012 album: ‘Connected', but it’s a track that David always felt could have been “stronger”, and now it is … if you like your Vangelis, you’ll love this one for sure!
The spacey and melodic: ‘Beyond Glass Mountains’ was a popular track from the 1993 ‘Ocean Watch’ album, and this entirely new, reworked version is based on the impromptu ‘live’ performance of the track given at the 2017 Schwingenhaun Garden Party concert. The music is eerie yet melodic with ethereal Mellotron-like strings playing a strong part as they well up through a web of intricate synth patterns with added heavenly voices courtesy of Carys.
‘Walking With Ghosts’ is one of David’s most popular albums and always a favourite at concerts - this studio ‘Fantasy Mix’ version is a 2017 concert arrangement of the piece. After the initial synth lead passes it sounds like a synth string quartet at times and then the inclusion of fine, spacey high register synth melodies backed by heavenly choral arrangements puts it firmly in cosmic territory – This realty is classic David Wright!
‘Krystal Halls’ is a gentle piece with a psychedelic edge that features the late, great Klaus Hoffmann-Hoock, or Cosmic Hoffmann as many knew the MIND OVER MATTER musician. David and Klaus recorded this piece together sometime between 2011 and 2013 – Says David: “I remember doing the rhythm, sequences and synth parts as a bed for his wonderful guitar work and we had intended to evolve it more and discussed it just two weeks before his untimely death in October 2017. Klaus was a wonderful human being and a great musical talent - I so enjoyed my time with him both musically and socially.”
As a tribute to Klaus, there is another version of this track performed with CODE INDIGO in 2017 and that can be found on the ‘E-Scape 2018’ compilation CD.
‘Always Tomorrow’ is typical David Wright – a very romantic track full of pure, exquisite flowing melody set over a tight rhythmic structure – this gentle, yet evocative piece has a kind of “old fashioned” feel about it – Beautiful!
‘Once Upon A Dream’ is a rhythmic/sequencer-based track that originated from an idea in 2015 and finished in 2018 for this ‘Stranger Days’ album. It is a modern TANGERINE DREAM inspired piece with intricate synth textures and melodies going on throughout, with some added distant vocal effects in the background.
‘Stranger Days - Parts 1-7’ is a bit of an epic, clocking in at over half an hour! This is the album’s spacey, atmospheric biggie! Says David: “This piece has evolved since I first started writing it in 2014. Sections of it have been performed live on several occasions. I wanted to create an epic journey and it has evolved into something I’m particularly proud of; the flow, the themes and the numerous moods and styles - I even injected humour at one point. I finally completed it early in 2018. As a footnote, the original 15 minute musical idea was to have been on the 2017 ‘Prophecy’ album before ‘Prophecy’ became the collaboration with Carys.”
Totally different from anything else on this double disc set, the title track sounds as challenging to the listener as it probably did to the musician that created it! Opening in the dark reaches of the cosmos with a sombre melody line drifting lost in the ether, it then cross-fades into ‘Part 2’ which is a sequenced passage with a jittery improvised melody that seems to stutter around the soundstage with all manner of effects and sampled sounds all around, and as the track builds the melody becomes more fluent and confident. As we roll over into the 3rd Part the synth lead is now up in the mix and dancing around without a care in the world with added, almost Caribbean percussive sounds decorating the mix. ‘Part 4’ starts out much more subdued, but then elements of the more traditional David Wright sounds emerge with multi-synth melodies really getting into gear over a host of vari-textured rhythms. Without a break ‘Part 5’ surges in on a flow of improvised melodic charm, before an atmospheric crossover leads into the slow marching electronic rhythm that is ‘Part 6’ where we enter a jungle-land of sounds and effects from which a soft lead melody emerges and improvises on high before the sounds of splashing synths introduces ‘Part 7’ - the finale.
This ‘Stranger Days’ track has been something very different for a David Wright piece, going to places I have not heard this musician dare enter before - a kind of sonic progression though time and space from start to finish, and the kind of track that will deliver more from each new airing!
Disc 2 …
Originally written in 1995, ‘Rysheara’ is one of David’s most commercially successful tracks and it opens Disc 2 on a euphoric high. This 2018 ultra melodious version, together with its massive choral synth arrangements is taken from a 2013 live performance also featuring the stunning guitar work of Lee Morant. The track has been arranged to be in keeping with the feel of the original and it wouldn’t sound out of place of a symphonic Progressive rock album!
‘Call To Me’ was recorded with vocalist Carys and this is a 2018 remix of the track originally featured on the ‘Beyond The Airwaves - Volume 2’ album. This recreation gives it a totally new emphases and identity, expanding it into a kind of jazzy chill-out style piece.
Next up is a 2018 chill remix of ‘Walking With Ghosts’ that was created by Dave Massey. This is the 4th DJMass remix of the track, with three other versions on the ‘Walking With Ghosts’ Remix EP released in 2018.
David Wright always felt this to be the strongest of these remixed versions - with its cascading, sweeping keyboard layers and haunting, hook-laden synth melody leading the way over a flowing, driving rhythm and background echoed voices, this is one cracking performance.
‘Melt Away’ is a reworked theme from the ‘Meltdown’ album by CODE INDIGO that was originally set to be part of a proposed chill out project that didn’t materialise. With voices added by Carys, the track was performed at a 2017 concert in Norway, the track has the stirring, pulsating rhythmic structure and background effects that offers up the feel of something in the area of ENIGMA.
‘Harmonic Heaven – Parts 1 & 2’ came from an idea originally conceived in 2016 and completed in May 2018.
‘Part 1’ is initially atmospheric but gradually a theme emerges from a cloudy haze in the form of majestic male and high-register angelic female choirs. ‘Part 2’ sees the arrival of a slow undulating rhythm as layers of sweeping string synths are generated and spread over the soundstage to dramatic effect and including some chord changes as it evolves and builds towards a glorious panoramic sonic view.
‘Light Source’ – Parts 1 & 2’ both came from studio sessions in 2016 and 2017 and are an unashamed tribute to the solo work of the late great Edgar Froese. ‘Part 1’ features a fantastic, melodic lead synth melody lead set over rich, bass tones and a tight backbeat rhythm. This moves directly through to ‘Part 2’ where gentle flute-like textures dance around the semi-dissolving rhythm, followed by what sounds like a synth viola which takes up a slightly different interpretation of the melody line – a really cool track that I’m certain Edgar would approve of!
This is one of those tracks that apparently required very little post-production - the music just works!
‘Colours Of The Night’ is a 2018 version of the original from the 1991 album: ‘Marilynmba’. Always a popular piece, this was one of the first tracks David re-recorded for the original compilation album idea in 2017. Starting out sounding like a piece done entirely using Mellotron layers it gradually focuses of a strong, yet sombre flute-like melody line set over droning strings and strict rhythm and this is one of the these tracks that tugs at the heart strings.
‘Forgotten Symphony - Movements 1-4’ is a newly found work originally put together with Robert Fox circa 2012 and then somehow forgotten about! After re-surfacing in 2017, David expanded the sections to 4 parts and added additional strings (Mellotron and the likes), effects and rhythms, ending up with one mighty fine piece of classy, semi-classical symphonic synthesizer music.
Containing superb music that has originated over the past three decades, ‘Stranger Days’ offers you a broad, diverse and complete spectrum of the many sides to David Wright’s brand of “Electronic Music”. From the deeply reflective tones of his more atmospheric material to the huge, grandiose Vangelis inspired melodies - it is all here! At times spacey, eerie, other worldly and ethereal there is still always plenty room for the emotive melodies we all know and love in David’s music, and with the added variations brought about by the inclusion of material produced with and influenced by other notable artists from the EM genre, you can hear a further expansion of his trademarked sound, as well as the exploration of some new sonic territories.
A terrific value-for-money double CD set that comes highly recommended.
‘Stranger Days’ is released on 28th August 2018.
Also available by DAVID WRIGHT …
BETWEEN REALITIES (1992 Studio Album) CDR – Stock # 214349
BEYOND THE AIRWAVES-VOLUME 1 (2014 Album) CD – Stock # 1723927
BEYOND THE AIRWAVES-VOLUME 2 (2015 Album) CD – Stock # 1773398
CONNECTED (2012 Studio Album) CD – Stock # 1565598
CONTINUUM (2004 Studio Album) CD – Stock # 181301
DEEPER (2005 Studio Album) CD – Stock # 416490
DISSIMILAR VIEWS II (2003 Album Featuring Rare & Unreleased Music) 2CDR – Stock # 921489
DREAMS & DISTANT MOONLIGHT (2008 Studio Album) CD – Stock # 1078878
IN SEARCH OF SILENCE (2011 Album - A True Gem!) CD – Stock # 1483560
LIVE AT THE LONDON PLANETARIUM ‘95 (2016 Remastered) CD – Stock # 1875580
MARILYNMBA (1991 Original Pressing with Jon Hoad Artwork) CD – Stock # 1551287
MARILYNMBA (1993 Re-Issue with Different Artwork) CD – Stock # 942220
MOMENTS IN TIME (1994 Studio Album/Artwork Version 1) CD – Stock # 1753389
MOMENTS IN TIME (1994 Studio Album/Artwork Version 2) CD – Stock # 471188
MOMENTUM (2008 Studio Album) CD – Stock # 1020687
OCEAN WATCH (Original 1992 Studio Album) CD – Stock # 203738
OCEAN WATCH (2016 Remastered Edition of 1992 Studio Album) CD – Stock # 1875579
REFLECTIONS (2016 Remastered Edition of 1998 Studio Album/Bonus Tracks) CD – Stock # 1875578
RETURNING TIDES: 1991-2004 (2005 Best Of Album) CD – Stock # 453607
ROMANCING THE MOON (2016 Remaster/15 Bonus Minutes) CD – Stock # 1875577
SINES OF LIFE-VOLUME 1 (2009 Album) CD – Stock # 1257651
SINES OF LIFE-VOLUME 2 (2009 Album) 2CDR – Stock # 1260062
SPIRIT OF LIGHT: BEST OF-VOL.2 (2011 Reworks & New Tracks) CD – Stock # 1485222
TENTH PLANET (2006 Studio Album) CD – Stock # 738850
THREE SIX ZERO (1998 Studio Album) CD – Stock # 806453
WAITING FOR THE SOUNDTRACK (2016 Remaster of 1991Album) CD – Stock # 2076596
WALKING WITH GHOSTS (2002 Classic in VANGELIS Style) CD – Stock # 740076
And with other artists …
BEFORE TIME (2009 Unreleased CODE INDIGO Music with ROBERT FOX) 2CDR – Stock # 1262834
BLUE BOX (Year 2000 Four Disc Set with ROBERT FOX) 4CD – Stock # 405358
ELECTRONIC CIRCUS CONCERT-2009 (Region 0/Pal) DVDR – Stock # 1606965
PROPHECY (2017 Studio Album with CARYS) CD – Stock # 1930634
SHIFTING SANDS (2009 Collaboration Album with IAN BODDY) CD – Stock # 1215118
TRINITY (Double Album Recorded at the ADMF September 2009) 2CDR – Stock # 1281592
DAVID WRIGHT: STRANGER DAYS 2CD Track List:
Track List - CD 1:
01. A Moments Contemplation [brand new 2018 track] (3:04)
02. Re-Connected [new version of ‘Connected’] (7:34)
03. Beyond Glass Mountains [new version of ‘Glass Mountains’ - feat. Carys] (5:20)
04. Walking With Ghosts {Fantasy Mix} [new version taken from live arrangements] (6:59)
05. Krystal Halls [previously unreleased track with the late great Klaus Hoffmann-Hoock] (6:24)
06. Always Tomorrow [brand new track] (4:35)
07. Once Upon A Dream [brand new track] (6:16)
08. Stranger Days: Parts 1-8 [combination of new studio material & live set from 2016] (35:16)
a. Part 1 (5:37)
b. Part 2 (7:37)
c. Part 3 (4:22)
d. Part 4 (6.00)
e. Part 5 (4:33)
f. Part 6 (3:51)
g. Part 7 (3:15)
TPT - 75:50
Track List - CD 2:
01. Rysheara [2018 studio version based on live arrangements & ft. Lee Morant on lead guitar] (6:40)
02. Call To Me [2018 Remix featuring Carys] (8:43)
03. Walking With Ghosts [2018 Big Chill mix with Dave Massey] (5:10)
04. Melt Away [with DJ Mass & Carys] (6:16)
05. Harmonic Heaven - Part 1 (3:54)
06. Harmonic Heaven - Part 1 (9:56)
07. Light Source – Part 1 [brand new track dedicated to Edgar Froese] (6.19)
08. Light Source – Part 2 [brand new track dedicated to Edgar Froese] (4:32)
09. Colours Of The Night [brand new 2018 version of track from ‘Marilynmba’ album] (4:40)
10. Forgotten Symphony - Parts 1-4 [brand new track featuring Robert Fox] (21:38)
a. 1st Movement (6:09)
b. 2nd Movement (5:25)
c. 3rd Movement (5:38)
d. 4th Movement (4:04)
TPT – 77:47