Electro-acoustic worldbeat. Travel By Sound is, for the most part, an upbeat album of bright instrumentals where synthetic soundscaping techniques deeply intermesh with international beats, textures and melodies. Tabla rhythms, dumbek and Middle Eastern grooves feature strongly - sometimes alone, soft, rich hand drumming resonant and exotic - sometimes in fusion, sharper programmed beats introducing dance and dub aspects. Gamelan, oriental cymbal splashes, marimba patterns and crisp shakers add to the rhythmic content as do sequenced electronic forms. Some tracks are more ambient, the percussive content less dominant or even beatless in places - lazy meandering structures where ethnic melodies, flutes, synthetic harp-like tones and water movement interact. In places the synths take a prominent role, restful swells and washes, gutsy bass lines pulsing against the ripple of arpeggiating cycles, yet even here, international colour is maintained through choice of melody and background detail.

Paul, Morpheus Music UK