MAX CORBACHO[Max Corbacho has been creating Ambient Atmospheric – Electronic Music for over two decades, combining spiraling, synth-driven drifting harmonies with breathing, timeless soundscapes.][Ambient Atmospheric – Electronic Music - Soundscapes - Space Music]

SOURCE OF PRESENT – review by Synth&Sequences

max — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Aficionados of quiet and relaxing EM, at your wallets! Max Corbacho’s name was no stranger to me to have seen it on diverse compilations and on Ron Boots’ weekly E-news. If my eyes knew, my ears not! And very often I told myself; one day I got to try it. This day arrived when the Spanish synthesist contacted me to offer me his latest opus, his 17th I believe, «Source of Present». First analysis; a very quiet album! Like a heap of clouds in a sky drained of its energy, the music here moves with this vision that we have of these big cosmic vessels which are trapped in a dense effect of gravity.
An ascent of hummings begins my discovery of «Source of Present». Long of its 24 minutes, «The Beginning of Remembering» establishes an immense wall in height where try to climb some small translucent strands and thin lines of voices. Here, the details are important in this work for music lovers of cosmic atmospheres. A good set of earphones is as much important as a good 3D glasses for a movie, otherwise we miss the nuances in the slow, because the heavy wall moves, evolution of «The Beginning of Remembering», like these translucent effects which shine here and there. We can also talk about these stars which whistle around the 8th minute or still these hollow breezes which sleep around the 14 minutes. Elements among so many others which are grafted at the immovability of this wall to measure well its decoration and which also give a more interesting tint to this immense sound vessel which continues its ascent towards the path of the highest stars. «Soul of the World» is in the same vein but is clearly more intense with effects of loops and reverberations which give a very sibylline aspect to the slow travel of the music. «Echoing Shade» is more relaxing, more ethereal. It’s this kind of music which suits very well a contemplation of the sky the arms behind the head while listening to the breathing of our lover. We even find these resounding effects towards its finale, just to remind us the black and cosmic roots of «Source of Present». This title and «Transparent Phenomena» bring us to another level because the title-track continues our journey in the country of contemplation with an astral ascent which reminds me, especially at the level of the voices’ layers, of the very ethereal universe from Michael Stearns. Wide bands of synth waves are wrapping the blackness just with just what it needs in order to let filter thin incandescent cracks. Moreover, it’s these small bright cracks which decorate this nuance between the cosmic and the esotericism of this fiercely ambient work from Max Corbacho. So rich as dense, heavy and slow, the soundscape in «Source of Present» goes adrift between the universes of Steve Roach and of Michel Huygen. We can hear spiritual jingles hang onto the fall of layers while that from time to times we hear sharpened nails scrape on these impregnable walls of sound. Very rooted in its ambient cocoon, the music proposes a good duel between the cosmic darkness and these weak lights coming from distant stars. «On this Journey» ends this last opus of the Spanish sculptor of ambiences with a music so calm and intense as in «Soul of the World», effects of loops and of and reverberations in less. For music lovers of astral atmospheres who like disconnecting when the masses of sounds are heavy, rich and compact.
Sylvain Lupari (November 30th, 2017)

THE RESONANT / Morpheus Music

max — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 00:00:00 +0000

Morpheus Music & The Mall Magazine

MUSIC

Smooth, synthetic ambient zones. This is an album of immersive atmopheres without beat or melody, designed to set the listener adrift. Welling up like waves on the shore, washes of tone arise and roll one over another in constant succession – some deep and sonorous, some light, thin, others full of sonic detritus caught in the tide – percussive rattles like churning pebbles. Ever-receeding surges of sound drain back into the next wave. As the album pulls away from the shoreline the electronic ocean becomes dark and obscure in places, floating forms drifting by, heavy masses of tone heaving and pulling. Tracks blend one into another, the only indication of a progression usually being a lessening of intensity, a lightness as if surfacing momentarily. New tracks subtly intorduce fresh voices into the mix and some shifts of scale.

ARTWORK

Liquid ripples and solarised reflections fill two panels of the cover booklet in rich blues, turquoises, terracotta hues and dark shadows. The title text sitting in a heavy border of shadow near the base. On the reverse an ambiguous out of focus photo-image works as backdrop for the titles and an explanation of the project. Within we find a gear list, recording details and credits, some special thanks and contact information – this is presented on a white background with an accompanying monochrome reflection image.

OVERALL

For his third album, Max Corbacho presents four longform pieces ranging from just over six minutes to thirty eight minutes fifteen seconds. Designed for continuous playback – the tone is generally a serious one drifting somewhere in between warmth and cold. The concept behind the music is that of the «earth call» – what Max describes as «that feeling pulling us away from the cities to seek contact with the rock, the earth and water …». A strong sense of space with something of the viscosity of liquid pervades this album – the listener is able to feel suspended in sound, surrounded in all directions, afloat, immersed

THE RESONANT / Bert Strolemberg. Klem Magazine

max — Fri, 10 Jan 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Bert Strolemberg. Klem Magazine, Issue 116.

«After a long search this talented Spanish ambient musician has found a new home to publish his new cd. This is Cobacho’s 3rd album, and again it has become one of pure beauty. There are 4 lenghthy tracks, the last one being the 38 min. titletrac.

They all are absolute candy for the ears. In fact, this cd offers one vast drift of transparent, non-rhythmic soundscapes; these soft coiling and morphing textures are one continues drift into the outer regions, where mysterious undercurrents escort you along the way. The title-track is the only one which features a heavy ambient beat after appr. 20 min. This is heavy atmospheric textural music for a deep drift into the dimensions of space, time and place, sometimes somewhat reminiscent to the stuff of Steve Roach, but with an nice core-sound to it all. Production & soundquality are superb.