Announced longer time ago as possibly the most ambitious project, has became the reality during December, 2012. Yes, «The Ocean Inside» is a monstrous double CD recording by Spanish drifting aficionado Max Corbacho, released by ad21 label and packaged in gorgeous 6-panel digipak (designed by Manuela Márquez). I still clearly remember those magical moments while journeying with «Ars Lucis» through the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Denis and being fascinated by its breathtakingly monumental gracefulness. «Light-Matrix Portal» was the key that opened these magical gates and since then I was wondering if Max will be able to top this extraordinary achievement. What a challenge!!! Here comes the answer…
I am leaving the cathedral and heading towards the coastal panoramas to experience another fascinating odyssey, a journey of exploring all the natural wonders of the spectacular underwater world. Disc one starts and «Nest Of Tempests» invades. Quietly floating and expanding washes are unfolded and interact with more intense phases, but always gorgeously gracious!!! «Surface Thought» gets more grandiose and cascades through wealthy dramatic and slightly dissonant passages. «Web Of Eyes» dives to lower droney depths, where the sunlight can no longer penetrate, but these shadowy realms are magnificently illuminated by bioluminescent species. «Offshore Currents» hold its eerie, quite mysterious touch, emphasized by assorted distant swirls and disruptive fragments. All evoking an adventurous exploration of shipwreck laying at the bottom of the ocean. With the next, shorter transitional composition, «A Place Of Discovery», we are leaving underwater shipwreck cemetery and gently floating towards quieter territories of «The Endless Flame». Soothingly floating and ebbing, but immensely spreading soundscapes could easily accompany the cruising majestic giant oceanic manta rays, precisely portraying their gracefully gliding moves through the deepwater zones. Gorgeous!!! Seascapes on «Tidal Memory» are throughout flavored by assorted sonic outbursts, buzzes and other fragments. The closing «Towards The Bottomless Sea» is the longest piece on this set reaching 29 and a half minute mark. Its soothing washes are meandering through the most sublime faint depths, where only limited sunlight penetrates and continuously submerging into the darker zone, only interrupted by the bizarre light spectacle produced by the creatures themselves. The track title precisely fits the atmosphere and glowing aquatic experience is awaiting!!!
Disc two reveal with «Dive In», shorter intro, setting the mood for another intensifying underwater exhibition. Slightly more dramatic when comparing to the finale of the first part. «Shoreless Ocean» spreads promptly into gracefully serene dimensions, smoothly cascading and surrounded by few dissonant noises, squeaks and tinkling swirls. «Awaken Inside» starts and the Spanish magician of the pure atmospherics is excelling. Ultra tranquil, but more massive soundwaves are flowing, expanding and unfolding into the most spectacular and majestic underwater sceneries. We are swimming through the crystal clear water above a pristine and lushly colored coral gardens, this must be one of the few undisturbed places that have survived in its purest state of nature. Nearly 16 minutes of sheer atmospheric beauty, «Awaken Inside» is a Hall of Famer!!! But this graceful journey continues through «Deep Blue Home», slightly more dramatic textured composition, when some sharks cruising over the sand bottom can be witnessed too. «Islandless Expanse» remains in the sand covered seabed, graciously voyaging along the sunlight illuminating the tranquil sea depths. The closing composition «Deeper Into The Ocean» is again a longer one, clocking over 24 minutes. Quietly floating, less massive drifts invade, here and there submerging into more intense and monumental layers, into the dark zone. Low, rumbling drones enter this shadowy zone for the closing third. A grand finale is here and the listener is taken into inhospitable living conditions, down to the bottom levels of the oceanic abyssal realm. Grandioso, Max Corbacho at his most immense abysscaping!!! Are these monstrously humming sounds some ghostly voices? I think it’s the ocean that speaks to me…
«The Ocean Inside» achieves the same stellar dimension as «Ars Lucis», no question about that, it’s as much colossal and graceful, and even if it doesn’t break any new ground, it’s enormously sophisticated and brilliantly polished with masterfully demonstrated interaction to this utterly fascinating environment. Bravissimo, Mad Max!!! A must have for all connoisseurs of pure atmospheric seascaping reveries!!!
Richard Gürtler (Feb 10, 2013, Bratislava, Slovakia)