Ralph Heidel // Homo Ludens,Sweet Dark Moves Review

Electronica

Ralph Heidel // Homo Ludens,Sweet Dark Moves Review

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Ralph Heidel is a fresh new face in the German scene.  Hailing from Munich, the 25-year old musician studied saxophone and composition at the Munich Academy of Music, which is often thought of as being the best music school in Germany, equivalent to Julliard or Berklee College of Music in the United States. While being schooled on 20th century composers like Charles Ives, Alfred Schnittke, and Giöyrgi Ligeti, Heidel also grew up listening to electronic producers like Alvo Noto, Boards of Canada, Jon Hopkins, Jan Jelinek, and early Four Tet. Perhaps the most important wrinkle to his story is he comes from a family of jazz musicians, including a father with a deep collection of jazz records, that he started studying on saxophone since the age of 12. Heidel is a part of an ever-growing movement of combining contemporary symphonic music with electronics and jazz in the European scene.  Heidel has a new album set to release on April 5th titled Moments of Resonance on Kryptox Records that will features seven compositions.  Until then, we can enjoy the single “Sweet Dark Moves.”

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Positives:

Cinematic and ethereal texturally, “Sweet Dark Moves,” is emotive and illuminating in its building creativity.

Bottom Line:

Filled with harmonic surprises and third-stream sensibilities. “Sweet Dark Moves,” slowly unfolds to progressive ambient moods. The amalgamation of organic violin paired with synthesizer arpeggios provide fiery moments of unpredictability. Ralph Heidel and his 7-piece ensemble Homo Ludens connect contemporary chamber music with electronic, ambient, avant-garde jazz. Reminiscent of John Zorn or Mahavishnu Orchestra with elements of Ravel or Debussy. That’s the short of it!

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