H E L Y N C O R N I L L E
A recent new feature currently available is the fine art slide show series by Helyn. The first two of these CD's are FloralEtricity which features 91 of Helyn's abstract floral images on a CD accompanied by the music of world acclaimed musical artist Bruno Sanfilippo. The second slide show CD is titled SurrealEtricity featuring over 190 of Helyn's surreal images also accompanied by Bruno Sanfilippo's Suite Patagonia.
Tracklist: Sayhueque (6:32), Giant Patagon (6:40), Terra Incognita (7:01), Magallanes (7:07), Fuegia & Jemmy (6:28), Suite Patagonia (8:35), The Andes (4:32)
Born to an Italian father and an Argentinean mother, Bruno Sanfilippo started studying piano at the age of 7, and by the age of 23 was a Music Professor at the Galvani Conservatory. Diverging from the piano, Bruno spent the next three years studying synthesisers, programming and the versatility of sampling and MIDI systems. His first album Sons of the Light was released in 1991 followed by The New Kingdom in 1995. Building his own studio, AD21, Bruno produced his third album, Solemnis, in 1998.
This latest album, released in 2000, is a musical representation of the history and myths of Patagonia, the land at the south-eastern tip of South America. Accompanied by a lavish 24-page booklet (with text in both Spanish and English) the music combines traditional Mapuche Indian instruments, wild life recordings of birds and whales, and a large array of modern synthesisers and samplers.
With Bruno playing the majority of the instrumentation, the obvious comparison is with Mike Oldfield, and several pieces, most notably Terra Incognita, are worthy of the reclusive Englishman himself. However, the music contains a plethora of drum rhythms, bringing to mind the music of Peter Gabriel at the time of this third and fourth albums.
The whole album is very 'visual' akin to some of the music produced by Ant Phillips or Ennio Morricone. It evokes images of grand sweeping vistas, the wilds of nature, the brutality and beauty of the ocean. The only quibble is the sequencing, the pseudo-orchestral title track should, in my opinion have ended the album. Comprised of a sequence of several musical themes, alternatively tranquil and dramatic, with a lovely faux guitar melody (sadly rather swamped by excessive keyboard fills in places), a short vocal section (reminiscent of a Gregorian chant) and a rousing church organ, this piece packs more ideas into its eight and a half minutes than many bands manage over an entire album. Unfortunately, it is followed by The Andes, an almost new-age piece that is altogether inconsequential.
Overall, Suite Patagonia is an excellent soundtrack without a film. It won't get your heart racing or stun you with virtuoso performances, but for fans of symphonic prog, this album is worth investigating. Mark Hughes
Rustlings Of The Wind-Featuring Helyn's Art