•
Rating: "Robert Miles" stage name of the Swiss electronic composer "Roberto Concina".
This album "23am" deviates from the genre of the first "Dreamland". In "Dreamland", Miles had created a new genre in commercial dance culture: the "Trance/Dream" a genre that is still used by several DJs today. This genre is based on an electronic piano (Robert Miles' is the Bright Piano) that composes a simple and cyclical melody, and the classic dance rhythm is inserted gradually and progressively.
Not satisfied with this innovation "Robert Miles" continues his personal experimentation with his second album. In this "23am", he tries to create a symphonic electronic almost entirely abandoning the fast-paced rhythms of the previous work. The result is enjoyable, and listening to it even after 13 years (1997 was the release) proves to be modern and "ahead".
Let's move on to the tracks:
01- "Introducing" A short introduction very "Dream" full of "Ambient" sounds like thunderstorms and ethereal voices of women and newborns.
02- "A new flower" It's a continuation of the first track (even if, to be precise, all the tracks are linked together like a single musical experience).
In this track, we hear the birth of "A new flower," life, represented by the verses of a newborn baby. One of the best in the whole album.
03- "Everyday life" A very long track of 10:29 minutes. In this, all the new musical research of this album is synthesized. An ethereal voice similar to the one used in the song "Fable" with a sweet and progressive electronic accompaniment without ever reaching the hard percussion of dance. Truly beautiful.
04- "Freedom" Miles' unmistakable Piano reappears in this track accompanied by a nice minimal rhythm.
05- "Textures" A short rhythmic electronic track that anticipates the sounds of the 3rd album "Organik". Also, wind instruments are inserted in the final part of the song.
06-09 These 4 tracks are slightly inferior to the others. However, they are very listenable. Keeping in mind that this album should be listened to as ambient music as a musical background "Mike Oldfield" style.
10- "Full Moon" A beautiful evocative and dreamy track that then transforms into rhythmic with techno insertions (all still very soft).
11- "Leaving behind..." The last track is sweet and delicate. It ends with voices including Miles'. A stylish closure.
Ultimately, what can I say? I highly recommend this album to anyone looking for new and stylish experiences even in Electronic music.
On the other hand, I do not recommend this album to those who are only fans of Dance music because this album "23am" is very far from the sounds of the previous "Dreamland".
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
04 Freedom (05:51)
All my life I have searched for clues
This is what they taught me
Every mystery I pursued
Was a secret I already knew
Deep down you know - in your soul
Love is in control
Oh - if you could find the angel within
Time - time to have faith in your wings
Free everybody's free
In the new day that's coming
Freedom for all - is our destiny - yeahh
Every stone that I left unturned
Soon came back to haunt me
Every fall, every finger burned
Was a step on the road to the truth
That I am you - in my soul
You are not alone
Oh - when your heart is turned to stone
Love - love is the only way home
Free everyone's free
In the new day that's coming
Freedom for all - is our destiny
Free everything's free
In the new day that's coming
Freedom for all - is our destiny - destiny
Free everyone's free
In the new day that's coming
Freedom for all - is our destiny
Free everything's free
In the new day that's coming
Freedom for all - is our destiny - destiny
Freedom for shame
Freedom from fear
Freedom to live - it's your right to be here
In the new day that's coming
Freedom for all - is our destiny - destiny - yeahh
05 Textures (03:14)
Complicities roam the air
Catching moments
So that the personal legend
May become knowledge
Communication
Evolution
Through the universal language
06 Enjoy (05:56)
You don't have to worry
You don't have to hurry
You just have to learn to enjoy
You don't have to make it
You don't have to take it
You just have to learn to enjoy
Enjoy what you feel
That's all that is real
Enjoy what you feel inside
If you want to live your life
Live your life in joy
Nothing to learn
Nothing to fear
Nowhere to run
'Cause you're already here
It's your reason to live...
You're only here to enjoy
Enjoy what you feel
That's all that is real
Enjoy what you feel inside
If you want to live your life
Live your life in joy
You don't have to hurt
You don't have to strive
Relax and enjoy the ride
It's the reason you're alive
Fill your heart with joy
And you can learn to love what you fear
And when fear says "run away - somewhere safe"
Say you can't - 'cause you're already here
Enjoy what you feel
That's all that is real
Enjoy what you feel inside
If you want to live your life
Live your life in joy
You don't have to worry
You don't have to hurry
You just have to learn to
Live your life in joy
You don't have to make it
You don't have to take it
You just have to learn to
Live your life in joy
(Voiceover)
Flying, like butterflies, meeting new people, unknown and unimaginable
realities and views of overwhelming beauty, forever unchanged.
08 Heatwave (05:57)
By learning and teaching
The never-ending cycle of the personal legend
Continues its course...
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By ZiOn
Those expecting a replication of the dreamy trance of ‘Fable’ and ‘Children’ were indeed disappointed.
23am is an uneven album that disappointed not only early fans but also the 'electrophiles' audience Robert aimed at.
