These days based in Hungary, UK composer and musician Dave Pearson have released a number of full length albums over the last few years using the artistic moniker COMPUTERCHEMIST, all of them made available through his own label Terrainflight. The first of these was “Atmospheric”, which was unveiled back to 2006.

And it is an aptly named album to my ears. Distinct moods and accessible melodies appear to be the focus throughout, with gentle electronic rhythm and percussion details supplemented by steady drum patterns as the foundation, supplemented by dark and light layers of synths and sounds. Material fairly easy on the mind and ears paired of with constructions of a somewhat more challenging nature without ever reaching a level I’d describe as demanding from a listener point of view.

While we do get treated to compositions sporting slower paced, ambient inserts as well as shifts in intensity and thematic buildups, the majority of the material stays melodic and easy to follow, and whenever alterations do occur they rarely challenge you on any level, instead focusing on maintaining listener interest with smooth transitions and careful use of lead motifs. At least as I experienced this production.

With circulating or repetitive gentle rhythms at heart and smooth, surging and swirling synth textures as key elements, associations go towards the likes of Jean Michel Jarre for the most accessible parts explored while the somewhat more daring and challenging movements inspires associations towards Tangerine Dream first and foremost. Occasional details used also gave me fain notions of early Gary Numan and on one occasion Deep Purple, but if those are accidental or planned I can’t really tell. Most likely accidental, but you can never know.

All in all a well made debut album, filled with pleasant and memorable electronic excursions of a kind that I suspect will appeal strongest to those who have albums by aforementioned Jarre and Tangerine Dream side by side in their music collection, and in particular those fond of music of this kind that, as the name of the album implies, is atmospheric.

My rating: 71/100