artist: Electrypnose country of origin: Sweden style(s): Dark psy-ambient, ambient trance, ambient techno essential releases: Subliminal Melancholies (2006, Ajana Records)

Better known in psy-trance circles for his darkly original dancefloor albums, Swiss artist Vince Le Barde aka Electrypnose briefly interrupted the 140bpm onslaught with this stunning downtempo album released in 2006. He'd already signaled what was to come with "Peice Orielle", a ghostly piece of slow, trippy breakbeat that appeared on a V.A. compilation from Ajana Records a few years earlier. This album completely fulfils that track's promise.

Subliminal Melancholy is dark, glistening and beautiful and sounds unlike anything in beats-based psychedelic chill music. Ghostly synth chords and haunting melody lines move and morph like oil in a lava lamp, defying gravity as they glide through shadowy passages and circle under threatening skies. The mood is positively gothic at times ala early Delerium, such as "New Wave" with its doomy piano figures and unresolved chord changes. The beats are an odd and varied concoction of slow to mid-tempos influenced by breaks, techno, dub and drum'n'bass, sometimes pulled part and reconstructed with striking originality.

The music casts long shadows - Le Barde is rather fond of minor keys - yet it falls well short of morbid gothic indulgence or avant-noise. Excellent melodic writing is what gives the twilight atmospheres and meticulous sound design the necessary colour and emotion. Melancholy is a good thing, it seems; this album is one of the most original and compelling psy-ambient releases of the 2000's.

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