Serge Douw - In Touch with Light

When I first picked this album up I wondered what Dave Law was doing sending me an 8 year old New Age album to review. But having heard it a few times here’s another case of first impressions being deceptive. Serg Douw was born in Australia and is an expert in laser technology, this album being the musical score to a laser light show which tracks the formation of life on Earth. Perhaps that explains the gushing blurb on the sleeve “monumentally moving music with percussive and inventive scores that captivate the essence of life on Earth”.

Basically if you are “into” Jarre then you should find much to your liking on this album. Look no further than track 8 ‘Law of Light’ to see what I mean. The massed ranks of synth layers picking out grandiose themes, backed by carefully crafted sequential rhythms, immediately bring to mind rainy dockland concerts, choirs in crisp white cloaks, oven gloves, and that unforgettable ‘Zoolookologie’ video which features amply proportioned ladies in tight orange outfits.

I digress however, and already the 8 minute ‘In Touch With Light’ has started and again what a splendid track this is. If anything even more JMJ-ish than the previous offering but I’m not complaining. It’s all very stylish and easy on the ear, with a decent main theme providing a basis for lots of percussive flourishes and sequencer trickery.

To be fair there is lots here of equal merit which is not as Jarre influenced. ‘Western Sky’ develops a lilting sequence and fleshes the sound out with pads and thematic detail. ‘Evolution’ adopts a more majestic air, striving for latent energy and surging power in the form of full-on symphonics. ‘Tear Drops’ has an innocent air with a slowly building repetitive theme.

Overall this is an enjoyable album which works even without the intended visual accompaniment. Imagine JMJ wearing a hat with dangling corks, sipping Castlemain XXXX.