By
Hanslik & Moniz
Experiment
Written by
Steve Sheppard
There is something so vast and all-encompassing about this
latest release from the Hanslik &
Moniz Experiment, we can gaze back over years of work, in a musical voyage
that span’s almost a decade and be grateful for this moment of electronic
mastery that ushers forth the best of the pairing in this best of
manifestation.
The two opening forays are inspirational, and contain some of
the finest experimental guitar work I have heard for ages, the first of two
being the explorative tones of the mega track The Visitor, which at times almost creates an interesting
juxtaposition between a little jazz orientated progressive rock, and classic
EM, and then onto the fascinating vibrancy of Seagrass Siren, a track filled with segments of artistry, and
combined with a thoughtful and create tonal progression.
The guitar work of Moniz and Hanslik’s sublime keyboard efforts
works beautifully on this next colourful textured offering entitled Parallel Circus; and gifts the listener
a sweeping out look of a composition that was birthed in mix of a Jazz progressive
composition of extreme colour and expression.
Much can be said for pieces like Time, with its quite brilliant chime and onward movement of sound,
tone and timbre, this is a particular favourite of mine and can be found also
on the album Gell’n released back in
2021, and the next few offerings come from the first album I received from the
artists in the powerful, yet flowing release Friendly Planet, the title track is first up and is a good reminder
just how fluent and smooth this creation most certainly is.
While the subsequent pieces in On Shore and Meadow
highlight the abundant creativity of guitar and electric piano, both are
instruments I love to play, and one can find also that both, like these two
tracks, offer a soundscape that is so evocative and ambient in creativity,
especially in the aspect of tonal descriptive music.
The album Evolution
was release in the year of 2022 and was a huge step up the ladder for the
artists, there is a layered aspect that is more pronounced in the compositions Evolution, Here to There and Escape,
that is utterly transfixing, the instrumental work is moody on the title track
and is a self-manifesting combination of great quality, whilst Here to There is breathtakingly cloud-like
in its structures, and offers the listener a moment to float with keen and
stylish guitar and keyboard work, whilst the final creation in Escape is a more earthly creation, but
one that has a decidedly deft and mysterious texture to its overall timbre.
The year 2023 was a very productive time for the duet,
firstly we can look back at the release of the album Call and Answer of which there are no less than 5 from the
collection, starting with the bright and inspiring title track, which is a
perfectly balanced in its structures, but still engages the nuances of a more
explorative nature, whilst The Weight Of
Truth has elements of ambient mega star Eno contained within the clever
meandering composition.
This album for me was a much needed sanctuary away from the
ravages of life’s rich and sometimes turbulent pathway, so pieces like the
mellow and thoughtful pastiche of Serene
Encounter meant a lot, and a fine example of transient keyboard and synth
work from Hanslik indeed. Whilst the glorious track Did We Miss Anything, postulated a form of musical art work that
was, and is so deeply compelling and palpable, the bass here may sound simple,
but it is a key element in the narrative of the composition.
Then we finally move to the haunting reverie of Conversation Interrupted to conclude
the arrangements from this powerful release of ‘23, with the questioning and
experimental values of the arrangement. A manifestation of artistic endeavours,
which seem to open one musical door after another, whilst leaving a sense of a
surprise interjection in the mix, the synth work of Hanslik here was simply
outstanding.
This best off compilation is brought to its inevitable
conclusion with the inclusion of four
tracks from what I personally believe to be the pairing’s best work thus far in
the album, Modern Art. This is a
release that is captivating, as is the first piece we traverse entitled Eye of the Beholder, the electronic
mastery of Hanslik is brought to the fore here like never before, and the piece
even contains a symphonic feel to it, in the same way with which the late but
great Isao Tomita used to give us.
The short but very sweet Tapestry
highlighted the sublime guitar work of Steven
Moinz, which reminded me of work of prog guitar master Steve Howe and may also a little Steve Hillage into the mix as well, whilst the offering Impressionist would be our penultimate
creation, one could indeed imagine walking around a modern art gallery
listening to such music and viewing the works of say Claude Monet while doing so, this piece has so much room and
ambience and perfect for that very moment of artistic perusal.
The ending to this massive body of work from the duo comes in
the guise of the longest track off the album called Starry Night, the swirling motifs of both guitar and keyboards
certainly match the cascading swirls of paint on canvas from Dutch
Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van
Gogh with ease, and is utterly the best most ambient and emotive
manifestation with which to finish this amazing project off.
Best of Hanslik &
Moniz Experiment by Hanslik &
Moniz Experiment is one of those albums that if you are a fan of this
experimental electronic ambient guitar genre, will look back upon later and be
very glad you made the choice of purchasing it for your collection. This is
nothing less that walking and talking musical art, and is some of the finest
examples of the aforementioned genre out there and as such is one fans should
not miss out on at all cost!