Best of Hanslik & Moniz Experiment

Best of Hanslik & Moniz Experiment

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!