Thousand Star

Instrumental electronic, space, and new age music are difficult styles for musicians to get right. The music has an atmospheric, dreamy feel — with a soothing drone at its core, truthfully — that must be maintained throughout, yet with enough distinct melodies, flourishes, and special sonic touches to keep things interesting for the listener. It's music that's intended to make listeners relax and imagine floating off into space, but it's also challenging to listen to in order to appreciate all of the nuances. Jonn Serrie is one such composer and performer of electronic music who gets it right on a consistent basis. He has created music for everything from planetariums to IMAX and Hollywood films, and has released many acclaimed albums starting with 1987's And the Stars Go with You. Serrie's 2009 album, Thousand Star, was conceived, according to the back cover artwork, as a "sonic voyage into deep space." The title track, "Thousand Star," features expertly layered washes of synthesizers and keyboards. The highlight of "Belle E'poque 3012" is Serrie's haunting, sparse piano, but all the individual portions of the song, including those with fast synthesizer patterns, blend seamlessly. Gurgling synthesizers and crisp laser-burst sound effects pepper "Course Projection on Tactical." The epic "Enroute to Delta Pavonis" weaves warm and icy tones together along with radio transmission sounds and computer blips and bleeps. Longtime space music fans will certainly embrace Thousand Star.