1. Seven Features In One Dream [11:40]
2. Earth Creator [9:33]
3. Dividing Waters [19:35]
4. Interaction Of Elements [11:00]
5. Earth Core [11:59]

With "Earth Creator" Harald Nies delievered his best album so far. Catchy synthesizer-melodies gently accompanied by electric guitar solos. So far only time not new. What is special about "Eartcreator" is that the musician do not add so much songs but they produced with longer play time. And that's good. Ideas are not just playing dead, but there are always identify new variants and facet. There are also some EM elements of the 80s and 90s flashing. In particular give brief ethnic elements "Earth Creator" a special atmosphere. In sum, the album is very relaxing and has a high daydream factor.

Press Information With 'Earthcreator', Harald has developed and matured even more. He certainly shows he is able to do everything ranging from ambient, and chill-out music, to a more progressive-rock oriented band-like feel with a dash of 'Pink Floyd guitars'. I have all of Harald's albums in my collection, and this one is, just like the press info says, one of his best, right beside 'Cryptic Labyrinth' and 'Magnetic Deflection'. Though, It has a deeper progressive feel to it and more guitars added than any of his other releases, with perhaps the exception for 'Cryptic Labyrinth'.

I personally like the first track 'Seven Features In One Dream' the most. Mainly because of the "massive" use of guitars in it, but also because it develops in a very dreamy way with melody and structure that does it's job very well throughout.
Another great piece is 'Dividing Waters'. A track with long dreamy/atmospheric sequences that builds this nicely done track in a lush way, and also a track that shows Harald's more melodic side. This track wouldn't be too far out of place somewhere on a mid 80's Planetarium CD. A rather cinematic journey with a beautiful deep-space feel. A grand experience to my ears!
Then we have 'Interaction of Elements'. It's yet another spacey and atmospheric journey with a beautiful deep space factor to it. This shows especially in the beginning of the track as the sequencing takes place in the background accompanied with the sounds of flutes, and soon another sequence starts, just to add more depth and emotion as the dreamy synth sounds progresses, and at the same time takes you higher and higher.
The other tracks are good as well, but not as "complex" and beautiful as the above mentioned. So all in all, this CD is a must-have for those who are familiar with Harald's earlier works. As for the newcomers. Start with either this album or 'Cryptic Labyrinth' to get a feel what Nies music is all about. Either way, this is top notch EM with a solid prog-rock flavor!
Buy the CD and stop Dreaming and start Daydreaming! Recommended!

2010. Kristian Persson / Sweden No messing, here, as ‘Seven Features in one Dream’ gets straight into a lovely melodic sequence accompanied by restrained rhythm. A gorgeous lead line floats above it all, sighing pads adding a little softness. The sequence goes through a number of changes before descending to a floating section. A fresh sequence emerges accompanied by first a flutey synth lead then another wonderful bright melody. This is already an incredible number but then enters the electric guitar which makes what was already a perfect track even perfecter (er- well, you know what I mean!). What an opener! You really must hear it- the end section is especially awesome.
‘Earth Creator’ starts with a crashing sound then gorgeous angelic pads. A lonesome flute lead soars above it all then we get tinkling piano melody and tabla type drums. Further rhythm and infectious bass line are added as we chug along nicely. Around the half way mark we enter a section of blissful heat haze type shimmering float before the track takes off once more, the electric guitar again providing a very satisfying conclusion.
‘Dividing Waters’ gets off to a rather dark brooding start. Another first-rate sequence forms, gradually rising through the mix. It’s all rather restrained and soothing. Ideal to just close your eyes to and chill out. In the fifth minute lush melodic pads rise to the surface, combining perfectly with a moody lead line. Another sequence enters but it is still all rather laid back and dreamy in a pastoral sort of way. Images of sun-drenched fields come to mind. In the eleventh minute a retrained rhythm starts up, ideal for driving through the countryside.
We get straight into swirling sequences for ‘Interaction of Elements’. A lovely little melodic motif and piano detail seem like sunlight twinkling off a rippling lake. A serene flute lead acts like a gentle breeze.
‘Earth Core’ is full of warm shimmers. After three minutes a jaunty sequence surges forward in an almost Jarre like fashion. The foot is then firmly put down on the accelerator as we hurtle along at quite a pace. All is then change in the seventh minute with a stunning mournful lead line over delicate backing. Things get even better as a gorgeous acoustic guitar melody takes over.

A beautiful track to end a very impressive album.

DL In this surprising musical universe that is EM, playing guitar and synth divide many purists, because the line is thin between cosmic rock, prog and EM. Harald Nies is among these artists with hybrid orientations which cherish as much slow sedative strata as heavy rhythms of a cosmic rock and EM fusion. Earthcreator, his 7th opus, presents a Harald Nies modulating his musical structures by rich and dense synth strata which abound above electric guitars. A beautiful musical adventure composed by 5 tracks to evolutions and multiple orientations where musical genres confront on melodious and changeable structures which cross long ambient corridors. A suave lyrical duel between guitars and synths, of which the winner is fan of Harald Nies and cosmic rock.

Fine crystalline arpeggios skip nervously in a cosmos covered of ethereal choruses, when an insistent bass weaves the Seven Features in One Dream hatched rhythm. Minimalism pulsations variances are wreathing to keyboard keys, surrounded by beautiful waltzing strata to fragrances of old Schulzian organ, when the tempo turns away towards a more ambient passage where celestial flutes embrace a dreamy structure. A brief ambient passage before the rhythm takes a second breath, becoming more incisive with more hammering percussions, on a structure covered of wrapping synth strata where synth solos to very TD (Underwater Sunlight) flavors are bicking on top with heavy and chiseled guitar solos.
A thunder mutters on Earthcreator opening, dividing a multitude of synth layers to weak vocal veins. Furtive piano notes draw a melodious structure which dances among the hazes of a fluty synth blowing on an indecisive tempo. A crossbreed tempo between tribal rhythms of tabla percussions and cooing of a funky bass. In middle-course, the movement becomes atonal with breaths of a solitary guitar which get lost in a whirlwind of synthesized strata which hem while slightly syncopated, before resuming into a melodious structure as crystal clear as a rivulet under a synth to suave fluty solo à la Pink Floyd on Wish you Where Here and a guitar to big heavy solos.
Dividing Waters is the longest title on Earthcreator. A long title structured on two phases which begins in the waves of a synth to multiple emanations, as spatial as spectral, which surround a guitar to timeless loops. The movement runs out and plunges in an ambient cosmic of with soft reverberating strata which undulate with lamentations, espousing a distant marrying one poetry of a melancholic world where twinkling keys liven up an atonal structure. Of this waltzing abyssal borns a delicate line of bass which oozes dreamily, introducing a finale which progresses delicately on a very harmonious rhythmic where percussions and whirling sequences dance on semi symphonic solos of a synth to melodious orchestrations. A synth stuffed with magnificent melancholic strata which fly from piano back, before ending in this atonal nothingness which divided the structures. A very beautiful, well structured and finely elaborated musical piece.
The intro of Interaction of Elements will revive memories Tangerine Dream fans, Thief and Waveland era. A multitude sequential chord sparkles indefatigably under the eye of a wrapping synth, of which slow sinuous twists are shape to delicate fluty salvoes. A more ambient and more oniric title which will please fans of the Dream with its numerous synth pads that form a beautiful ambient structure, while filtering soft solos which embrace a delicate line of bass which couples to subtle percussions in order to draw a slow twinkling rhythmic.
The ambient approach persists on Earth Core opening, moulding a brief intro to cosmic flavor. Around the 3rd minute point, a galloping sequence introduces a deafening rhythmic ride where solos of synths espouse final credits of spaghetti westerns under unbridled drums. Around the 7th minute point, the rhythm breaks itself and becomes an ambient cosmic breath which a synth pushes towards space where a magnificent acoustic guitar awakens stars with a soft synthesized orchestration which slips a suave spectral solo which sinuously steals among the guitar, shaping a magnificent cosmic nursery rhyme.

Earthcreator is the album of change for Harald Nies. Sharply more ethereal and electronic than his previous works, Harald Nies built up his own sound identity, abandoning the tag of an emulator of Ashra and Mind Over Matter. On Earthcreator he shaped a more complex musical universe and richer in synthesized variations, demonstrating his hold on his direction and his artistic evolution. If Nies is less caustic and incisive, he became wiser and more poetic. He doesn't hesitate to exploit his introversion, which very often made the difference between a good album and a more complex and mature album where emotions feel in skin deep.

2010. Sylvain Lupari / Guts Of Darkness