ROB PAPEN: Daydreamer

Rob Papen

Daydreamer

© 2004 Rob Papen (8886352795922)

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Contemporary Electronica - Pleasant melodies, crisp, textured, relaxing and uplifting

tracks

1 Maranatha Song
2 Evening Song (Improvisation on Psalm-IV)
3 DayDreamer
4 Sion
5 Effata Be opened
6 Isaiah
7 Times, times and a half a time
8 At Ease
9 Red Clouds

notes

‘Daydreamer’ is Rob Papen's debut solo release. Studio recorded, Papen used his own custom virtual synthesizer 'Albino 2' in the making of Daydreamer.

As one of the founding members of the Dutch electronic synth groups PERU and NOVA, Papen has experienced much celebrated success for his musical compositions. NOVA's recording of 'Aurora' reached Number One on the charts in The Netherlands and PERU's 'Africa' climbed to Number One in Austria. NOVA released 3 albums. PERU released a total of 8 albums.

Papen is also well known throughout the world today as a sound designer. Two of Papen’s designs, 'Albino' and 'Blue' are used by many top musicians and sound producers. Blue has been featured in Keyboard Magazine, receiving excellent reviews.

Besides being a Christian Music Artist, Papen’s musical tastes are expansive. In fact, he “simply loves good music.” From Bach to Lenny Kravitz, HipHop to R&B, and artists ranging from Depeche Mode to James Brown, his tastes are all reflected in his sound products.

With it's roots in Biblical sources, "Daydreamer" delivers jubilant, uplifting and pleasant melodies.

reviews

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  • Fun, upbeat, infectious melodic hooks with crisp rhythms
    author: Phil Derby

    Rob Papen “DayDreamer” (www.music.robpapen.com, 2005) 7 tracks, mins (original version) 9 tracks, 51.55 mins (extended audiophile version) I have recently rediscovered the joy of fun upbeat electronic music, and among the best in that category is former PERU member Rob Papen and his excellent album DayDreamer. If like me you began loving this music with the infectious melodic hooks of Jean-Michel Jarre and Tangerine Dream from the late 1970s and early 1980s, this will take you back with a smile on your face. The special edition CD cover aptly describes the music as “devoid of any gloom or darkness,” sparkling with “optimistic illumination.” I scarcely need to add descriptives of my own. “Maranatha song” is bouncy and playful; “Evening song” is a dreamy smooth floater with a slow and steady bass sequence; the title track exudes warmth and brightness. Carefully crafted and happy melodies combine with crisp rhythms to produce music sure to appeal to the sunny side of your disposition. “Sion” is the lightest yet, virtually skipping along with its shuffling bass and beats. The sequencing is superb on this track in particular, though it is strong throughout. “Effata “Be Opened”” treads along the fringes of being overly cute, but alongside other such cheerful offerings it works. The original version of the disc closes with the best track, “Time, Times and Half a Time,” with more great sequencing, irresistible rhythms and strong melodic synths. The extended version of DayDreamer includes two excellent bonus tracks, “At Ease” and “Red Clouds.” The former is a light atmospheric number, laid back but every bit as affirming as the rest. The latter is a brief textural piece that makes a fitting epilogue to this fun journey into daydreams. © 2006 Phil Derby / Electroambient Space

  • Everyone who loves the synthdance stuff, should find much to enjoy in this compo
    author: Artemi Pugachov, Groove Unlimited

    Daydreamer is an album of melodic/rhythmic Electronic Music. "Marantha Song" starts with deep sounds/pads, before a melodic synthesizer theme is introduced. It's a nice, pleasant melodic track. There are some sounds typical of 80's Electronic Music (looks like he used some software emulations for that). These include FM bell tones and other typical digital sounds of that period. The sequences are present, but they are delivered in a subtle manner, serving as rhythm supporters, not as prominent/stand alone feature. "Evening Song" once again starts in a subtle way with long drawn-out pads, but soon a bass sequence emerges with some mysterious synth tones and a laid-back rhythm. Some tasty, gentle sequencing is the order of the day. This track is pure melancholy - very moody stuff. The fluty synth lead I found too cheesy but otherwise it's a fine track to listen to. The title track kicks in with chromatic percussion-like synth sounds and supporting bass note. A melodic theme is played on top. After that comes a Minimoog solo that sent shivers down my spine. It's all too brief though. However, the Moog does return after a few moments. In the end this track is (as is Daydreamer as a whole) all about melodies, mood and soloing. Some tasty sounds towards the end. "Sion" starts with melodic sequences and a very Jarre-like theme. It's driving, rhythmic and melodic stuff that puts to shame most recent endeavors of bands like Tangerine Dream. "Effata" continues the "chromatic percussion" formula, coupled with some of the cheesiest synth flute sounds I've heard. Not enjoyable at all! This must be the worst track on the album - totally sugary, new-agey concoction. There's simply nothing stands out - simple melodies, simple sounds, simple arrangements and, on top of it all, that dreary New Age attitude. Sorry, Rob, I think I'll skip this one next time. "Isaiah" is the shortest track on the album (one and a half minutes). It consists of melancholic synth pads. Simple, but good and effective. "Time, Times And Half A Time" kicks in with a throbbing bass sequence and another, white-noise based one on a supporting role. Some echoing effects can be heard. The track builds gradually but after a while a mournful lead line emerges. The sequences are then joined by yet another one and some growling bass notes. Excellent Moog solo cuts through giving the track a "classic EM" flair. Total winner and certainly the best cut. A straight 4/4 rhythm emerges out of nowhere and now we're pretty much in Laserdance territory - very danceable stuff. In fact, if I was told this is a lost Laserdance track from the 90's, I would've believed it. Everyone who loves the synthdance stuff, should find much to enjoy in this composition 2005. Artemi Pugachov

  • author: Jorge Sergio

    Rob Papen es, sobre todo, un diseñador sonoro, un constructor de paisajes en forma de sonidos. No en vano muchos de los sintetizadores, módulos y otras máquinas de hacer música profesionales más prestigiosos llevan dentro muchos sonidos hechos por él. Nacido en Holanda el mismo día en que Robert Moog mostró al mundo su primer sintetizador musical, comenzó a trabajar de lleno en el mundo de los sintetizadores electrónicos a los 15 años influenciado, como tantos otros, por Tangerine Dream, Jean Michel Jarre, Giorgio Moroder, Klaus Schulze o Vangelis. De hecho, el comienzo temprano en este particular mundo de la música electrónica dio sus frutos pronto. Con 18 años y formando parte del conocido grupo holandés Nova, consiguió su primer número uno en el Benelux con el tema Aurora, de grato recuerdo para los aficionados a la electrónica y el synth-pop. Asimismo formó parte de Peru, un grupo paralelo a Nova, menos comercial pero que también consiguió un número 1 en Austria. Paralelamente a su trabajo diseñando sonidos para sintetizadores y colaborando en la producción y mezclas de trabajos de otros músicos salió al mercado musical su primer Cd completamente en solitario el 9 de octubre del 2004. DayDreamer fue publicado en RPMusic, está inspirado en la biblia y el cristianismo y en él podemos encontrar 40 minutos de auténtica electrónica. El perfil de Rob Papen como escultor de sonidos se hace presente nada más comenzar a escuchar DayDreamer. De hecho quizás es lo primero que me llamó la atención de este trabajo. El sonido es completamente limpio y cristalino la música tiene siempre un aspecto positivo. En ningún momento abusa de efectos o superpone demasiadas pistas sonoras. En concordancia con otros sintetistas procedentes de Holanda, sus temas se caracterizan por tener una orientación hacia la melodía. Maranatha Song parece más cercano a la música de Nova, Evening Song (Improvisation On Psalm-IV) contiene una típica secuencia de bajo sintético y se desarrolla sobre cerca de 7 minutos, incluyendo un sonido de flauta ligeramente sintetizada, sonido que también utiliza en Effata “Be Opened”, un tema que suena étnico y casi juguetón. DayDreamer y Sion son temas más cercanos a algunos electrónicos británicos. Isaiah (53:5) es una pequeña joya en forma de acordes de cuerdas de algo menos de dos minutos, mientras que Time, Times And Half a Time (el tema más largo con casi 11 minutos y el que personalmente más me ha gustado) tiene una escructura más sinfónica... Efectos y acordes durante cuatro minutos hasta que la melodía sobre un delicioso sonido de teclado “vintage” va introduciendo rítmica. Finalmente, a los 6 minutos el tema se transforma en una mezcla de secuencia, acordes, sonido melódico cristalino y percusiones pegadizas. En definitiva, música de calidad de un sintetista que conoce a fondo sus “máqunas de hacer música” y que consecuentemente, sabe sacar el máximo provecho de sus interesantes ideas musicales. Jorge Sergio

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