 Steve Cochrane Profile
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To See It Made Real
Steve Cochrane
Critic Reviews
This review appeared in the #6 (Winter 97) issue of
Asterism: The Journal of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Space Music:
The romantic and beguiling beats of this collection instantly whisk one away to fantastic, faraway lands filled with progressive-rock riffs and Celtic-influenced melodies. From the Mike Oldfield-esque opening composition "Reason is the Rising Sun", with its glorious guitar and soothing synthesizers, to the airy Tangerine Dream atmosphere of the title tune, which also offers the disc's sole vocal track, the dozen cuts feature remarkable spunk and surprising energy.
Cochrane fills the entire 65-minute CD with fascinating aural imagery, offering the listener an exhilarating opportunity to experience a magnificent multi-layered musical vision of the world. It is a view that is simultaneously enthralling and enjoyable, offering both contemplative and inspirational harmonic elements. Inspired in part by the works of novelist Ayn Rand, the artist has combined his literary and musical interests to create a sweeping album that is musically invigorating and compositionally dynamic.
-- Jeff Berkwits - publisher/editor of Asterism
From issue #27 of Improvijazzation Nation
This CD Steve (via the netz), is a GRAND experience, significantly D.I.Y. & performed/recorded totally at his home-studio. Very instrumental, synth-based with guitars (acoustic and electric, VERY sweetly played), this is music that will lift even the most JADED '90's spirit to the heavens. "Angel Orchestral" is how I'd describe the style that Cochrane composes/plays in; when there's so much music being made (these days) that drags the spirit DOWN (often to the DEPTHS of misery), it's NICE to know (& even nicer to HEAR) that there are those with the vision to see the beauty that music can bring to bear on a world (slowly) "talk-showing" itself into the dregs! If you can't be inspired by "Real", you're too far lost already. There are some folks who will lump this in with "new-age", but it's a reputatation not deserved... this belongs with the GIANTS! I can't recommend this HIGHLY enough! GET it - NOW! In fact, it gets the PICK of this issue for "most inspiring D.I.Y. of the decade"!
-- Dick Metcalf - Improvijazzation Nation
From the web-based music magazine, Amazing Sounds in February 97:
Steve Cochrane has a well defined objective: to communicate a feeling of full optimism to the world through his music. And judging from his second album, To See It Made Real, it can't be said that he has not succeeded. Certainly, his compositions are overflown with dynamism, symphonic grandeur, a shattering rhythm, and occasionally, also romanticism and passion. This Canadian, a trained guitarist yet a lover of electronics and the most advanced technology, offers us a wide range of very melodic themes, pleasant to listen to, and even most enjoyable indeed. Unlike his previous album, in this one the guitar, both electric and acoustic, has a more remarkable role, and it is perhaps here where Cochrane's skills are most outstanding. In all, twelve magnificient themes in which the artist is responsible for everything and in which a boundless potential for the future can be appreciated. Pay attention to this musician.
-- Victor Arenas - Amazing Sounds (http://www.amazings.com)
And this from the premier (April 97) issue of another web-based magazine,
Alternate Music Press:
The musical skills of Steve Cochrane are extensive. He plays keyboards, MIDI guitar, percussion and assorted electronics, and all incredibly well. To See it Made Real, is this Canadian composer and multi-instrumentalist's second compact disc release. While his first release Heroes Awaken was much influenced by progressive rock, and showed his skills on synth and synth guitar, his second album adds another warmer dimension here and there, by adding acoustic guitar, bass and vocals, all parts still performed by Mr. Cochrane himself.
His roots are still clearly traceable to progressive rock and classical music, but with the added sonic warmth and accessibility of folk music. Often several themes are interwoven with almost "classical complexity", but the music remains very melodic, uplifting, and pleasant throughout. Steve's music really stands out, especially on To See... where each cut possesses the unusual combination of passion and a clear focus.
The focus is set beyond the artist himself, for a greater purpose, a message is passed to the listeners through the music itself. Everything he creates on To See... seems to have been discovered for the first time; innocent yet eloquent, polished yet vital. His melodies are smooth, crisp and expressive. They call up hints of Yes' Steve Howe, Marrilon, and the ubiquitous Chick Corea while retaining their own strong identity, behind which Steve produces textures, riffs and choruses from his battery of acoustic and electronic instruments and devices.
The result is an extremely compelling album. It captures the sound of discovery in a way that even the most virtuosic fusion jazz or progressive rockers never seem to do. A drum machine will manifest it self behind acoustic instruments, yet instead of sounding tacky it'll sound immediate. A thieves kitchen layer of knock about gongs, percussion and hand-claps will sprawl under a feathery guitar melody. MIDI guitars will waft sudden blurs of klaxon sound into the mix, stutter and melt out again. Instruments float, sulk, explore spaces they don't usually touch. The music on To See... has a distinct awareness of the wide, wide world and of the acknowledgements contained in the passage of great art through it.
"Reason is the Rising Sun" is a perfect overture for the album. A Celtic harp sound begins the piece, followed by some distant fanfares.This motive gradually develops in several inner-movements, setting the uplifting mood of the entire album. Elsewhere, To See... casts itself into peculiar new shapes--sometimes reminding us of King Crimson, or ELPs best work, sometimes nodding in the direction of the sound-pictures on the first Weather Report; most often scratching its own young-old forms onto modern jazz's stone tablet. "Makes me Want to Sing" is like smoke stinging the eyes: sliding Mellotronic strings mourn under MIDI guitar, keening lead, and full-throated bass, something like Dexter Gordon and Charlie Haden improvising with Robert Fripp at his most expressive. The desert-like string atmospheres of "At Love's Door" like the travel mantra of a hard-bitten pilgrim enduring his own bitter faith that love will endure.
The album is a culmination of fascinatingly diverse elements and of ones perhaps over-refined, resulting in the start of a audible development into something new... Retaining the elegance of classical music, and the verve of rock,To see it made Real is recommended as good medicine for jazz and progressive ears and minds who have grown tired of stale tradition. A wonderful, fascinating, and positive piece of work.
-- Ben Kettlewell - Alternate Music Press
Posted in CMC's AfterTouch Cafe
by CMC connoisseur member Brad Biondo in Dec 96:
To See It Made Real by Steve Cochrane builds on the success of his first album, Heroes Awaken. It uses many of the formulas of the first album, but I feel it shows a marked progression in the artists talents. Not that the first outing was inferior in any way. But this one is more adventurous than its predecessor.
Reason is the Rising Sun starts the album off with another fanfare, a wonderful masterpiece. There are a lot of orchestral voices involved in this piece and they are well-integrated. You get a variety of presentations of the same theme. The human voices are particularly effective.
"Mount Fearless" leads off with wonderful solo acoustic guitar and then blends into supporting orchestration - very nice transition. You can picture the mountain with the great intertwining of sounds. This is a very uplifting piece. It's followed by "Makes Me Want to Sing", which was self-explanatory (hey, sometimes I run out of words.
"Active Minds and Hopeful Hearts" is a takeoff on the theme from the first cut, but goes through a whole different set of instrumentation. "At Love's Door" sounded very familiar, but I couldn't place where I seemed to have heard it before. This song has some great key modulation in it. "A True Olympian" presents an orchestral fanfare, with some welcomed variation in the style of the percussive background about halfway through.
"Dancing Under a Starlit Sky" is a light piece that softens the mood built up to this point. It illustrates how much thought can go into the organization of an album. This one is a nice breather, which is needed leading up to the title cut.
The title cut is certainly the masterpiece of this album. It shows off both guitar and keyboard talents, as long as a vocal appearance! I'd liken Steve to a Canadian version of James Taylor (in sound, not in content). This is an epic piece - three or four songs in one, and yet has seamless transitions. There's a nice 5/4 time signatuyon toward the end - very enjoyable piece!
"The Enlightened Forest" brings another needed breather. It meanders along, with no real definition. It has some nice guitar work, giving the listener some time to recharge, once again illustrating the importance of album organization.
"String of Emeralds" is a neat piece in that title is a play on words. Aside from the piece of jewelry, it gives a progression of tunes with Irish flavor, as typified by the instrumentation chosen. There are some great themes that have offbeat (both literally and figuratively) timing variations. It ends abruptly to lead into "Where Change Begins" - more great titles and song order. This one also meanders, but then builds. There are hesitations which intrigue. The piece is entirely without percussion or strict rhythms.
"Off Into the Sunrise" is like the closing credits of the album. It ties up any loose ends, giving you a feeling of completion. You can pick out themes from previous cuts - another very effective piece.
As in Steve's first album, there's a lot of music here. A lot more, in fact. This one will take many listens in order to enjoy the full effect, but the first listen was enjoyable nonetheless. I'm excited to hear that Steve is currently working on album number 3. If it makes anywhere near the progression that To See It Made Real made from Heroes Awaken, we're all in for a Real treat.
-- Brad Biondo, CMC Critic and Connoisseur Member
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