"Eye of the Nautilus by Numina"

Review of Eye of the Nautilus By SJS from Synth Music Direct CD / 9 tracks / 73:57 mins,

I have to confess that until this landed on my doormat the other day, I was not familiar with this guy's work. Otherwise known as Jesse Sola, this is his second release is on the American Hypnos label, home to some of the finest EM musicians in the US and beyond. Furthermore any CD that namechecks both Steve Roach and Paul Ellis in the credits has got to be worth a listen in my book.

It starts so quietly, that even with headphones on, you wonder if that really is music you can hear, and then slowly but surely, wonderful synth sounds fill your head and it is an excellent starter to a CD that I have listened to a great deal over the last few days. The opening piece is called Drift Catalyst, and at nearly eight minutes long it is really atmospheric.

Secrets From The Flame also starts in a similar low-key fashion, before a very church like synth comes to the fore. The track features a guest appearance by the New Zealand ambient musician Rudy Adrian and I imagine that is him on percussion, which I have to admit is a tad too dominant for my tastes.

The Thirteenth Moon is next and at 5:30 the shortest piece. Initially it just ebbs and flows. However at the three-minute mark it then gets all "heavy" and the tone becomes much darker. The last forty seconds you can barely hear at all. Interesting.

The fourth track is New lands Approach, which at first appears to be a similar minimalist soundscape, reminding me of Steve Roach circa Mystic Chords. Then a rhythm starts up, and a very infectious one it is too! This is great stuff. Other "sounds" appear and still that rhythm carries on all before it, and as I write this, my feet are tapping away . the best one so far.

Next up is The Nautilus Chamber. This is another moody and rather meditative track, sounding just great on my headphones. I liked the sense of contrast with the proceeding piece.

Stranger still is Sundrown . if those are guitars right at the start, then I will eat my woolly hat. You then hear clanging sounds, resembling empty water pipes being hit and it becomes all very nightmarish and dissonant. The percussion gets occasionally louder, and by some distance this one of the weirdest pieces of music I've heard all year.

Frozen Halo likes up to up to its excellent title . a fantastically atmospheric piece . best listened to in the dark . those drones are scary! Hypnotic Shores is completely different again, synths swirling around a repetitive beat, and if that seems samey, nothing could be further the truth. This is another great track, which again lives up to its title.

Last and not least is Return To The Crystal Temple, the longest track on the CD. Bell like sounds get us underway on what I think is a guitar. The synths then kick in and it sort of meanders on to a conclusion. Another interesting track and again I have to say that it is best listened to in the dark.

I was very impressed by the variety of the EM and the quality of the production. This is far from being standard ambient stuff, and there is something here for most people's tastes. If 80 odd minutes of drones isn't quite your cup of tea, but you want to try something interesting and challenging you could do worse than buy this. Now if you'll excuse me, I am off to listen to the fourth track again! (SJS)

Review from Manifold Records

Ambience that seems totally from keyboards/synth as it has the sort of single dimension, everything is coming from one place; lots of space there but it feels somehow closed in. It does a good job with what it has. Several pieces breaking to very nice territory. The fourth track 'New Lands Approach' is magnificent, with rolling percussive throbs under shaken sounds and grand ambient ebbings. It really is like sailing across some desert twoard a distant city that is forever receding. And 'Frozen Halo' has a grand feeling, wondrous and sad at the same time. I am usually prejudiced against total keyboard ambient, but Nautilus has done well here. I'm hoping some concrete sounds are brought into the artists method one day, could be very interesting.

NUMINA: Eye of the Nautilus (CD on Hypnos Recordings)

This release from 2005 features 74 minutes of delicate ambience.

Numina is Jesse Sola. Joining him on one track is New Zealand synthesist Rudy Adrian.

Extremely soft soundscapes that evoke clear skies and limitless expanses. Airy tones unfurl with steadfast ease, establishing placid drones that possess a subtle ring to their sound. Synthetic textures are generated, then made flexible so as to bend and weave through an atmospheric medium.

The music's calm is quite infectious, creating ethereal bonds between the soundscapes and the audience, unifying them until they are synonymous.

Percussives are employed in a few tracks to ascribe lazy rhythms that remain delightfully unobtrusive. Fuzzy e-perc is mixed in with these natural tempos, giving the beats an unearthly quality. Shunning tribal influences, these rhythms convey a thoroughly modern demeanor not unlike a nocturnal film sequence wandering through a deserted urban setting.

While most ambient music is designed to point the audience toward introspection, this music craftily urges the listeners' focus outwards, bring them more in tune with the universe at large.

There's a definite majesty to this music, a quiet elegance that is surprisingly more demonstrative than the elements that comprise the lilting tuneage. Excellent application of less to simulate more.

Matt Howarth, Sonic Curiosity, October 2005

"Eye of the Nautilus" is the second release on the Hypnos label by Jesse Sola of Numina. My appreciation for Jesse's work, my adoration for his music, is pretty well documented by this point. But even given my feelings I was totally unprepared for the beauty of "Eye of the Nautilus".

There's a womblike serenity to this music, something so natural, so warm, so inviting. Tracks drift and flow throughout the disc, slight melodies and distant sounds rising and falling on the edge of your hearing. Time seems to slow down while it plays, as if minutes and seconds have less meaning and are instead measured by the passing of notes and waves. It all comes together so fluidly, so naturally, so perfectly that it seems like this music has always existed, that this is the sound of the oceans, and the earth, and the moon, and the stars, and everything else. Primal, connected, organic.

It's subtle and magical, playing right on the periphery of the senses. I sit very still while I'm listening to it, afraid that any movement or noise might mean that I miss some of it, something crucial. Something important.

Something divine.

Something wonderful.

Something...

perfect.

Rik Maclean of Ping Things, July 2005

"Jesse Sola has been writing some of the finest atmospheric cds in the last few years. Recording under the name Numina, this Denver based space-music-ambient artist has been working steady at crafting his sound-art since the mid 90's. His earlier releases mapped his progression with promise and demonstrated a real talent for original sound design. On 2004's Sanctuary of Dreams, his penchant for creating serene yet contrasting cloud-like textural landscapes matured and came into focus on this beautiful release appealing to many pure space-music listeners while making a host of "Best of 2004" music lists. Now Jesse takes his skills one step further with the release of Eye of the Nautilus. Eye of the Nautilus is similar to its predecessor tonally, but also explores some different themes and textures. Evocative electronic percussion is present at times, but overall the feel is one of deep-space ambience.

It is with good reason that Numina is one of the few names in ambient music to so quickly gain in reputation and prominence in this new millennium. His work evolves dramatically with each new release, and by now he has surely made the transition from "new name you should watch" to the status of "established artist." This is an album full of ideas, with a fresh and varied sound design.

Guest artist Rudy Adrian lends his trademark sound to the second track, "Secrets from the Flame," and as with Sanctuary of Dreams, R. Chris Fraley provides artwork, and Hypnos founder M. Griffin is responsible for mastering and layout. This is the fourth new release this year so far from the Hypnos label, and it is sure to be one of the highlights of the year, not only for Numina and Hypnos, but for the entire space & ambient music world. If this is any indication of the quality of products we can expect from Hypnos this year, the space-music community is sure to be in for a great year."

--Progressive Soundscapes

I had the privilege of hearing both the demo version & the final mastered version of this new work from Numina, which will please both established Numina fans as well as satisfy those who appreciate an artist breaking some new ground. Incorporating both synthesizers & organic percussive sounds, 'Eye of the Nautilus' is a fantastic ethereal listen.

Guest artist Rudy Adrian lends his trademark sound to the second track, "Secrets from the Flame," and as with Sanctuary of Dreams, R. Chris Fraley provides artwork.

Gene A. Bulmer, Ambient Landscapes, July 2005

This is the second Numina album for the renowned Hypnos label. Numina is Jesse Sola, who has self released several high quality albums before that. Jesse plays synthesizers, samplers, programming, and guitars. Numina has collaborated twice with ambient artist IXOHOXI, and with dark ambient artist Caul. The packaging is in the elegant style of other Hypnos releases and has a striking cover with images by R. Chris Fraley. The album sounds as exquisite as it looks, with a sparkling mastering job by Hypnos label head Michael Griffin. Onward to the music itself. Here are some impressions:

"Drift Catalyst" opens the disc, with long, morphing drones in a gradual ebb and flow. It's an expressive beginning to a mysterious voyage. Next is "Secrets From The Flame", where smooth synth chords slowly give way to percussive elements by guest e-musician Rudy Adrian. The third track, "The Thirteenth Moon" has gentle synth chords swirling and glistening in the moonlight. After that, passion and excitement build to distant percussion in "New Lands Approach". Track 5, "The Nautilus Chamber" has synth sweeps and bleeps in an icy, drifting vortex. "Sundrown" follows, with wind chime effects, gongs and bells chiming, randomly merging into metallic drones and jarring effects. Layers of orchestral sounding beauty weave and circle in "Frozen Halo". The eighth track "Hypnotic Shores" has cascading drones with some percolating percussion underneath. Which brings us to the final track, "Return To The Crystal Temple", where plucked strings, cello sounds and delicious orchestral percussion summon a mystical atmosphere. The visionquest is over.

This is a remarkable album you can really wrap your head around. It's an evocative, spellbinding experience that abducts the listener to a hidden world. This music conjures up vivid images and panoramic visions, functioning as the soundtrack to an advanced dream state. Numina has done an even rarer thing, that is hit a second home run in a row over the fence. Highly recommended, this is undoubtedly one of the top ambient releases of the year! Visit the Hypnos label for sound samples and ordering (plus an incredible selection of other labels) at www.hypnos.com . Stop by the Numina website for info on other music at www.numinamusic.com .

-Dodds Wiley Ambient.us

9 tracks, 73.55 mins

Numina (Jesse Sola) is back with a strong follow up to his well received Hypnos debut Sanctuary of Dreams. Once again, he creates beautiful paintings, using sounds as color, using synths, samplers, and guitars as his brushes. "Drift Catalyst" is a rich textural piece that combines its layers into a wall of sound that ebbs and flows. Though Numina often reminds me of Steve Roach, this piece has a smooth silky quality and a somewhat brighter tone that is more reminiscent of Robert Carty's space music. "Secrets from the Flame" features Rudy Adrian as a guest, and though Jesse doesn^Òt tip his hand as to what Rudy contributes, there is a bright shimmering quality that I associate with his work. Tribal drumming picks up the pace a bit midway through, blending into the synth textures extremely well. The intensity builds and crests before a long slow fade. "The Thirteenth Moon" is full of bright choirs and silky pads. It sounds like heaven. Drums return on "New Lands Approach", adding vibrancy and vitality. "The Nautilus Chamber" swooshes by likethe wind. After a lot of velvety smooth sounds, "Sundrown" takes a more abstract turn with clanging bells, eerie strings, and things that go bump and thump in the night. Something like Japanese koto or hammered dulcimer appears for contrast, and works to great effect here and in the closing track, "Return to the Crystal Temple". In between are a couple other ambient morsels for you to sample on your own. There is a nice balance between pure ambient tracks and those with more rhythmic elements. Put it all together, and it^Òs another Numina winner.

© 2005 Phil Derby / Electroambient Space

Style: Liquid soft, shadowy ambience with a scattering of murmured percussion. Drifting, rolling sheets of tone unfold like slow-motion waves as Numina paints onto an infinite ocean of darkness with tidal washes of coloured light. On the few tracks where a beat swells up, the percussion is gentle, deep, reverberating, almost tribal in places with shakers and low booms - agitating yet never breaking the surface. Chordal patterns on Eye of the Nautilus are quite harmonious but the pace always falls far short of breaking out of floating ambience and into clear melody. In places clock-like bells and metallic chimes, as if of all sizes, swung by the wind are interspersed with plucked notes all spiralling in meandering eddies with a common direction.

MOOD: Lustrous layers and beds of ambience, elegant and graceful in perpetual motion where nothing is hurried and submersion is absolute. This sort of subtle music always creates beautiful visions of nature for me - suspended, unfolding, revolving. Vaporous pads suggest the heavenly, ethereal where darkness is a welcome feature, a backdrop for colour and texture. At times Eye of the Nautilus sounds plaintive, wistful, almost solemn - but never depressive, the shadows are evocative and expansive not a path into obscurity.

ARTWORK: Monochrome and classy - nestled within a generous black border the spiral of a nautilus shell twists inward onto a human eye. The greys of the front cover photomontage are rich with texture that reveals fresh depths at each viewing distance. A larger version of the same image fills the back cover overlaid with a track-listing and times for each piece. Inside the monochrome approach is maintained with images enlarged into increasing abstraction. The inner booklet spreads the nautilus eye across both panels, with one side featuring credits, thanks and contact details.

OVERALL: Numina (Jesse Sola) cites Steve Roach, Robert Rich and vidnaObmana among his influences and this can be heard in the consistently smooth shadowy clouds of synthetic sound on Eye of the Nautilus. If anything Numina has a sleeker feel - where sonic sheets and veils come in diaphanous layers, moving like the transparent, soft-edged shadows of clouds among lush drones and dense synthetic mists.

WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM: Ambience for those happy to have a beat in a few places - restful and flowing. If you enjoy Thom Brennan's style of writing, Numina will likely suit your tastes. If you like shadows and darkness that is at the same time welcoming and absorbing - give Eye of the Nautilus a good listen.

Morpehus Music: www.morpheusmusic.co.uk/html/reviews15.htm#nautilus

Just received this from Hypnos today - bright, silky smooth ambient atmospheres. At times like Steve Roach, but a lot more like Brian Eno's mellower stuff. Nice.

Phil ~ Electronic Music Reviewer for Electroambient Space.

Paul Ellis (electronic Musician of the first order)

"Eye of the Nautilus by Numina"

Jesse Sola, a.k.a. Numina, is in the zone. Musically, he can do no wrong. He could record flatulence and other obnoxious noises, run them through processors and create an ambient concerto. That is how good he is right now! The Eye of the Nautilus is his follow-up to Sanctuary of Dreams (one of 2004.s best discs) and it is a remarkable CD! It is the perfect blend of atmospheric ambience, symphonic synths and subtle rhythms. Jesse has sharp sound design skills and a penchant for developing, refining and redefining his own style. Those characteristics dominate this CD and it is an early favorite for 2005.s top twenty. This music is awesome and Jesse.s tribulations make it even more remarkable and noteworthy. He had a severe medical issue that resulted in some partial and . thankfully . temporary hearing loss. It is scary to imagine where he.d be without that physical . and emotional . baggage. (This is a pre-release preview. This disc is due for release in the summer of 2005.)

Jim Brenholts - Tracks Across the Universe Author.