Distant Worlds

Introduced to each other by the label, the two artists found common ground with thousands of miles between them, in more ways than one. A desire for each other's work sparked a productive partnership that quickly found Leandro creating specific sounds based on concrete directives from Rafael. Leandro Fresco’s signature melodies and warm, colorful textures have adorned the Argentinian’s work ever since his first appearance on Kompakt’s Pop Ambient Series in 2003, right up to his latest artist album El Reino Invisible (2015). This "melodic sensibility" as Rafael likes to say, proved to be the defining undercurrent to Rafael’s signature sound design, a combination that takes each of their distinct sounds into new heartbreaking territory…

In'R'Voice calls all passengers for immediate boarding on Cosmicleaf Airlines, flying in high orbit to the ancient future. Mastering the art of creating futuristic sounds with analog textures, this In-R-Voice's album is a must-have for any serious explorer of distant worlds. Pack your bags for deepness and addictive grooves covered with juicy synths and a characteristic retro vibe.

Release of live footage from the "Final Fantasy" orchestral concert held at the Pacifico Yokohama in February of 2006. Includes complete footage from the show including performances from Emiko Shiratori, RIKKI, Izumi Masuda, Angela Aki, The Black Mages, the acapella group Mogleys, and more. Limited edition includes bonus DVD with documentary footage and interview with Nobuo Uematsu and Arnie Ross.

I think its a great album, but definitely not for all fans of the first two. I didn't like it as much as the first two on my first listen, because it felt so different. But, after a few listens it began to grow on me and I can now appreciate all of the tracks found here, but for different reasons than the first albums. In the end though, I like it less than the first two albums, just because its not what I was looking for from the Black Mages. Hopefully, Nobuo was just getting some of this stuff out of the way so that he could really throw down with a solid 4th album that brings back the huge guitar pyrotechnics and heavy riffs!