Escape
On his third solo album, Mars offers a fantasia of "visual" music. Mars has blended his trademark dynamic sounds with subtly mysterious effects and softer rhythms to create a labyrinth for the mind and heart. So appropriately titled, this album offers a true escape into the unfettered realm of the imagination........"
A note from Mars:
After the release of my first record, "Olympus", I wanted to create something a little more inventive. The "Eleventh Hour" came about after many hours of research into technology-based sound manipulation. I have a huge library of sounds I'd always wanted to use but never seemed to have the right reason.
I mixed drum loops and sound effects (sound design) together and fused this with my songs. In one case (Cellular City) I needed some dialogue from the telephone, so I called a friend and asked him to call me back and leave a message about the state of the air in town on my machine. I then took the answering machine tape and record it into my song (you can hear this at the end of Cellular City).
So then, how about 3D sound? Q-Sound brought one of their machines to my studio - in those days they were the size of a wardrobe (now it's a plug-in for your computer), and I programmed the 3d moves into the song. If you listen to "Cellular City", "Geronimo", and especially "City Jungle", you will hear the effect. Meanwhile, my very trustworthy Fairlight Computer was on its last legs and needed some help. "MAC to the rescue"! This is when I first started using the Apple Macintosh Computer. In tandem, they worked well together but the new features on the Mac encouraged me to retire the Fairlight once and for all. I had had many great years with Fairlight, but now sequencing and sampling technology were well and truly in the mainstream and Fairlight was outdated.
"Amy's Lullaby" was created for my daughter 'Amy', and really depicts the miracle of life. I am now up to "Amy's Lullaby V". I write her a new lullaby on most of my records and someday will probably release an "Amy's Lullaby Collection".
The subject matter can get serious at times, so for an intermission, I wrote: "Live at the Eleventh Hour". This gives the listener a chance to come up for air.
Critic Reviews
Mars Lasar - Escape - MainSeek Review
Pleasant night-time music.:
I have been a fan of Mars Lasar since 1993 when I first heard The Eleventh Hour. That album has a very complex sound that is difficult to explain. The songs varied from turbulent like the title track, Hidden Crater, and City Jungle while some others were relaxing like The Gift, In The Den, Children of The Night and Cathedral Waltz.
The Eleventh Hour is quite intense and provocative. Escape on the other is much more simple and is easier to get into than Eleventh Hour, its sequel 11:02 or the ancient-sounding Karma. This album is very mellow and is more romantic.
Inner Sanctum is such a gorgeous opener to this great CD. The Observer continues the romanticism of Inner Sanctum but with a more upbeat sound that almost could fit in the 11TH Hour. Observer sort of reminds me of a watered-down major note version of the title track of the 11th Hour but without the excessive futuristic sound effects. We really mellow down with the very nighttime sounding Sensuality. This song is a perfect wee hour in the morning music. Moonlight Cove is another beautiful romantic song that sort of reminds me of Cathedral Waltz although nowhere near as powerful. Waves is a more aquatic song with waterfall sound effects that give a feeling of the music washing your soul clean of the negativity society inflicts every day. The Blessing is a very serene song with mostly keyboards and few hooks. Escape is an energetic number with thundering beats and an intense classic sound that sort of is reminiscent of the jazz-vibe of Live At The Eleventh Hour. At One With You are a somber number with a very mournful sound and keyboard crescendos. Walkabout is the second in the line of the didgeridoo songs that started with Corroboree. Walkabout is a bit more melodic and less futuristic sounding. Anniversary features Mars Lasar playing the keyboard with the notes rising and falling in pitches and gradually getting higher. The song also some multilayered vocals that sort of remind me of Enya. Accelerator is similar to Escape but this song incorporates more old school hip-hop beats. Amy's Lullaby II is the second re-recording of the original version on The 11th Hour except this version has a minor note and less of that music sound and is actually much better and not too baby-ish. Unity is a beautiful closer to Escape. It starts out as a beatless song for the first minute and a half and then becomes a relatively jazzy ambient groove.
Overall while this isn't as powerful as The Eleventh Hour or Karma this CD is a great stepping stone between those two incredible masterpieces. This album is very good and is worthy of owning. It might not be his best album but give this CD a listen. I'm sure most Lasar fans will like. I do.
Napra Review by CW
On this his third solo synthesizer album, Mars Lasar offers a larger-than-life symphonic fantasia. From the cover art, I expected space music; Lasar does go places but within a rich world full of melody, romance, and adventure. "Inner Sanctum" took me to a celestial bar where they danced cheek-to-cheek. "Astronomer" had a broad orchestral presence that reminded me of the movie El Cid. Other cuts were perfumed with tropical birds, while "Walkabout" offered raw excitement with growling didgeridoos and snarling dogs. "The Anniversary" had the sentimental flair of a Chopin piano prelude—perhaps we are visiting him in heaven! There’s something here for everyone, including some driving music, "The Accelerator," and a delicate music box lullaby with angel choir. Escape will take you many places you didn’t know you really wanted to be.
Customer Reviews
Pleasant nighttime music
Reviewer: Distant Voyageur
I have been a fan of Mars Lasar since 1993 when I first heard The Eleventh Hour. That album has a very complex sound that is difficult to explain. The songs varied from turbulent like the title track, Hidden Crater, and City Jungle while some others were relaxing like The Gift, In The Den, Children of The Night and Cathedral Waltz.
The Eleventh Hour is quite intense and provocative. Escape on the other is much more simple and is easier to get into than Eleventh Hour, its sequel 11:02 or the ancient-sounding Karma. This album is very mellow and is more romantic.
Inner Sanctum is such a gorgeous opener to this great CD. The Observer continues the romanticism of Inner Sanctum but with a more upbeat sound that almost could fit in the 11TH Hour. Observer sort of reminds me of a watered-down major note version of the title track of the 11th Hour but without the excessive futuristic sound effects. We really mellow down with the very nighttime sounding Sensuality. This song is a perfect wee hour in the morning music. Moonlight Cove is another beautiful romantic song that sort of reminds me of Cathedral Waltz although nowhere near as powerful. Waves is a more aquatic song with waterfall sound effects that give a feeling of the music washing your soul clean of the negativity society inflicts every day. The Blessing is a very serene song with mostly keyboards and few hooks. Escape is an energetic number with thundering beats and an intense classic sound that sort of is reminiscent of the jazz-vibe of Live At The Eleventh Hour. At One With You are a somber number with a very mournful sound and keyboard crescendos. Walkabout is the second in the line of the didgeridoo songs that started with Corroboree. Walkabout is a bit more melodic and less futuristic sounding. Anniversary features Mars Lasar playing the keyboard with the notes rising and falling in pitches and gradually getting higher. The song also some multilayered vocals that sort of remind me of Enya. The accelerator is similar to Escape but this song incorporates more old school hip-hop beats. Amys Lullaby II is the second re-recording of the original version on The 11th Hour except this version has a minor note and less of that music sound and is actually much better and not too baby-ish. Unity is a beautiful closer to Escape. It starts out as a beatless song for the first minute and a half and then becomes a relatively jazzy ambient groove.
Overall while this isn't as powerful as The Eleventh Hour or Karma this CD is a great stepping stone between those two incredible masterpieces. This album is very good and is worthy of owning. It might not be his best album but give this CD a listen. I,m sure most Lasar fans will like. I do.
A visual feast for the mind
Reviewer: David Roy from Vancouver, BC
Mars Lasar is a master of mood. He can create so many different kinds that you can buy his entire catalogue and then find one that matches your mood at the time. Escape is a visual feast. Just to give two examples, using the two pieces I'm listening to while I write this review: Moonlight Cove really does take you to the shore in the deepest night, with only the moon shining down on you and lighting your way. You're sitting in the moonlight, watching the water move out on the water. The peace that only nature can give you is evoked by this song.On the other hand, Sensuality makes you imagine a lover and you, walking through the forest, revelling in your togetherness. Just enjoying being with each other, without any other part of the world intruding. I can't say enough about this CD. The blurb on the back of it says it best: "So appropriately titled, this album offers a true escape into the unfettered realm of the imagination." Not only does it offer that escape, but it actually takes you on that journey itself. I don't think it's any accident that I feel most creative when I'm listening to this CD. It really does unleash the imagination. I only wish it was as long as the Eleventh Hour. 60 minutes just seems too short for this.
Relax and escape
to well-composed original music by Lasar
Reviewer: A music fan from the UK
This album has the most amazing of tracks. 'Walkabout' is what I would rate as the best ethnic instrument combined with modern sounds based track I've heard. At first, this might feel 'easy listening' in many ways, but forget this and listen to the emotion and direction of the music (yet some tracks still bear similarity to styles on 11:02 and other albums). Forget about 'in styles' and 'attitude' which limits much modern music you hear that has to 'conform' to the genre. Listen to and experience what the music makes you feel - escape! New Comer to Lasar? I've got nearly all Lasar's albums. If you're more into Rock, try 11:02 or The Eleventh Hour first, but try this first if you tend to listen to Classical or New Age. Otherwise - buy both!
Excellent!
Reviewer: A music fan from Florida, USA
This CD truly provoked my interest in Mars Lasar's music. This is the best of all his CD's and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys good music.