Artist description Blue Lily Commission is the solo project of Steve Palmer, best known for his Sf novels and for the music of ambient band Mooch. The music is world-dance ethnic-trance; the sound of samplers and computers meeting an eastern desert...

Music Style trance

Musical Influences Shpongle, The Orb, Tangerine Dream

Similar Artists Banco de Gaia, Shpongle, Global

Artist History Begun in January 2000. Still going strong, recording a fourth album called "Eastern Evening."

Group Members Steve Palmer

Instruments Samplers/keys/programming, + saz, guitars, oud, bouzouki, percission, flutes, etc.

Press Reviews REVIEW OF "WINE SONGS" BY ANDY GARIBALDIOF CD SERVICESThe debut solo album from the leader of the ambientmusic group Mooch, this sees Steve coming up with avaried and consistent set of tracks that you justcan't fail to enjoy. Each of the seven tracks lastsaround nine minutes, so you get something to reallydive into but nothing overdone or overly long for theideas on offer... With the rhythms travellingdeliberately through the mix, it is left to theelectronics and bass undercurrents to provide thetextures... middle-eastern sounding synth melodies create a sort of mysticeastern Tangerine Dream like quality that builds intosomething symphonic and majestic... emotion andexoticism in perfect harmony; the mix of West and Eastnever sounded so good.Future Music, January 2001: 'Brilliantly produced, and perfect for fans of Mike Oldfield.'(ii). Twenty4Seven (Westcountry music magazine), December 2000, by Spillage: 'A true trancey little number with loads of atmospherics and samples fading in and out. This is a great album to chill to... if you're into trance you will probably want to buy this.'REVIEW OF "WINE SONGS" BY AUDION MAGAZINE:"Wine Songs" is a new recording that... is going to appeal to those into easy going Eat Static or System 7.REVIEW OF "WINE SONGS" BY GORDON ELCOCK OF ACID ATTACK MUSIC:Reading 'middle east trance fusion' I half expected a Muslimgauze clone, and there is a little of that in the first track, 'Locust Swarm'; it's in the rhythms, but not in the instrumentation, which is more Egyptian and Turkish (the whole sleeve concept is Egyptian, more to read at the website I'm afraid). On first listen the whole thing washed over me a bit. I think that was just the trance like qualities in full effect because this is a really nice piece of work. Obviously Steve Palmer is greatly influenced by Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk, though he has seamlessly melded these influences with his interests in middle-eastern instrumentation to achieve his goal of middle-east trance fusion. On 'Harp', the sequenced parts throb nicely, drawing you in, then you start to become aware of slightly unfamiliar and unexpected though not unwelcome sounds. There are seven tracks spread over an hour or so and none outstay their welcome. A lot of care, effort, knowledge and expertise have gone into this project, which I feel fans of music produced by Loop Guru or perhaps Muslimgauze fans seeking that sound without the strident politicisation would really enjoy. Harking back to the website there was news a second album which I very much look forward to hearing. I encourage you to check this one out ASAP. REVIEW OF "IN THE HEART OF THE OLD CITY..." BY GORDON ELCOCK OF ACID ATTACK MUSIC:Another fine cd from Blue Lily Commission, one that builds upon the strengths of the first release, 'Wine Songs'. It opens with the title track, a piece of music that creates an unsettling air. It sounds menacing, it sounds slightly disturbing, it sounds wrong, slightly off-key samples build over a pretty standard rhythm, as ever built from ethnic sounds. There follows six more tracks of 'middle east trance fusion', all in all a good use of an hour of anyone's time. Steve claims influence from modern day trance acts such as Shpongle and Global and from more traditional German electronic bands, Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze, and I can hear Kraftwerk. A fan of any of these would find much to enjoy here. Of course what places the Blue Lily Commission ahead of thousands of others is the organic sounds Steve brings through his own playing of various ethnic instruments; the saz (apparently a kind of Turkish long neck lute), bouzouki, flutes and various bits of percussion. It's also nice to know that he uses Korg and Apple Mac hardware. And, as promised, there are harder beats, more up ups and more down downs! In a recent online discussion where people were searching for music with a Middle Eastern air I had no hesitation in recommending Blue Lily Commission. I only hope people took me up on it as I'm sure they wouldn't have been disappointed. Blue Lily Commission - "Wine Songs" (Steve Palmer 2000, CD) ------------------------------------------------------------------------From Aural Innovations #14 (January 2001) Blue Lily Commission is the latest project from musician and sci fi novelist Steve Palmer who also heads up the band Mooch. According to the promo sheet, Palmer created Blue Lily Commission to release more uptempo music drawing on influences including trance, classic German electronica, and the ethnic music of North Africa, the Middle East, and India. Like Mooch, the music is primarily electronic but also includes saz, bouzuki, flutes, and a variety of percussion. The music on Wine Songs is spiritually uplifting, yet by NO means in a fluffy New Age manner. The disc opens with "Locust Swarm" on which we're introduced to syncopated synth patterns, but also a strong drifting quality that recalls Tangerine Dream and even Ash Ra Tempel. "Harp" includes a similar combination of synth patterns, but a prominent keyboard melody takes the lead with a spacey Egyptian feel. I really liked the keyboard sound on this tune that is both pulsating and orchestral. The combined orchestral and more mechanically patterned synths make for a good contrast that works well together. The saz also crops up intermittently to give an added ethnic boost to the music. "Inundation" is a quietly floating piece that combines droning and patterned synth lines with various percussion instruments. "The Goddess Nekhebit" is similar but with lots of competing synth patterns, percussion bits, and sounds. A bit like Shadowfax. "Scarab" is a standout track with tribal percussion and wailing Rick Wright styled keyboards. "Lilyhead" is similar, but the percussion is more light and trippy, and the keys have a more lush orchestral quality. And "Boat Of The Goddess Maat" is like "Lilyhead" but combines a spiritual horn call with a playful synth pattern and percussion, and some cool Ash Ra Tempel guitar to go with the electronics. Fans of Tangerine Dream and electronic Ash Ra Tempel who like an ethnic flavor will enjoy Blue Lily Commission, as will Shadowfax fans who enjoy ambient electronic music.

Location Exeter, Devon - United Kingdom

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