Found

Audio Mixers: David Helpling; Jon Jenkins.
Recording information: Deep Exile; Dream Village Studios, Orlando.
Photographer: Michal Karcz.
Completing the trilogy that began with 2007's The Treasure, respected new age duo David Helpling and Jon Jenkins return with the deeply resonant album Found. Similar in scope and tone to both The Treasure and its predecessor, 2010's The Crossing, Found presents a lush sonic landscape that ranges from gently ambient to resoundingly intense. Spaced-out synth pads create a dense backdrop for the duo's slowly building pieces where gentle percussion soon develops into low, sonorous drums behind towering guitar leads. There is a languid feeling of tranquility throughout the entire album, but rock elements are certainly present in the duo's production, adding a welcome sense of excitement that, at times, borders on the cinematic. Both artists have claimed Pink Floyd as an influence and it can easily be heard in tracks like "Lost" and "Edge of Tomorrow," which echo moments of the band's 1987 album A Momentary Lapse of Reason. The slow, dream-like title track features a lovely wordless vocal section by South African singer Miriam Stockley, but otherwise, the album is entirely instrumental. Building on the fine work of two prior releases, Found is an engaging effort from a pair of well-seasoned musicians who know how to create a sense of drama. ~ Timothy Monger