AE Paterra is the drummer extraordinaire of the electro synth prog duo Zombi, along with Steve Moore on bass and synths. They’ve carved a niche for themselves over the last 20+ years(debuting in 2004 with Cosmos). The band tows the line between prog rockers and classic 70s/80s horror film scores, somehow bringing the worlds of Goblin, Fabio Frizzi, and Rush together in the most glorious way.
But besides blowing minds in Zombi, AE Paterra has released music as Majeure. A more heady sound world, Majeure combined the synthscape worlds of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze to the more movement-oriented worlds of electronic dance music. Propulsive, epic electronic songs that take you on a journey.
The latest from AE Paterra is released under his own name. Alone In Your Dark is a set of heavy, heady synth works that Paterra has been working on since 2020. Something finally clicked and the songs seemed to flow together. Releasing via VCO Recordings, both on limited edition cassette and digital, Alone In Your Dark is a massive synth release. Subtle works that worm their way into your brain, opening a portal to some other time and place. This is a stunning release.
Alone In Your Dark reminds me of Paterra’s work on Majeure’s Union Of Worlds, an album that felt more introspective than something like Timespan or Solar Maximum. These pieces feel heady and atmospheric, like traveling the cosmos as a lonely, thoughtful cosmonaut. I could see sitting back in my seat at Adler Planetarium on the Michigan Lake shore hearing something like “Free Swimming Medusae” as planets grow bigger and bigger in the dark. And album opener “Peak Sanctuary” floats along like a satellite in space, ominous and shaded. There are touches of early 80s synth soundtracks to these pieces. The kind of soundtracks that outshined the films they scored.
While there isn’t a single piece lagging, highlights would be “Painter Lane”, which at times puts me in mind of Tangerine Dream’s great Firestarter score. There’s a warmth and depth to this that begs for repeated listens. There’s the epic sound of “Romanced Language”, and the slow build of title track “Alone In Your Dark” with it’s hesitant contemplation. And album closer “In Closing…” feels like a melancholy glimpse backward, before heading into a dark unknown. A perfect ending for this musical journey.
AE Paterra’s Alone In Your Dark is an exquisite heavy synth album that leans into meditative loneliness. An existential sound journey built for one.
Discover more from Complex Distractions
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
