John Young - No Commercial Value (N.C.V.)

1. Asteroid (3:57) 2. Voyager (4:28) 3. Chance Encounter (4:17) 4. Ascent (5:11) 5. A Clearer Sky (5:06) 6. Daybreak (3:01) 7. Corpus (4:12) 8. Bible White (3:20) 9. Whirl (4:04) 10. Araindi (4:31) 11. Air Miles (4:09) 12. Sapporo (3:15)

Total Running Time: 48:11

It's quite obvious that the name John Young doesn't ring a bell to most people out there. "It should???" you might ask. Well, in a way, not really. Ironically, however, this man has developed quite a musician's curriculum, having played with the likes of Fish, Bonnie Tyler, John Wetton, and The Scorpions. Also, ironically, forget what I just said, simply because the John Young solo release titled N.C.V. (abbreviation for "No Commercial Value") has nothing to do at all with any of the previously mentioned artists.

N.C.V. is a strictly ambient/atmospheric synth/piano based record. It is an album consisting of wonderful, flowing layers, and embracing soothing melody lines, creating a comfortable atmosphere with only one goal in mind: relaxation. A musical offering without any hidden pretensions, and as far as the title goes, you can be sure that this guy could care less about the sales of his record, being a true purist and an honest musician fascinated with composing real music for real listeners.

Trance-like pieces take us through a voyage to a peaceful undiscovered universe, freeing all of our senses from any worries or stressful experiences we might have had during the last few days. Likewise, the song titles perfectly portray the feelings experienced by listening to the record. With titles such as "Ascent," "Voyager," and "Whirl," one quickly gets the idea of the moods showcased by this artist. Samples and moody electronic beats inherently dwell in each one of the twelve tracks on the album, with each piece having a soul of its own. N.C.V. holds a strong resemblance to Robert Miles' 1996 release Dreamland, a record that widely spread amongst commercial radio airwaves and explored intricate melodies and samples through new age music. Still, N.C.V. has a more laid-back groove, often letting go and simply guiding itself by means of atmospheric layers.

This record is an amazing portrayal of what an individual can do with simply a keyboard and synthesizer at one's hands. Majestic musical landscapes and dreamy melodies are at a "high" on this recording, and I strongly recommend this release to any adventurous proggers that want to experience the marvels of ambient music at its best.

-by Javier Elizondo

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