Reviews for Transcend with Time: Through Memory's Perception
On his latest disc, Mark Mendieta offers up a suite of well-constructed if slightly formulaic New Age tunes that sometimes suffer from a touch of same-ness. It’s a very Mannheim/Tesh-type of affair, with strong piano or guitar standing proudly in front of orchestral pads and rock-tinged (albeit electronic) drums. The pieces tend to follow the start slow/swell in the middle/fade to calm template—which isn’t meant to downplay Mendieta’s capable playing, which is absolutely solid. Notable tracks include the tone-setting opener, “Open Your Eyes”; the ballad-like “Cognitive Imagery”; and “Into the Realm of Quiet,” with its insistent-but-patient bass line, string warbles and graceful keys. It’s the highlight of the disc. (I included it in one of my podcasts.) Through Memory’s Perception isn’t one of those discs I’ll hurry back to, but it’s pleasant enough in a mix and, given the denser electronic stuff I usually listen to, acts in that capacity as a good change of pace. If you’re more of a New Age listener than I, you’ll probably find enough good stuff here to warrant you picking up Through Memory’s Perception. Samples are available at the web site listed below. Give Transcend With Time a test drive and judge for yourself.
Available from Tarnius Music.
--Written by John, Hypnagogue (http://hypnagogue.netfirms.com), September 27, 2009
Listed on Transcend with Time’s myspace page, composer and musician ‘Mark M’ states that he would “like to do music for films, commercials etc”. I feel he should extend this list to making music for video games, as this is exactly the kind of arena this album seems particularly suited to. By video game music, I mean synthetic sounding tracks that play on a very similar theme. I listened to the album a few times over before writing the review, partly because I felt I had somehow been listening to the same piece over and over for the entire duration of the album.
Honestly, I’m still not sure if this is a good or a bad thing for “Through Memories Perception”. On the bad side, obviously, sixty minutes of very similar sounding music might not be a compelling sell-point for a music album. Then again, repetition on a theme can work really well in situations where t he focus is on something else, such as in soundtracks. Some may really enjoy the unobtrusive, hypnotizing effect of these tracks - for me personally, I was left craving a little more variety and musical happenings throughout.
Really though, my biggest gripe with this album was the grating sound of the tinny drum track throughout. I’m not sure if this was a real drum fed through effects, or some pre-programmed beat, but regardless, the effect was somewhat grating against the wistfulness of the rest of the instrumentation.
The album opens with the stirring ‘Open Your Eyes’. As an introductory album track, it’s decent enough - you get the sense that you’re flying through time with the repetitive keyboard loops and it sets the theme well for the rest of the album. The title track ‘Through Memories’ perception is much gentler piece which precedes the spacier-sounding ‘Visions of Premonition’ and ‘Signs of Existence’. Of all of the tracks on the album, ‘Cognitive Imagery’ was the stand out favourite: the icicle-like mysterious and delicate sounds of the melody struck me as being particularly compelling (and perhaps more to the point, no drum track - sorry). The pace picks up a little in ‘A Lingering Thought’ before sliding back into that same familiar style in ‘Reminiscence’ , ‘Into The Realm of Quiet’, ‘Time of Certainty’ and ‘A Dream S ubsides’.
My disparaging remarks on the percussion aside, this is not a bad album, particularly if you are into computerized sounding music. At just over sixty minutes in length and ten tracks long, Transcend with Time’s album, “Through Memory’s Perception” could make a good, laid-back soundtrack to a thoughtful stroll through the park, drive, or even meditation, where the repetitive mood of the music could be useful in helping gain focus on the matter to be contemplated.
Individual tracks from “Through Memory’s Perception” are available for download at http://www.tarniusmusic.com/transcendwithtime, along with some others from Transcend with Time’s collection.
(Personally, as a video gamer, I’m fully expecting to hear Transcend with Time’s music on some future release or other in the near future - it just seems made for that sort of thing.)
--Written by Kate Russell, New Age Journal (http://newagejournal.com/2007/category/music-reviews), September 3, 2009
Transcend with Time is Mark Mendieta's solo project and the album "Through Memory's Perception" is a showcase of Marks' multi talented versatility. He plays all the instruments. This music can best be described as ambient. There are no vocals on this album unlike his other project Subject to Thoughts.
This is definitely mesmeric stuff, and while listening to it is very easy to lose your sense of reality as you are floating in the clouds.
I like to put this on when I need some relaxation or chillout time. Standout tracks are Visions of Premonition and Reminiscence, but in reality, every track blends into one another. All in all, another great release from this talented man, and will definitely be appreciated by people who enjoy classical and world music. Get yourself a copy, and support an artist with a vision for great music!!
-- Mark Baston, January 11, 2009
I find that some of the best and most interesting music is created in crossing point between different genres. This is where new expressions and sound are made. An album like this is Transcend with Time's third album, Through Memory's Perception. It is almost like a bridge between two worlds: the world of rock and the world of ambient/new age. Impossible, you might say. No. Not at all, is my reply.
Transcend with Time is a one-man band by Mark Mendieta from Brownsville, Texas. His previous albums are called Reflections of the Soul (2007) and A Voice of Calmness (2006). Mark Mendieta also has a progressive rock project called Subject to Thoughts. And the influence from progressive rock is obvious on Through Memory's Perception. But I think the overall atmosphere is closer to rock or alternative metal, even though the instruments used are the standard ambient/new age setup: dreamy synth pads, strings, piano and light drums. But the real difference is the use of electronic guitar samples, which in true rock style create a rather dark soundscape. Play song no. 7, A Lingering Thought, and you'll understand. But still the sound is ambient/new age, which makes this into a remarkable album.
The first song, Open Your Eyes, starts with an eerie, high pitched bird-like sound, dark pads and piano. It could have been the soundtrack to a scary movie. After 1min45sec a much brighter piano melody with a gentle tempo. All the songs are long, this one over 8 minutes, so the album is definitely chill out material.
The title track, no. 2, starts with a happy vibe, much thanks to the samples used. It gets a little darker later in the song, when the only instruments used are strings, guitar and a slow drumbeat. It is almost like a walk from light to darkness.
My favorite track is track no. 3, Visions of Premonition, which is a lot more new age than the rest. The last four minutes with a nice analogue synth reminds me of Tangerine Dream. It is powerful and heartfelt at the same time. Two another new age sounding tracks are no. 5, Cognitive Imagery and track no. 7, Reminiscence. They're slow moving and gently evolving: it's beautiful beyond words.
The track Signs of Existence is a good example of how a combination new age and rock sounds like. There is this mystical element here, like in many new age songs. Yet it has rock's in-your-face quality and atmosphere.
Through Memory's Perception is self released, but is still a professional recording. Some might argue that many of the songs are too long, but I think this make them perfect for relaxation. It is not easy to mix rock and new age, and in this respect Transcend with Time has done a magnificent job. I will also credit Mark Mendieta for the thoughtful and inspired song titles.
The next time a rock fan tells me that he hates new age music, I know of a record that for sure will change his mind: it's all about memory's perception. Right?
You can sample and buy the album on Tarniusmusic.com.
-- BT Fasmer, (New Age Music.nu) www.newagemusic.nu , January 11, 2009
With ten absolutely stunning tracks spanning all of 60 minutes, Transcend with Time's 'Through Memory's Perception' is definmately one for the 'ingenuity and enourmous scope' collection!
This is the second album I've reviewed from this artist and it's one of those efforts that was so worth the time and energy with the added joy being I get to keep a copy! I've listened to this album three times already and I keep finding things that make me go 'Wow!'. It's the 'wow factor' that keeps me motivated and so we'll begin by looking at the numerous wow factors that are overflowing from beginning to end!
Open Your Eyes is a little over eight minutes in length opening with some nice background drones and some really pleasant mood-settling piano and strings that are given life with some nice prog-fusionesque percussion. There's quite a clever example of fine strings and bass synchronizing and for me, the perception is of bright, positive, growth as expressed by the charming arrangement. TWT's progressive leanings are apparent in a way which makes the project so much more interesting but you have to expect that kind of ingenuity occuring throughout this artist's development cycle simply because it's what it is and we like that ALOT!
Through Memory's Perception arrives with a very bright and uplifting assembly of keys and drum work that exude something really happy and marvelous going on. I get the impression that, in the composition stage, the organization of the percussive layers and parts took quite a bit of work perhaps to get the right feel across the entire track rather than being due to any missappropriation of sounds. Either way... it's a very interesting piece of music that made it's way to my Jeep's iPod where it's nestled nicely alongside some of the greatest music ever made! Watch out for the 5.30 mark... that's the bit for me!
The thing I like most about Visions of Premonition is the fact that it opens with a kind of foreboding and hesitant observation theme which is unusual for TWT but works exceptionally well with some lovely string work and sits really nicely as a follow up to the previous tracks. Signs of Existence on the other hand, breaches the kind of flood barriers that electronica often gets clogged up with by simply being that inventive. The other end of the piano; the left hand section, the lower, darker end is where the majority of strokes are laid out here. The repetitives and the bass and percussion work are exceptional. It's a 'busy' track and another example of what happens when you go back and find more things you might have missed first time around!
Cognitive Imagery is uttertly brilliant for lots of reasons but here's the main one.. it's highly engaging! I like the string work more for it's power and dynamism in the performance than for the actual choice of key. An octave lower maybe, and you'd have an uber track as opposed to a mega track but then anytrhing I produce with electronic strings doesn't come close to this!
A Lingering Thought has momets of excellence located in the string arrangements that are gently persuaded to venture to other realms by the sleek bass and riff sequences. TWT has a great command of percussion against strings which is actually a little harder to get right than you might think. You can't over do it and you can't mess with the cymbals too much but then I guess Mark Mendieta/TWT knows not to go messing in that space which is why his arrangements are so strong.
Reminiscence and Into the Realm of Quiet are two of my favourite tracks that deserve some praise and appreciation here for the inventiveness that they've been saturated with. Where Reminiscence is abundantly a contemplation track, Into the Realm of Quiet is the real thought provoker and I'd recommend that you listen to both tracks exactly in the order that they have been presented to get the full flavour and the lingering after effect that remain with you for quite some time. It's a hard thing for a composer to make happen and I'm glad that I had that experience in listening first time around.
Time of Certainty provokes some great audio imagery irrespective of the mood your in and I think it's down to the intricate piano layers that are given a kind of life vibrancy by the percussion work. Strings are very nicely positioned and I'd really like to see this piece performed by a full orchestra whether Mark would like that or not ;o)
A Dream Subsides brings the album to it's close delivering the kind of hook that sends slivers of sparkling desire for more into your thinking. Synth work includes some 80's effects that bands like Ultravox managed to turn into big royalty cheques and although the track is not really that reflective of the decade, it's good to see those little hints from wence it all began now and then. What stands out in this piece as with all of the tracks on this album, is the clever binding of prog-styled percussion with strings and piano to make a great album greater. Transcend with Time provides excellence and thought provocation to a genre that's often hungry for it. The more contemplative and imagery needy folks are adequately catered for too.
With Transcend with Time, I'd say that you can go and listen to the available projects with high expectations and you won't be disappointed. Better still, start with this album and work your way back through the catalog before you impulsively click the buy now button!
--Written by Elley Wilson, Jimmy Stilettos Magazine (www.jimmystilettos.com), August 17, 2009
Hello, my name is Mark M. and I am a one-man band called Transcend with Time from Brownsville, Texas. I started this project in 2006, with the intention to create a side project to my Progressive Rock project Subject to Thoughts.
In 2006, I released my debut CD "A Voice of Calmness." Then in November 2007, I released my follow-up CD entitled "Reflections of the Soul." This disc includes 10 songs with a running time of 60 minutes. This disc is about letting your emotions find you solace. Finally, on October 2008, I have released my new CD entitled “Through Memory’s Perception.” This new disc is about trying to overcome life’s struggles. This disc includes 10 songs with a running time of over 60 minutes.
My music can best be described as Progressive New Age/Ambient. My influences are Dream Theater, David Arkenstone, Symphony X, and Jon O' Bergh. You can check out my music at www.myspace.com/transcendwithtime or www.soundclick.com/transcendwithtime
At those two sites, I also have posted all the reviews I’ve received and at MySpace, I have posted an interview I did for Grave Concerns Ezine. I can be reached at lakeofreason@aim.com.
I would to thank you for the opportunity to hear my music, and I hope you like it.
