main | contact | next The Colour of Time - Retro Melody Magic copy, layout, graphics: Spectral Cat   Emerging from rich, melodic waves of synth washes & echo laden vocals the Colour of Time's signature sound is a cerebral, mood driven mixture of styles. The audible influence of Tangerine Dream, Cabaret Voltaire & early Ultravox blurs into shadowy reminiscence of Dead Can Dance defining a sound which falls somewhere between the early output of labels such as 4AD and Waxtrax. Between 1998 & 2006 Jamie OCallaghan has embarked on a musical voyage embracing a legacy of electronic & classical influences ranging from Debussy to Kraftwerk. With a strong musical background rooted firmly in classical origins his first solo work came from a symphonic / progressive rock angle receiving acclaim in the pages of dutch prog-rock magazine IO. Inspired to continue along similar lines Jamie enlisted the help of Hans Schepens and around 2001 The Colour of Time was formed in Eindhoven. An initial 'Queen's Day' live performance was followed by their first recorded album Jazz, but not as we know it. COT's next studio outing, Let the machine talk maintained a progressive edge with a nod to the cold, mechanical rhythms of John Foxx. Evidence of another strong influence on COT's music is present here. Another native live appearance at the Muzenval Theatre in Eersel was followed by the third album Amber Skies. Emerging idealogical differences between Hans Schepens & Jamie OCallaghan lead to a split in 2003 leaving Jamie to pursue COT as a solo project. 2004 brought the recording of Neon, a collection of sparse instrumental offerings edging toward the dance floor. After returning from a solo tour of the Czech Republic COT performed electronic renditions of Debussy & Satie pieces at a charity event organized for victims of the atrocities of Beslan. Encore performances of Ultravox classics Hiroshima Mon Amour & Just For a Moment were well received by all in attendance. After the loss of a friend to cancer in early 2005 COT ceased production until Jamie re-established contact with an old colleague in the UK, John Curry. They collaborated to record Long Ago produced in the Netherlands & the UK. Maintaining the characteristic COT sound Long Ago has a broader outlook offering upbeat energy & thoughtful moments. It also marks a return to vocal territory with compliments of sitar, violin & lusher production all round. John curry has since remained part of the COT Line up. 2006 has seen a fresh line up for COT and 2 new recordings. Neon Winds, recorded in February, is an ep awash with ambient panoramas of vintage synth & hypnotic, female vocal drones. A substantial taste of the mellower moments glimpsed in previous releases. Memories of Water, completed in August is the newest collection of compositions and alongside Neon Winds is possibly COT's strongest to date. Jamie OCallaghan has recently composed 'theremin concertos with Orchestra' for the theremin soloist Lady Sayoko of Japan. He is also recording new material for another musical project A Better Blue. The Colour of Time are: Jamie O'Callaghan: Voice, Theremin, electric violin/viola, electronics, sitar Linda Swinkel: Voice Melanie Nijs: electronics, vocoder John Curry: Guitar, electronics Sylvia Baladron: Voice For more information and exclusive track previews visit The Colour of Time MySpace Profile on line. Full CDs and downloads are available at CD Baby.
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