artist: Mychael Danna country of origin: Canada style(s): Ambient orchestral essential releases: Sirens (1989, Hearts Of Space)

Danna composes music for theatre, feature films, dance productions and planetariums. His striking first album for U.S. label Hearts Of Space is a kind of “cinematic spacemusic”, synthesising the drama of film music with spacious electronics.

Without resorting to bombast or sugary sentiment, Danna works his lush, highly melodic orchestrated style on Sirens to remarkable effect. The album's themes reflect his fascination with the female psyche and its portrayal in legends and stories throughout history. Hence titles like “Dedrie Of The Sorrows”, “Visions Of Bernadette” and the title track. Drenched in synthesisers, piano and graced with some silky smooth electric guitar, Sirens is sensual, haunting and at times utterly compelling.

Although prolific, Danna hasn't come close to matching Sirens before or since and the album remains one of the essentials in the Hearts Of Space catalogue.

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