Mars Lasar Panorama 11.04 CD

Known for his sound-rich production, Mars Lasar has been a composer and producer for a wide range of fields, including pop radio, New Age markets, even computer video games. PANORAMA 11:04 finds Lasar exploring the world of tribal-ambient fusion, with a heavy emphasis on surging programmed beats, roiling bass lines, and dark, alluring atmospheres.

Lasar's penchant for expansive, cinematic sounds is present, too: washes of keyboard provide ethereal textures and feelings of suspension, lending a contemporary electronic edge to the earthy, rhythmic passages. At times, as on the lounge-y, lilting vocal tag in "Toxic Orchestra," Lasar exhibits his flair for pop melodies. These elements combine to create a listening experience that is soothing, but still maintains an edge.