The Borderland was a large music review website administered by British music journalist John M Peters and featuring music that was generally produced by underground artists and small independent labels. The site closed in 2018, and I guess that all of the reviews were then lost as I can't find any on the ephemeral internet. The Borderland reviewed many of my early albums in the 2000-2010 decade, and when I asked about these in 2018, John sent me copies of his reviews, so for reasons of information preservation I've decided reproduce them here verbatim for posterity, one post at a time.
My note: This applies to the first edition of Animalia, R6A, released 21/06/2004.
Mark Sheeky - Animalia
I can't think of many composer/musicians who are equally adept at creating good music and the software they create the music on [outside of Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream, perhaps]. As far as I know Mark Sheeky is somewhat unique in this, and his latest album, Animalia, proves the point more than adaquately. Using the latest version of his Noise Station II production software, Mark has crafted a fine album of poppy tunes, ambient sections and even the odd burst of industrial-style noise to create an album of many textures and moods.
The album begins with Andromeda, a bright, perky tune that reminds me of the proto synth-pop band Space from the late 70s. The next track, Mantle, is a short piece of ambience set to the sounds of running water [guaranteed to get my father running for the bathroom!]. This is followed by Oceanic, a mid-tempo piece that is reminiscent of rolling waves, distant horizons and possibilities. Cephalopoda jacks up the beats and rhythms into something danceable. Next is Dreams of Flight, which as the title suggests slows the pace down to something akin to a tuneful music box melody - this is arguably the most pretty tune on the album. The pace picks up again with Eagle Interceptor, whether this is an Eagle spacecraft from Space 1999 I don't know but it has a lively sci-fi tv theme feel to it and is damn good. Mice is the 'Popcorn' of 2004, this tune will weave through your brain for weeks afterwards, it's so damn catchy! The next track, Rhino, is a pounding [and thankfully short] techno noise which I have to admit I don't like much. But it does mark a break in styles, which leads to the next track, Monkey, which is perky, jaunty and full of monkey-style mischief. Track ten takes us back to the big production sound, Paragon takes a theme and runs with it... with enthusiasm! Penultimate track Nectar plays with a simple series of notes and treats them to echo and delay to create something fragile and dreamlike that finally tails off into the distance. Final track Cellular Automaton is the culmination of the album and finishes the cd with a grand flourish, plus it rocks.
Mark Sheeky has privately released several albums now [all orderable from his web site - see link at the end of this section], and I wouldn't like to say where Animalia stands within that catalogue - in terms of production quality it is the best yet and the album is full of great tunes played with wit and verve and a large degree of panache. The album also acts as an excellent showcase for his Noise Station II software, and any serious musician [or even half-serious one will do] should check it out immediately.
- John M Peters/The Borderland
