10 tracks. Running time 60:33 This has been a good year for collaborative albums. Two artists I'm not overly familiar with – Dave Fulton and Giles Reaves – have also put their musical skills together to create The Range. Traversing genres such as ambient, prog-rock, and electronica with ethnic colouring in some places this work was four years in the making, but was definitely worth the wait. A far cry from much of the ambient and drone offerings that emanate from the Hypnos label this album contains of lot of lively rhythms; Giles's drum and percussion work is deployed on at least half of the tracks. Taken as a whole the work has a cohesive feeling and structure, as though these guys have a much longer history of working together. The album is divided into four parts, the first one containing the track “Endless Range and Time”. Whistling air and spacey rippling effects begin and then subside, seguing into a drone; then a passage of fast rolling piano notes speak of a dramatic quest to some far off land, and otherworldly refrains evoke a sense of pleasant mystery. In the next part the piece “Fascination” showcases the rhythmic aspects of the album. Meandering almost melodic bell like tones combine with snaking synth refrains, thuds, and explosive sonics which build up tension before the rhythms burst onto the scene. There's so much in the mix now with percussion, refrains with unusual slopes which rise and fall, complex drum rhythms, and a lead melody expressing a sense of fascination and wonder. One of the more traditional ambient tracks is the titular “The Range”. Drones with a polished texture glide around the soundscape while high piano notes rock back and forth in the background and lower register ones sometimes break into the foreground. Like many of the tracks this has a cinematic quality, as though we're hearing a soundtrack for a film about distant exploration. The Range is such a well put together album artistically that it's surprising to discover that most of the collaboration was done at a distance. Giles and Dave complement each other perfectly on this accessible and enjoyable album which has hints of retro and the Spacecraft sound.