Chains to the Moon - Glen Neff SPOTLIGHT-Santa Fe Reporter

Glen Neff Chains to the Moon Santa Fe/Madrid musician and painter Glen Neff fuses his love of instrumental improvisation with a steady hand in the digital studio on his new 11-track album of globally influenced electronic music. For once-devout followers of the ambient/chill movement that nearly dominated local radio airwaves in Santa Fe a few years ago, Neff’s work will tickle that perhaps-dormant spot in your ear canal in some pretty intriguing ways. While there is a heft of traditional African, Punjabi-Bhangra, Eastern European and Middle Eastern influence running through the album’s rhythmic and vocal-sample veins, Neff deftly adds more contemporary meat to the musical muscle, with layers upon layers of synth, live instruments, effects, drum programming and out-of-left-field genre inclusions. It takes a careful listen to sift the latter out, but it’s worth the ride if you want a mellow escape. Trivia time: In March, some of Neff’s music was added to the workable library of the Omnicom Group, one of the largest advertising conglomerates in the world. Some of his work is also featured on the roster of LA imprint Jamboe Entertainment. Both do a sturdy business in atmospheric-music sales. So the next time you open an app or walk through the lobby of a spa, hotel, mall or restaurant, you may be listening to Neff’s music on the PA. It beats Kenny G. (RDW)