Bewildered in Fantasy is an album that is centred around a legendary 10-minute piece of music that Ewald recorded in early 1986. The new album contains the original 10-minute version, 2 newly recorded interpretations and 5 other instrumental compositions from the era when the original Bewildered in Fantasy was recorded.
The 10 minute long original composition of Bewildered in Fantasy, was mainly recorded in one session with a myriad of themes. The TR-707 drum computer lays a strong and recognisable foundation and the recording was further enhanced using Simmons electronic drums and of course the mid eighties ‘synth du jour’: the Yamaha DX-7, layering a colourful palette of sounds to accommodate the different themes.
Unfortunately the original 4-track has gone lost and all that remains is a (less than optimal) mix on VHS tape. So there were hesitations if the original version of Bewildered in Fantasy would ever see the light of day.
Ewald made an attempt to recreate the track to its original meaning with modern instruments but it turned out hard to replicate the unique colouring of sounds of the 1986 original. Due to its unique character Bewildered in Fantasy Ewald decided to release the composition anyway. Instead of replicating the original there are two new interpretations added (Bewildered in Fantasy 2024 and India Dream Sequence). They do not seek to imitate or replace the original composition but instead add new visions to the original work.
Besides Bewildered in Fantasy there are (demo) tracks from the mid eighties. They show the fast development Ewald was making at the time in composing tracks for AV productions, refocusing his efforts from producing vocal compositions to instrumental, commercial production. In the mid eighties the technology to make professional videos possible for small ranged companies and this meant that a need for accompanying music was on the rise and it was market Ewald tapped in to.
We’re Taking Off! was the second composition that Ewald had written for audiovisual production. In contrast to the serene mood of the previous and first composition (The Springtime Waltz available on the Ride The Waves album from 2009) this tune is vibrant and joyful with some elements hinting at the work of syntheziser bands like Kraftwerk. This recording is the demo before the actual ‘official’ recording in a studio was done, so some small mistakes and quirks are here and there.
Slippery and Blue Energize -also instrumental compositions for audiovisual production- show the fast evolution in complexity of Ewald’s music in a relatively time (months rather than years). Remarkable for Slippery is the fast sequencer pattern and melody lines that breathe confidence and determination in his new music adventures, writing music for commercial projects instead of own, mainly vocal material. Blue Energize sounds as if it could have been written for an US sitcom from that time.
Antigua was a small, fun project recorded around 1987 with fellow musician Rene Ydema. It was extensively reworked in 2024 (for example the drum track was replaced with contemporary drums as well as synth overdubs were made in order to spice up the composition and arrangement).
Back in the day the idea with A Different Mood was to record a composition as straight forward as possible with minimal overdubs and to mix it in mono. After some 37 years the track was now remixed with the purpose of making it shine in all its glory.. in stereo. The composition already appeared on the 2004 album Almost Lost as a mono mix as originally intended. Comparing the two versions the differences will be very striking and clear.