Alidan nos sorprende en esta ocasión con un trabajo en el que, de nuevo, combina perfectamente la capacidad de crear armonías melódicas junto a sonidos evocadores. Dibujando una temática cósmica, los paisajes de este disco producen una mezcla entre la electrónica clásica y la new-age. "Glider" es una buena introducción para el trabajo, que consta de un total de 10 temas. Junto a "Voyage", el segundo tema, forman un arranque muy cercano a la electrónica que tanto nos gusta en Progweb. Lo mismo podemos decir de "Inhabited Worlds", donde hace un adecuado uso de los efectos de delay. "Flowers On The Wind" tiene, sin embargo, un estilo más cercano a la new-age, donde el piano y los sonidos de cuerdas adquieren un mayor protagonismo.El resto de los temas navegan de nuevo entre los estilos ya mencionados. Sin duda el interés de Alidan por los instrumentos acústicos, además de los electrónicos, se observa en temas como "Shaman" o "With An Angel". También la mínima presencia de elementos percusivos a lo largo de todo el trabajo demuestran que este músico madrileño apuesta fuerte por la melodía como base para todos sus temas. También puedo observar que, el interés de Alidan por la musicoterapia, se ve en parte reflejado en este trabajo. Y, con respecto a las influencias de otros músicos en Nebulae, veo pasajes que me recuerdan fuertemente al japonés Kitaro, así como a Jean Michel Jarre en sus temas más electrónicos, junto a los sonidos melodistas de Neuronium y Vangelis. En definitiva, la constante búsqueda de nuevos espacios sonoros por parte de Alidan, ha producido un interesante trabajo, muy correcto, con sonidos limpios que producen una música muy visual, apta tanto para los aficionados a la música relajante así como para los   seguidores de la música electrónica clásica en su vertiente más cósmica.

"Nebulae" is an impressive symphony of mysterious melodies and magical atmospheres, where the less abstract elements of Space Music merge with those more ethereal ones from New Instrumental Music. The music is bright, full of energy. Alidan is one of those artists that know how to take us into musical landscapes full of melodic harmony. In all, these are ten themes that reveal the artistic maturity of the composer, his liberal use of synthesizers, as well as his wide musical vision. Ten themes aimed at making the listener dream.
"Nebulae" es una impresionante sinfonía de melodías misteriosas y atmósferas mágicas, donde se fusionan los elementos menos abstractos de la Música Cósmica y los rasgos más etéreos de la Nueva Música Instrumental. La música es luminosa, llena de energía. Alidan es uno de esos artistas que saben cómo adentrarnos en paisajes musicales llenos de melodiosa armonía. En total, son diez temas que ponen de manifiesto la madurez artística del
compositor, su liberal uso de sintetizadores, y su amplia visión musical. Diez temas pensados para hacer soñar.

Un viaggio attorno all’Universo, un viaggio vicino alle stelle, un viaggio dentro alla tua mente", queste sono le parole con cui Alidan descrive il suo ultimo album "Nebulae", il quale si presenta immediatamente con una maturazione musicale non indifferente. L’artista esprime ancora una volta la caratteristiche di un andamento non improntato sul ritmo, l’espressione di sé stesso si riflette nella sua produzione, facendo sì che ogni suono sia partecipe allo scorrere del tempo e dello spazio senza che altro li scandiscano. Stavolta "Nebulae" ci mostra una visione più complessa del lavoro di Alidan, l’album si muove al di sopra e al di sotto di un velo cupo che fa rimanere la musica dentro specifici confini, senza mai innalzare le note più di tanto né colorandole maggiormente.
Eppure ne viene fuori un CD di elettronica molto particolare, sospesotra più stili, ma che regala un ascolto molto, molto interessante ed un apprezzamento ancora più piacevole. Usa qualche eco e sporadici effetti per sottolineare qualche momento, mentre le tracce sono sempre semplici e delicate anche quando i suoni si fanno più oscuri. Il viaggio passa da un’elettronica più sostanziosa ad una più tenera e ricca di sentimento, senza però mai subire accelerazioni ritmiche nonostante le melodie molto fantasiose. Chi conosce Alidan sa che i synths sono atti a creare un certo tipo di atmosfera, in cui la tecnica non ha molta importanza, perché quanto ritiene importante è l’evidenziare la profondità emotiva dell’ispirazione.

L’eccezione all’impalpabilità c’è anche in questo caso: il brano "Shaman" nella sua sublimità, acchiappa una percussione, splendidi effetti e note più brillanti, per dar vita ad una traccia sorprendente, l’unica pecca è che dura poco. "Nebulae" è da ascoltare con la mente in pace, occorre lasciarsi trasportare dalla sua fantasia, dalla sua semplicità, dal suo fascino intrinseco, proseguire senza porsi domande… solo così si scopre quanto la scelta dell’autore verso questo stile possa fruttare nel nostro animo. I miei complimenti per la cura e l’espressività che questo simpaticissimo ragazzo spagnolo ha saputo applicare, dimostrando una sua spinta in avanti nella musica, già comunque precedentemente apprezzato.

Here is an enjoyable exploration of an assortment of retro electronic music, covering spacemusic, Berlin, European, and assorted subgenres that harken back to artists like Michael Stearns, David Lange, and other artists whom emerged during the heyday of Hearts of Space (the label) and other like it. I recommend the recording (for the most part) as a solid and enjoyable collection of pieces that, despite the presence of warm analog synths (whether "soft synths" or real, I can't tell), and the retro nature of the compositions, still sounds fresh and invigorating and not at all dated.
From the opening "Glider" which soars through the cosmos on twinkling star shower keyboards and deep lush washes of synths and "fat" floating chords, we travel to take a "Voyage" on buoyant panned Berlin sequences imparted with a fluid movement via washes and a high-pitched whistling lead melody line that slowly evolves into a propulsive driving rhythm fest peppered with snare, bass and cymbal beats. Later, "Inhabited Worlds" tilts the music into a darker, yet still highly rhythmic and powerful direction, featuring ping-ponging retro synths and whirly-gigging noises and textures. A haunting melody weaves its in amidst the rhythmic undercurrents, both intoxicating and alluring, especially when more prominent percussion takes control of the song.

Hard core EM fans will have to wade through songs such as "Flowers in the Wind" which are "classic" synth-driven old-school new age music (plucked harp keyboards, wavery synths, too-smooth strings, bell tones, and a melody that fairly oozes romance, sweetness and light. "City of Lights" (the piece which comes after the aforementioned one) offers classic spacemusic washes and similar retro-sounding effects and textures painting a nice SF-flavored piece that at times reminds me of earlier Jarre recordings crossed with David Lange, although the later use of plucked guitar and sampled pan pipes strays over near the new age side of the fence again with considerably better results, though. "Shaman" returns to a more overt in-your-face EM style, with a vengeance. Forceful rhythms and broad sweeping analog synths are carried along by a Jonn Serrie (circa Flightpath/Tingri) lead keyboard line. Oddly, a track that you'd expect to be overtly "new agey" in sound, "Dolphins" while having friendly major chord/note melodic content, as has its share of cosmic overtones, with Demby-esque chorales married to midtempo beats of a retro/Quasi-Berlin nature.

I was entertained by most of the album, and even the tracks that crossed over or stumbled near to new age did so with grace and class. After all, the new age music of the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s bore a certain resemblance to both EM and spacemusic (a lot more than current new age music does, that's for sure). Nebuale's recording quality is impressive; engineering is excellent as is production. I can't fault whatever Alidan uses for his synths, controllers, or keyboards. While not as "warm" as the music from "back then" actually was, this is still pleasing to the ears and I never suffered aural fatigue or grew tired of the assorted sounds. I think Alidan has a lot of talent for composing music that borrows from the retro movement without copying it or being purposely derivative. In particular, the first four tracks on Nebulae are superb and on the basis of those alone I recommend the album to EM and "classic" spacemusic fans alike.

Alidan hails from Spain and makes ethereal space music. “Glider” is soft and not overly sweet, floating gently by. More spacious sounds of American synthesist Robert Carty come to mind. “Voyage” travels a similar path, with easygoing sequencing and percussion added in for good measure. Mostly music of the deep space floating variety, tracks like “Flowers on the Wind” skirt along the edges of new age, with pretty piano and softly textured electronics. “Cities of Lights” has light, playful synth flutes and female choirs. Even “Shaman,” which has some tribal touches, stays in a very pleasant relaxed mode. Nebulae is not groundbreaking, but it does go down easy.