Space Rituals is an expansive, cosmic studio album by Greek synthesizer artist Thaneco and Dutch electronic composer Romerium, officially released on September 28, 2020. Marking their third full-length joint venture, the album operates as a spiritual, long-form exploration of deep space, treating the universe not just as a cold physical vacuum, but as a vast temple for mathematical, automated cosmic ceremonies.
Style of the Album
The musical architecture of the record is built entirely upon retro-futuristic traditions, explicitly categorized by the duo on Bandcamp under the Space and Berlin School subgenres:
Classic Berlin School: The skeletal backbone of the record rests on interlocking, hypnotic analog step-sequencers that mutate and drive the tracks forward without needing traditional pop percussion.
Vintage Electronic Music (EM): Heavily influenced by 1970s and 1980s pioneers like Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, and Vangelis, the album uses authentic hardware-style synthesizer textures, panning oscillator sweeps, and classic analog waveforms.
Space Ambient Drones: Beneath the kinetic sequencing, the tracks utilize expansive, slowly undulating background pads to simulate the infinite, floating weightlessness of the cosmos.
Mood of the Album
True to its ritualistic title, the emotional and environmental landscape of SPACE RITUALS is solemn, hypnotic, and grand:
Mysterious & Ceremonial: The music carries a sense of ancient, unseen cosmic forces aligning, shifting between dark, interstellar drone weights and bright, sparkling chord patterns.
Hypnotic & Trancelike: Because the arrangements lean on looping, generative sequencer lines, the rhythm locks the listener into a deeply focused, meditative state of continuous propulsion.
Awe-Inspiring & Distant: The atmospheric soundscapes accurately capture the vastness of the interstellar medium, making the listener feel billions of miles away from Earth.
Critical Review
On SPACE RITUALS, Thaneco and ROMERIUM demonstrate a seamless, well-honed workflow. Despite creating the record entirely long-distance by exchanging digital audio files and arrangements between Greece and the Netherlands, the resulting 7 tracks feel remarkably unified, flowing together like a continuous live cosmic jam session.
The tracking follows an exceptional astronomical roadmap. It opens with the expansive "At The Edge Of Our Galaxy", pulling the listener out of a familiar atmosphere before locking into the dense, driving rhythm lines of "Gathering Of Forces" and "Interstellar Patterns". The title track, "Space Rituals", stands out as the conceptual masterpiece of the project, brilliantly balancing complex, fast-evolving sequencer arpeggios with beautifully soaring, expressive keyboard melodies that honor the legendary style of Vangelis.
The mixing (handled by both artists) and the final mastering (executed by ROMERIUM) are incredibly clean. Every modular sound effect, delayed repeat, and bass layer occupies its own distinct stereo pocket, ensuring the music never feels cluttered or muddy. For purists of traditional, hardware-driven space synth who miss the legendary analog golden era of European electronic music, this album is a mandatory, highly rewarding journey.
Style of the Album
The musical architecture of the record is built entirely upon retro-futuristic traditions, explicitly categorized by the duo on Bandcamp under the Space and Berlin School subgenres:
Classic Berlin School: The skeletal backbone of the record rests on interlocking, hypnotic analog step-sequencers that mutate and drive the tracks forward without needing traditional pop percussion.
Vintage Electronic Music (EM): Heavily influenced by 1970s and 1980s pioneers like Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, and Vangelis, the album uses authentic hardware-style synthesizer textures, panning oscillator sweeps, and classic analog waveforms.
Space Ambient Drones: Beneath the kinetic sequencing, the tracks utilize expansive, slowly undulating background pads to simulate the infinite, floating weightlessness of the cosmos.
Mood of the Album
True to its ritualistic title, the emotional and environmental landscape of SPACE RITUALS is solemn, hypnotic, and grand:
Mysterious & Ceremonial: The music carries a sense of ancient, unseen cosmic forces aligning, shifting between dark, interstellar drone weights and bright, sparkling chord patterns.
Hypnotic & Trancelike: Because the arrangements lean on looping, generative sequencer lines, the rhythm locks the listener into a deeply focused, meditative state of continuous propulsion.
Awe-Inspiring & Distant: The atmospheric soundscapes accurately capture the vastness of the interstellar medium, making the listener feel billions of miles away from Earth.
Critical Review
On SPACE RITUALS, Thaneco and ROMERIUM demonstrate a seamless, well-honed workflow. Despite creating the record entirely long-distance by exchanging digital audio files and arrangements between Greece and the Netherlands, the resulting 7 tracks feel remarkably unified, flowing together like a continuous live cosmic jam session.
The tracking follows an exceptional astronomical roadmap. It opens with the expansive "At The Edge Of Our Galaxy", pulling the listener out of a familiar atmosphere before locking into the dense, driving rhythm lines of "Gathering Of Forces" and "Interstellar Patterns". The title track, "Space Rituals", stands out as the conceptual masterpiece of the project, brilliantly balancing complex, fast-evolving sequencer arpeggios with beautifully soaring, expressive keyboard melodies that honor the legendary style of Vangelis.
The mixing (handled by both artists) and the final mastering (executed by ROMERIUM) are incredibly clean. Every modular sound effect, delayed repeat, and bass layer occupies its own distinct stereo pocket, ensuring the music never feels cluttered or muddy. For purists of traditional, hardware-driven space synth who miss the legendary analog golden era of European electronic music, this album is a mandatory, highly rewarding journey.