Known for his Latin-tinged downtempo, John Beltran side steps the usual for the more unusual in his latest album "Human Engine". Hearkening back to the days when ambient chill was the downtempo king, Beltran gives us lots of atmosphere with the keyboards and a nod to Tangerine Dream/Global Communication with his arpeggiated sound loops on songs like "That Day In Monterey", "Some Place New" and "Brilliant Flood".

1. Brilliant Flood
2. A Mind Blows Everyday
3. Some Place New
4. Here And Now
5. Feeling Better
6. Sweet Soul
7. Millions of Moments
8. It Was All Beautiful
9. If I Fall
10. Alive In 1985
11. Heavier Than Love
12. For Marie
13. Pictures And Indian Summer
14. The Distance Between You And Me
15. That Day In Monterey
16. One More Day With You

Beltran drops in some 80's dreampop influence with help from singer Valida along with live drums and guitar on the track "A Mind Blows Everyday" and the instrumental "It Was All Beautiful". These two tracks are the standouts with their mature songwriting and expertly arranged layers. Both songs sound modern-yet-reminiscent of the dreamy guitar bands of the late 80's, without falling into the trap of repeating the past.

There are some soundtrack-minded pieces like "Heavier Than Love" and "For Marie" with their mellow piano and synth-string melodies that round out the album and finish in the mellow mood the disc started off with.

~ Dedric Moore

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