The Velocity of Love

• Artist: Suzanne Ciani
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1984
• Total Time: 36:28
• Type: Instrumental
• Genre: New Age

Review

Suzanne Ciani's landmark 1984 release Velocity of Love established the noted electronic composer in the U.S. and became one of instrumental/new age radio's early success stories. Together with Vangelis, who contributed keyboards to "Lay Down Beside Me," "Malibuzios," and "History of My Heart," Ciani created a formless, diaphanous record that nevertheless seemed guided by real emotion. There were the subtle pop melodies that flitted about beneath the synthesized surface, certainly. But it was difficult not to hear the album's influential title track and miss the wave of wistful sadness that curled around its brittle melody. It was a deceptively simple piano line that suggested the theme music of some unknown 1970s character drama, the kind where autumn leaves constantly blow through open curtains for effect. At the same time, the song's pulsating bank of synthesizers united its classic qualities with the futuristic tendencies and two-dimensional rayon sheen of the 1980s. While some of its later compositions were a bit overwrought, teetering under the weight of their own keyboard wizardry, Velocity of Love is still essential for any fan of Ciani or the formative days of contemporary instrumental music. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Eighth Wave	Suzanne Ciani	Suzanne Ciani	(5:07)
Lay Down Beside Me	Suzanne Ciani	Suzanne Ciani	(8:27)
The Velocity of Love	Suzanne Ciani	Suzanne Ciani	(4:31)
Malibuzios	Suzanne Ciani	Suzanne Ciani	(8:51)
History of My Heart	Suzanne Ciani	Suzanne Ciani	(9:47)

Credits

Suzanne Ciani (Synthesizer), Suzanne Ciani (Piano), Suzanne Ciani (Arranger), Suzanne Ciani (Drums), Suzanne Ciani (Keyboards), Suzanne Ciani (Producer), Suzanne Ciani (Synclavier), Suzanne Ciani (Main Performer), Suzanne Ciani (?), Suzanne Ciani (Vocoder), Suzanne Ciani (Prophet Synthesizer), Suzanne Ciani (DX-7), Suzanne Ciani (Eventide), Suzanne Ciani (Sequencers), Suzanne Ciani (Roland MKS-80), Mitch Farber (Arranger), Mitch Farber (Producer), Mitch Farber (Co-Arranger), Elliott Randall (Synthesizer), Elliott Randall (Guitar), Elliott Randall (Guitar (Synthesizer)), Leslie Mona (Engineer), Vangelis (Synthesizer), John Pearson (Photography), John Pearson (Back Cover), Rob Zantay (Synthesizer), Rob Zantay (Lyricon), Rob Zantay (Korg Synthesizer), Rob Zantay (Oberheim Expander), Chris Ianuzzi (Synthesizer), Chris Ianuzzi (?), Chris Ianuzzi (DX-7), J.J. Stelmach (Art Direction), Nick Sangiamo (Photography), Nick Sangiamo (Cover Photo), George Lawson (Art Direction)