Media composer Richard Powell's latest album Sea Enigma is a series of meditations based on the sea, that most changeable and awesome of features on our planet. The liner notes state that a common theme is a pagan sense of the sacred through evoking mystery and magic. Most of the music is electronic with vocal effects and occasionally acoustic instruments which I think are sampled. Styles include ambient washes, dramatic scene setting, sequence based electronica, and hints of Eastern promise. The first track is also the title one, "Sea Enigma". At a little over nine minutes it's the second longest on the album and spans a couple of different moods. It begins with brooding deep airy male voice effects and various electronic refrains and organ like drones. At this point it's like watching an unsettled sea at twilight. A little way in the mood then lightens taking the listener to an enjoyable summer day at the seaside. Here an easygoing rhythm and various melodies play out, sometimes as synth sounds are flung across the soundscape, and also by curiously flutey but electronic piano sounds among others. Near the end electric guitar style riffs mark a descent back towards a pensive mood similar to how the piece began. Different aspects of the sea are explored throughout the album, in doing this Richard has made use of influences from near and far. The tracks that work best for me are four thru seven, these are designed to "convey a sense of awe, wonder, and reverence of the sea" (quoting from the liner notes); and indeed, they do that quite well. The first of this block of tracks, "Yearning", starts off with a reaching out melody played by warm tones. After a short time the mood steps down to include a martial style drum beat and squiggly synths, here it becomes reflective as though the extent of a journey is finally realised. The sense of yearning soon picks up again for the track to end much like it began. "Once Lost" is a particularly evocative piece in which various sounds washing across like waves act as a prelude to elated melodies. I can say that Sea Enigma is an interesting use of electronica to explore different aspects of the sea - our deepest grave, a source of livelihood, and a place to have fun.