Bloom HD for iPad: Good Trip, Man

Posted by James Eunson | June 8, 2010

Bloom HD is part of the growing category of musical instrument apps on iPad, but with a difference. This application was developed by Peter Chilvers in partnership with Ambient/Electronic music wunderkind Brian Eno. So for anyone familiar with Eno’s music, playing into this app immediately brings about the same ethereal, introspective ambient atmosphere he is so well known for.

Bloom HD is a really nice app. From the interface to the sound quality generated – it sounds, looks and feels the part. Interaction with the app goes like this: you press the screen and create expanding dots which also generate sound. The effect is similar to expanding ripples in a pond and is quite mesmerising.

I’ll take the high mode…

The app offers three modes – Listen, Freestyle and Infinite. Listen allows you to hear the computer jam with itself. The main melody sound is a kind of a cross between a muted piano and a xylophone/vibraphone instrument. The app is well set up for long sessions with an included sleep timer and the music produced is surprisingly listenable. Honestly, the app seems as thought it could set a pleasant if a little eery tone for getting some shuteye.

The other two modes – Freestyle and Infinite – are interactive and allow you to draw dots on the screen and receive immediate aural feedback. Freestyle takes short grabs of your playing and plays them back – the end result being, that you are effectively are jamming with your iPad.

Infinite mode loops your playing over approximately 20-30s, meaning whatever you play, you will hear again in 20-30s. This allows you to contemplate the sounds you want to make and create a beautiful short piece of music.

Devil in the detail

The thoughtfulness of this app is really something to behold – 12 ‘moods’ are included which result in different colour schemes and different musical scales you play on. Some really musically interesting patterns can be made with ease. The background pattern ‘evolves’ as you play: multiple layers of signature Eno strains fade in and out seamlessly, providing a foundation to build your melodies on. I wrote this entire review listening to just the backing track of one of the moods.

If there’s any gripes I have, it’s the single sound you can play with in the application. As beautiful as the muted piano is, one or two more sounds would add more variety and longevity, as well as musical interest. Sometimes when creating a complex piece (otherwise known as wildly touching the screen), the app refuses to play some of your new notes.

It appears there may be an internal limit to the number of notes that can play at once? If anything it would be more satisfying to have the new notes play, at the expense of the old ones, instead of the other way round.

Who needs mass appeal when you have pretty colours?

Of course, this application isn’t for the casual gaming crowd, nor is it for the fart app crowd. Not to be condescending, but this really is an alternative style of app. If you aren’t in the mood to transcend your current mental plane, then you should definitely pass on this one.

However, those looking for something different, with at least a little (even latent) artistic flair should try it for one of the most polished musical instrument experiences on the iPad. It may even expand your mind, man.

Our Rating – 4 1/2 out of 5

Bloom HD for iPad is $3.99 and is available here.