OKEFENOKEE DREAMS

On the back cover of the small booklet is written: "the first Okefenokee gathering of Tangerine Dream fans to spawn the celebration of Electronic Swamp Music". Well, say no more, it's an obvious tribute to the pivotal electronic music that Tangerine Dream made in the "Phaedra"-"Encore" era. This CD (my favorite one from FSP) is recorded live in the USA between April 9th and 13th in 2000 and performed by Dutchman Marcel Engels and USA citizen Dave Brewer, both keyboards. The music on the four compositions (between 11 and 32 minutes) ranges from soaring strings and soft pulsating sequencers to electric piano and spectacular synthesizer sounds, even electric guitar. It sounds very pleasant and melodic, if you like TD 1974-1977 (and early Klaus Schulze like on "Moondawn" and "Timewind"), you will be carried away by this wonderful electronic music!

"Good news for the fans of Berlin School electronic music"

While writing this review I commited a Freudian slip, I didn't mention Free System Project as the band but Tangerine Dream, perhaps a result of the words on the back cover of the small booklet: "the first Okefenokee gathering of Tangerine Dream fans to spawn the celebration of Electronic Swamp Music".

As a huge fan of 1975-1980 Tangerine Dream I am always scrutinizing my usual sources to discover bands that make music in the vein of that unsurpassed electronic music sound. Thanks to my good friend Paul E-Maniac I got in touch with the Free System Project, and I am very, very grateful to Paul, what a mindblowing tribute to the Phaedra and Ricochet era! I can understand that people will nail it for too derivative, but I have no problems with FSP doing that, not at all!

This CD is recorded live in the USA between April 9th and 13th in 2000 and performed by Dutchman Marcel Engels and USA citizen Dave Brewer, both synthesizers, keyboards and sequencers. The music on the four compositions (between 11 and 32 minutes) ranges from soaring strings and soft pulsating sequencers to electric piano and spectacular synthesizer sounds, even electric guitar (like Edgar Froese, adding an extra dimension to EM). To me it sounds as top notch electronic music, very melodic and harmonic, Marcel and Dave are pushing the right buttons on their awesome vintage gear. If you like Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze (Moondawn and Timewind) in their second half of the Seventies, this music of the Free System Project is a delight!