ICELAND

At once robotic and martial in technique, the very electronic 'Iceland' sits comfortably in the Pinhas discography. He sounds like a less commercial, slower and heavier Kraftwerk. Some of it sounds like it should have been the official soundtrack to John Carpenter's 'The Thing' from 1982. Frequently it sounds like something awful is going to happen... it's just that, it never really does.

At times it seems to lose focus - particularly on 'Iceland pt 3' which takes a step backwards on what is otherwise a good electronic progressive album. I don't give a monkeys though - it's full of big fat splodgy analogue keyboards which keeps me entertained throughout.

The Robert Fripp inspired 'Heldon' guitars pop up now and again leading you to believe you're listening to 'Agneta Nilsson' from '76. This however is far more electronically based.

Pinhas has a definite sound and style all of his own that I would recognise anywhere and therefore he'll always be in my good books.

'Greenland' is the undoubted highlight on this recording. A slowly paced but tunefully arpeggiated sequence of electronic splendour.

The 25 minute beatless 'Wintermusic' is where things take a turn for the worse. In the past you could choose which side of vinyl album to put on the turntable. This would have been side two on an old crackly vinyl recording. Now however it abruptly joins the first half of the album on this cd version. The problem is that this would have been far better as the intro track. Everything's back to front when you hear it on CD.

As a whole however, this album may be a bit repetitive to some listeners. I however, find it enjoyable nonetheless.