MADCAP'S FLAMING DUTY

As its title may suggest, "Madcap's Flaming Duty" is an homage to PINK FLOYD's founder Syd Barrett, deceased in 2006. It's no secret that the british pioneers had an important influence on Krautrock and on TANGERINE DREAM, especially on their early albums such as "Alpha Centauri" and "Zeit". However, the featured music is no psychedelic/space-rock, nor pure electronic music, but rather soft songs with an electro-pop background.

Vocals have always been risky business for the german band. "Cyclone" was good but not due to its singer, "Tyger" had few rare pleasant moments, the "Dante" trilogy was controversial. Although different and incorporating unusal instruments, "Madcap's Flaming Duty" is globally flat. The songs sound not various enough and fail at catching attention. Chris Hausl's voice does not really improve the compositions. The bonus track "Burning Babe's Reality Song" does not make exception.

For the few rare good moments, there is sometimes some enjoyable floyd-ish guitar play. The only inspired and the most original track is Thorsten Quaeschning's "One Hour Of Madness". It can be described as a mixture of 90's big-beat and soft trip-hop, with typical TD synth sequence and an interesting progression. Only wish this mastered madness could really last one hour instead of 8 minutes.

As a big TANGERINE DREAM and PINK FLOYD fan, I can't help being disappointed by this album. Do not expect to find pulsating electronics nor trippy space rock here, however you may find sleep. For me, "Madcap's Flaming Duty" is only "Eight Minutes of Goodness"...