PHAEDRA

This pioneering highpoint of the electronic genre will ultimately be a mixed bag for those who did not grow up with, or have had prior exposure to its vintage sound. While certainly not bad, when one ignores Phaedra's legacy and reputation the end result is a sort of psychedelic noodling, droning away in the background of the room being too abstract to enjoy taken by itself.

For those of you who exploring this band, be prepared for long, slow, tepid atmopherics with little in the way of craftsmanship or direction. The layered synthesizers of Phaedra will appeal only to the most esoteric of listeners. While most songs have their good sections (such as the hellish drone occuring at the 8 minute mark in the title track), the majority of this album feels improvised; I did not get the impression that I was listening to songs, rather the drugged-up experimentation of three guys in front of keyboards. Their tone sometimes captures one's imagination, but is mostly morose and unappealing-- even funerary at times.

Approaching this album objectively is challenging for any reviewer, given its years of high critical praise... but it's my honest opinion that it is entirely overrated. It takes a special set of ears to find much to enjoy here, and I feel that most new listeners will be better served by easing into the abstract tapestries of Tangerine Dream through more-- dare I say-- conventional prog bands, many of whom feature more thoughtful compositions and musicianship than I heard throughout Phaedra. Therefore, I proudly give Phaedra the "fans only" rating.