KL(AÜS)

Proving that not all Australian created electronic music is rubbish dance singles and Havana Brown's (look if you must, but DO NOT listen), Kl(aüs) thankfully harken back to the vintage Berlin School period of progressive-electronic works, but most surprising is the particular era of Tangerine Dream they initially draw inspiration from. Instead of focusing too much on the early to mid-Seventies period favoured by fans of the more Krautrock/Kosmische musick era of the group, the duo of former Tasmanians and school friends Stewart Lawler and Jonathan Elliott mostly look to the more melodic later Seventies/early Eighties stretch that covered albums like `Tangram', `Exit', `Hyperborea', `White Eagle and the live discs from the time (but maybe not you, snoozy `Le Parc'!). For their instrumental self-titled debut, they deliver a vinyl-length set that constantly reveals airy haunting atmospheres, lively energy and strong melodic passages in perfect balance, for a set that T.Dream fans will completely fall for.

The caressing synth waves and constant unravelling soloing on opener `Three Sheets' reminds of `Picture Music'-era Klaus Schulze, meditative sweet wisping Mellotron cries throughout `Proof Portal' head to the galaxies that `Stratosfear' and `Phaedra' inhabit, and after rising and falling builds, a hammering pulse in `It Hurts to Shoot Gloves...' glides into a confident synth-pop theme that would have been perfectly at home on Tangerine Dream's `Poland/Logos' live albums. The first half of `Feral teapot' would also fit on those defining live albums with repeating electronic trickles and a victorious fanfare theme, but the second half diverts into darker original territory with subdued humming drones, distorted groans and slinking programmed beats. Closer `Big Dream...' floats with warm and twinkling ethereal breezes, almost taking on an uplifting soundtrack-like quality.

The fleeting original ideas weaving in and out of this debut suggest Kl(aüs) will go on to even more interesting music in the near future, but at this point, the duo are excitedly making music in a similar manner to their idols, and they are doing a damn fine job of it. Of course there will be those who dismiss the group as simply emulating their heroes, but there's also going to be a lot of Berlin School/vintage-era progressive-electronic listeners and especially Tangerine Dream fans who will absolutely adore what they hear on this exciting disc.

Three and a half stars (rounded up to four for encouragement!)

(If you want to buy the album, look into one of the tasty lime-green vinyl editions available from Castles in Space records. You know it's good - nothing bad ever came from a fluro-green vinyl, right?! Besides, no one was ever disappointed with Steve Hillage's `Green'...)