POINTLESS REMINDER

This is a CD that has lain dormant in my collection for many years. Probably due to the awful band name and the equally forgettable cover. The track titles don't do much to inspire me with hope either.

However, during the past week this is all I've played, discovering finally, that it's actually an excellent modern day 'Berlin Electronics' album by one of many bands who have been out in the search of the Holy Grail - the followup to 'Rubycon' by Tangerine Dream...

So many of these shameless copycat bands set out with the same goal... to find that missing link between the perfect 'Rubycon' and the lightweight 'Stratosfear' through bands such as Redshift, Arc, Radio Massacre International and even Ian Boddy. 'Free System Projekt' are the most authentic of the bunch, creating sounds that border on the beautiful, but just don't sound as threatening or weird as their luminaries.

The truth of the matter is that what they seek will remain forever hidden and unatainable. 'Pointless Reminder' (Yeuch!) is a solid electronic album using modern technology in an effort to sound 1975. The arpeggiating sequencers are fantastic. Crystal clear and bouncy, they skip back and forth like a tennis ball from one ear to the other, leaving you believing that you're actually listening to a long lost mid 70's Tangerine Dream treasure.

Many may say I'm viewing this from the wrong perspective, but when you hear the plagiarism involved, then I'm sure you'll agree.

'Pointless Reminder', despite it's lousy title is a good, purely electronic album with touches of Jean Michel Jarre's 'Oxygene' thrown in for good measure.