TIME & MOTION

I am very positive that Radio Massacre International is to electronic music what Acid Mothers Temple is to psychedelia, in that they're ridiculously prolific and you never have to wait long for another release to come your way. Radio Massacre International started releasing stuff on the Scottish label Centaur until 2000, but during that period they also released a bunch of CD-Rs on their own Northern Echo Recordings label, and they continue that to this day, even if now they're recording for Cuneiform. Ozric Tentacles were never this prolific, even back in the 1990s where there was seldom a year without a release (their output really tapered off after 2000). Even Tangerine Dream had 40 years to have as large a back catalog as they do, while RMI only had 15 years (1995's Frozen North is their first release).

I am so happy to finally see Radio Massacre International appear in Prog Archives, in the "Progressive Electronic" section (which obviously makes sense). This group has been around for so long, it's a miracle they hadn't appeared in Prog Archives ages ago.

Time & Motion is their third release on the Cuneiform label (but who knows how many releases overall, probably over 30 by now). Their previous Cuneiform offering, Rain Falls in Grey was a big departure where the band was using more convention rock instruments in a psychedelic/space rock setting (had Rain Falls in Grey been their only release, they would have been placed in the "Psychedelic/Space Rock" section of Prog Archives). That was their dedication to Syd Barrett who sadly passed away in 2006. Time & Motion returns back to the electronic format. Heavy use of sequencers, tons of synths, and let's not forget the Mellotron. Like their first Cuneiform release, Emissaries, this is a two CD set, and at first isn't too far from what they done on Emissaries, but unlike that CD, there is no unifying themes, just a collection of lengthy, often improvised pieces. "Kairos" is a fantastic opening piece with some unbelievably intense use of sequencers. This piece even blows Tangerine Dream's Ricochet right out of the water. Much of the first disc, aside from "Aeon" (a great ambient piece) and "Fission Ships Pt. 1" emphasizes the sequencers. After "Equatorial Pitch", the band completely ditches the sequencers until the final cut "30 Years (Slight Return)". The second disc starts off with "Maybe a Last Look at Joe's House", which is a more rock-oriented piece not unlike Rain Falls in Grey. After that, the band really goes into the deep abyss of strange, often abstract experimental stuff, often as difficult a listen as Tangerine Dream's Zeit, then when "30 Years (Slight Return)" comes your way, you're glad to hear those sequencers.

Three stars, because this is not going to be an easy listen, and it's very lengthy. I recommend it, but try something like Frozen North, Republic, Diabolica, Zabriskie Point, The God of Electricity or Septentrional first if you're not familiar with Radio Massacre International.