PETE NAMLOOK & K. SCHULZE: THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOOG

This is the first of long series of album which marked a partnership between the great Klaus and Pete Namlook. Although the title of all these works (eleven so far) clearly indicates their admiration for the huge Floyd, there is little to share with one of their masterpieces.

The start of this album sounds pretty minimalist, repetitive, cold and inexpressive. Experimental music, with little content IMHHO. Up to the tenth minutes of this piece. At this time, the mood quits the dull techno spheres and enters into a more sculptural and spacey "atmo" sphere. Needless to say to which one goes my votes?

The beautiful and melodic Schulze is back like in the good old days: an ocean of superb keys, vibrant musical simulations and some sort of an ethereal beauty. A fantastic voyage in time as far as his music is concerned and in space as far as the "trip" to which the listener is conveyed for about eight minutes.

Unfortunately, these high level moments are being skipped with these repetitive and boring electro beats again: there is nothing I can do about it; I can't really stand them. After this, you are invited to some "Echoes" like middle part for a long while: some ten minutes which is anyway too much stretched to keep the interest of yours truly.

To loop the loop, there are also some deep Schulze sounds (or is it TD) for the final "bouquet" which lasts for about thirteen minutes (from which half are very good). If you're familiar with Klaus's work, you know that the "epic" concept is a true word. Pieces of over forty minutes are normal, almost standard.

This album is not easy to rate: fourteen sublime minutes, seventeen average ones and over twenty of dull ones. Huuum?let's say three stars as a whole. I'm not really convinced with the first leg of this moog stuff?Ten more to go.