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Bernard Xolotl - Procession CD (album) cover

PROCESSION

Bernard Xolotl

 

Progressive Electronic

3.85 | 11 ratings

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admireArt
Prog Reviewer
4 stars Underrated without reason!

Unexplicably, "Procession" 1983, a collaboration between Bernard Xolotl & Daniel Kobialka, is not only quiet unknown but undervalued with absurd comparisons with its contemporary Prog/Electronic counterparts.

Why? First things first. Xolotl's musical language may not be that "popular", but it is unique. It is one of the few acts, that could stand aside Schulze's or TD's best moments, (which ironically, declined in the 80s) and still be distinguishable among them. Yes! Of course there are "atmospherics" but that is an inherent part of Prog/Electronics and as far as I know nobody but the 1927 pioneers could claim to own this "style". (Of course they did not!)

Now, to where it matters. An extraordinary musical experience which has the rare quality of having perfectly blended Xolotl's synths with Kobialka's electro/acoustic violin. Never getting close to no one's musical language but its own. To put it simply, no "fusion" or "jazz" or "pseudo-classical" music approximations. Neither the compulsive obsession to make a big fuzz about this unusual combination in this kind of electronic music project. So to speak, both musicians are to involved in the evolution of the project, as to be worried about being the main character each 8 seconds. On the contrary the parallel work is sublime, in the primary use of the word.

Bold and subtle the same way, symphonic yet completely electronic and best of all the song writing is uncomparable and close to flawless, even its more "simplistic" moments. Meaning great sense of composition, as to minimize the structural differences of both ways of expression into a single idiom, which by itself highlights what needs to be highlighted and makes no room for useless or protagonic impossitions.

An extremely intense trip in a world full of surprises.

Easy ****4 PA stars + my review, recommendation.

admireArt | 4/5 |

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