ARE YOU SEQUENCED?

Klaus Schulze

Progressive Electronic

3.17 | 43 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

After some sort of a return to ancient sounds with the triple CD set "Blue", what was going to deliver dear old Klaus? Well another long album, that's for sure (over 140 minutes). But what else?

I must say that when I listened to the opening track: "Welcome To The Moog Brothers" I was rather enthusiast. The good old days are back again: the poignant but cold synth lines are emotional from start to finish in this beautifully melodic piece of music. Are we back on the tracks of "Blue"?

Not completely.

This album is more upbeat; and seriously "dance" oriented. The use of drum "machines" is not alien to the feel I guess. And as the title of the album refers: one get lots of looped sequences which are quite alright for a while, but which tend to be a bit too repetitive (some might say hypnotic) on the long run. And since the album is such a loooooong experience, you can take your own conclusions.

If you listen to the "Vocs In The Dark" sequence (Part I & II), it might sound logical that no real difference can be observed. But it goes on with the same flatness during the next "No Frets - No Bass" which fades with no real change of melody or rhythm. This "sequence" lasts for about twenty-four minutes?

It is totally bearable but much too long. Same mood for the title track except that it only lasts for a mere three minutes directly followed with "Moogy Baby Goes Solo". This could be a one and only song since there are basically no difference in between?a weak "sequence" which lasts for over ten minutes.

As if the great man wanted to get forgiven, he also offers some superb and lyrical songs as well: "Valle De La Luna" and "Moldanya". Those are another thrilling and beautiful parts of this album which is hesitating between upbeat and unmelodic sections while wonderful spacey songs are flourishing too and are much more convincing and enjoyable as far as I'm concerned. The short "Vidanya" also belongs to these enchanting moments but is rather brief.

These songs really reminds me of the glorious seventies and all the grandiose work from Klaus. A total trip on the other side of the moog?Sublime and immaterial. The total contrary of the next "sequence": the combination of "The Wizard Of Doz" and "Vidanya" is again a trip into the dance beats which I can't really endorse.

I'm quite mixed about this first CD. One third is great, but two thirds are average.

But there is no reason to be "mixed" about the second one: truly crappy. Techno, house: awful. There are apparently several versions of this album originally released in 96. This one with a second CD full of "remixes", a single CD release, and a remastered work with another second CD part (which I have never heard so far).

I rate the single CD with three stars. Let's take for granted that the second was just a packaging mistake and that it should never have been there?(otherwise two stars is a max).

ZowieZiggy | 3/5 | 2009-11-26

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Share this KLAUS SCHULZE review

Social review comments () BETA

Review related links

Send comments to ZowieZiggy
Report this review (#252871)
Buy KLAUS SCHULZE music online with PA partners
Show all KLAUS SCHULZE MP3/Stream
Go to KLAUS SCHULZE page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
Go to Are You Sequenced? page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
Search the Forum for KLAUS SCHULZE related discussions