CALDEA MUSIC II

Getting into hot water

Having captivated us with his album for a new millennium, "The tide of the century", Tim Blake wasted little time in recording his fifth solo album, "Caldea music 2". This time though, we have a commissioned work, the music being written for the Caldea Thermo-Ludique Center in Andorra. This was the second set of music commissioned by the centre, hence the "2" in the album title (so don't look in Blake's discography for "Caldea music 1"!) Caldea means "hot water", the location in Andorra being a source of natural hot water which is used for " thermal bathing, relaxation, and steaming". The building housing the Caldea was designed like a "Crystal city" in the centre of Andorra's capital, Valdez. While bathing, guests are soothed by piped new age music, hence the commissioning of this work.

With that background in mind, it is important that fans of Blake do not approach this album expecting something similar to his previous solo efforts. That said, while this is Blake's first totally instrumental album in many years, it would be wrong to simply assign it to a new age classification. Admittedly, there is a relaxed quality to the music, but the blending of Celtic influences and strong electronic rhythms on some tracks results in a diversity which new age music does not usually boast.

On the second track, "Floating", Blake's Tangerine Dream like synth passages are complemented by some glissando guitar played by Christian Boule. The blending of the two forms a highly effective wash of floating sounds and melodies.

The feature track of the album is "The Great Pool" which runs to a shade under 20 minutes. The track sounds like it may have been lifted form one of Tangerine Dream's later albums, when the early solo synth performances had been replaced by smoother waves of polyphonic sounds. While the track has definite new age leanings, it is altogether too rock orientated to be dismissed as such.

On the final track, which is called "Caldea II" (the opening track is titled "Caldea"), Blake is joined by Konan Mevel playing Catalan bagpipes and Celtic flute. The piece is a powerful, anthemic number, the kaleidoscope of sounds coming together delightfully in a Celtic cacophony.

In all, an album which, while largely devoid of rock influences which are a usual feature of Blake's work, is much more than simply an hour of new age noodling. The music here certainly has ambient, relaxing qualities, but it also stands up to closer scrutiny than many of its peers of a similar type.

Its easy to critique Mr Blakes fantastic work in Gongs best known works like the Flying Teapot trilogy as some of his best work but Caldea Music II still retains his ideas and compositional attitudes.

Tim is NOT a rock and roller tho his aesthetics in the keyboard department might at times hint this he is a maestro at manipulating tonal sound structures into a very eastern hypnotic potpourri of delicious electronic listening.

Caldea Music 2 is further into the hypnotic realms of electronic music and it satisfies those willing enough to step away from the progressive rock stage and into the world of laid back drifting nirvana of synthetic overtures.

Tim accomplishes a perfect music for cloud watching, sunset gazing and yes relaxation. It is the intent of the music to induce this mindset just as progressive rock demands listeners listen to an pay heed to the skills of the band members in the recording.

This music draws on eastern subtleties, minimalism ala Terry Reilly and mid 1970s period germanic teutonic sequencer based electronica and for the most without pomposity.

I would not fully disregard the new age over tones but there is less saccharine found here than 99% of most new age records not to mention Tim has a gifted ability for hypnotic hooks and stereo shifting sounds.

Nice job!

4.5 stars. This is my kind of modern progressive electronic. Blake definitely celebrates his electronic mastery on this work commissioned for Caldea Thermo-Ludique Center in Andorra. Water and its healing properties in all forms is the inspiration here, and this work contains no filler. Blake and Berlin School fans will find a lot to like on the three extended pieces and new age fans will find more to like on the other shorter tracks that tie the lengthy tracks together. Tim Blake is an electronic artist that deserves more attention worldwide His later seventies albums are classics and his newer work is surprisingly easy to digest