GAUDI

An untouched discography of nearly 30 albums waiting for reviews... The American Robert Rich was one of the numerous electronic/Ambient/New Age artists I listened to in the early nineties. The expansion of this genre in PA gives me some motivation to start borrowing discs from that section again.

So, another Gaudi album for me (after the Alan Parsons Project review). It's all in the listener's mind of course, but I think here is a certain Gaudian atmosphere. On one hand the spacey and abstract nature of the music just allows the listener to imagine visions on the given theme, on other hand the soundscape - acoustic and even ethnic instruments in addition to synths - has a stony feel to it. Mr Rich's sound universe is in balance with the idea of an early 20th century artist who was in a league of his own. Gaudi was not an architect, he was a poet and a painter whose canvases were the unusual buildings he made. His trademarks are colourful stone mosaic and peculiar shapes. His most famous work has given the title to the opening track 'Sagrada Familia' (just like with Parsons). The slow synths and flutes paint a cathedral-like atmosphere. The rest of the titles don't refer to specific works but are open like 'Harmonic Clouds', 'Minaret' and 'Mosaic'. Therefor it's not a musical interpretation of named places like Tangerine Dream's Le Parc (which, by the way, includes 'Gaudi Park').

Rich's music doesn't fall into either Ambient or New Age category while it has elements of both. He works dedicatedly with sounds but he's not a mere sound architect. His serene music has hidden passions and emotions; it can be played as undisturbing background music for reading or one can fully concentrate to it, finding its meditative levels. Well, this album could have more variety in atmospheres; Gaudi's art could inspire joyous and playful feelings too, but the overall feeling here is melancholic.

Gosh, I think I'll be sticking with the far superior 'Steve Roach' from now on. Two crumby Robert Rich reviews in a row is something I never thought I'd encounter.

You know, the problem with Robert Rich and his counterpart Steve Roach is that when they add elements of percussion to their albums things just sound cheesy and pretentious.

'Gaudi' wouldn't be so bad if it had some semblance of a tune or hook, but for the first 30 minutes this is just a dreary meandering album that leads nowhere. Thankfully around the half way point things pick up with 'Harmonic Clouds' where a beautiful non percussive track with delicately echoing bells and highly sustained keyboard chords float about like fluffy white clouds in a blue sky.

What begins off as a stinker, rapidly improves during the second, mostly beatless half where the album sounds reminiscent of 'Harold Budd's' more ethereal moments. Unfortunately 'Gaudi' falls flat on its face again on the last track with some unwanted run of the mill electronic percussion.