GULF

This is the third in a series of band issued cdrs.They mention in the liner notes that they are particularly proud of this recording that conjured up images of the Gulf War for them. They didn't set out to do this but because of the connection they named the songs and album after this event.

"Scud" was the first piece they recorded using the Doepfer Sequencer. So it has this TANGERINE DREAM vibe for me with the electronic beat. Other synths join in. Disturbing sounds 5 minutes in followed by some haunting mellotron as the electronic beat continues. Spacey synths blow in before 7 minutes. It turns very spacey later on. "Gulf" features these eerie sounds and a beat. Mellotron before 3 1/2 minutes as the beat continues. A change 6 minutes in as it settles and the beat stops. Mellotron comes and goes as spacey sounds twitter. A calm before 10 1/2 minutes as strange sounds come and go. A spacey beat before 15 minutes. Banging noises after 19 minutes.

They mention in the liner notes that they used a mini-moog on this next track "Desert Storm" that happened to be at the studio to be mended. Faint sounds to start that get louder as strange sounds come and go. Mellotron 5 minutes in. A fuller sound 7 minutes in as we can hear some loud bangs and machinery-like noises. A marching-like sound before 11 minutes followed by ominous mellotron. After 14 minutes sounds pretty much stop (a break in the action perhaps). Then these sounds blow across the desert. It's dark as well. Sounds can be heard in the distance.

Man I can really use my mind to picture what these guys must have imagined after this was recorded.This is dark, spacey and ominous much of the time.

This 1998 CD-R really scared me, and I don't scare easy when it comes for music. I can listen to Tangerine Dream's Zeit and not get spooked out, but Gulf is probably one of the most sinister sounding recordings I have ever heard. The band captured the gruesome feel of the 1991 Gulf War. Gulf was apparently recorded in 1993 just as they acquired a Doepfer MAQ 16/3 sequencer, but as with so many of their releases, never released at the time, this one seeing the light of day in 1998, as a band-sanctioned CD-R. "Gulf" starts off with their trademark sequencers, with plenty of great synths and Mellotron. "Scud" really frightens me with that sinister droning, plus the sound of warfare, you expect nothing lighthearted when a band is trying to create the feel of war. "Desert Storm", for some reason is a bit mellower, but there are some really otherwordly sounds that surface. This stuff is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure, but even this release, they prove once again they make great music without going that "play it safe" New Age route!