PROTOAVIS

The Free System Projekt is an electronic trio featuring Marcel Engels, Frank van der Wel and Ruud Heij. They have delivered a beautiful album, containing three mega-long tracks. It opens with "In the ocean of Tethys" (22.39), this track is based upon the warm and unique sound of the string-ensemble, interwoven with flute-Mellotron solo runs and floods of choir-Mellotron. If you like Phaedra-era Tangerine Dream, this is an 'electronic nirvana' for you! Halfway pulsating sequencers join in, accompanied by lots of typical synthesizer sounds. In the second composition "Protoavis" (36.35) the trio succeeds to translate the dark and mysterious underwaterworld into a hypnotizing and a bit eerie sonic landscape, using a wide range of keyboards and electronic devices. It has obvious echoes from Jean- Michel Jarre. The last part contains a spectacular rolling sequencer sound and lots of synthesizer flights. The final number "Desolate landscape" (16.12) has a fat and low synthesizer sound, lots of violin-Mellotron, culminating in a splendid tribute to the retro- sound of early Tangerine Dream (74-77). This fine CD is a proove of the blossoming Dutch electronic music scene (annual festivals, some good labels and a wonderful magazine entiled E-dition), I'm looking forward to the next great electronic rock CD from The Netherlands.

I knew when I started collecting Radio Massacre International CDs that there were other groups operating in a similar manner. Like this Dutch act Free System Projekt, lead by Marcel Engels, with some help from Frank van der Wel and Ruud Heij. They might as well be the Dutch Tangerine Dream, and in fact, like RMI, you can't avoid the comparison. Lots of sequencers, analog synths, Mellotron. Unfortunately FSP CDs seem to be hard to find (I've had little luck finding online dealers stocking them). It's one of those if you didn't buy them at the time, you're out of luck. It seems these guys seem to perform at many of the same electronic music shows that RMI go to, so it's a safe bet if you like RMI, you'll like FSP, plain and simple.

If this 2004 release Protoavis is anything to go by, I'll be looking forward to many more releases. This CD consists of three extended pieces. I like the sinister mood these guys come up with, before the sequencer kick in, then you start thinking of Rubycon. Oh yeah, they actually use a Moog IIIc, as well as an EMS Synthi A, Solina String Ensemble, Elka Rhapsody, other synths, and most of all, the Mellotron put to great use. I really dig the title track. I was expecting it to be this dark ambient piece throughout, and out of nowhere the sequencers start kicking in. RMI tends to avoid big, bulky gear and I love the way they come up with similar results to these guys. I really don't know what else say, but I'll say this right off, if you ran out Radio Massacre International CDs to buy, you can't go wrong here, and Protoavis is a great place to start if you don't know Free System Projekt.