TERJE WINTHER

Electronic prog, in general, is probably the "slowest burner" type of music within the progverse. It is often found boring by many music listeners. Add sequencers to this, and you understand why tons people find it bland. I, for one, am not much of a "taste acquirer". There are exceptions, for sure, but normally I have to find something alluring in a music on my first listen, in order to further my "relationship" with it.

And, this album granted me with this kind of allurement.

Terje Winther is a Norwegian musician who crafted music in various types, one of them being electronic.

Electronic Regions definitely showcases Mr. Winther's competence in "electromancy". Let's begin with combining the song titles of its first CD: "Time + And Again + I Feel My Life + Repeating (itself) + Over and Over (Again)". This, rather ironically, reflects how, many people assess such music: slowly burning albums that don't ever unfold into a blazing fire, even at their zenith. Yet, this album is far from being a parody. It was diligently and intuitively built. The initial alarming "sirens", followed by some distorted sounds feels like how a seemingly perniciously delicious wild trip was about to begin, but the bittersweet, often dull, modern reality proved it obsolete.

As one can guess, the rest of the 1st CD turns out to be relatively tame. But still, modern life is not that hopelessly uninteresting, nor is the rest of this album. We are the creatures that are blessed with imagination, after all. And this way, life is more safe & secure.

The 2nd CD opens with rather a "werky-craft" (vice versa) tune, and is followed by a very repetitive and hypnotic looooooooooong song. The final part is the most interesting one here, as it is adventurous, and sounds mysterious. Well, don't expect a wild trip here. It is like an astral travel where you're gliding over the glacial landscapes. The ennobling grandeur of wintry sceneries! Though be warned, there's some real tension here!

Terje's output brings nothing like a Trojan horse or a massive system update to the electronic table. So, if you're into prog electronic, you can listen to it and enjoy without being bedazzled, or if you're not, you might easily skip it.

The thing I enjoyed most about this album is the selection of the synth sounds. Not only there's an impressive plethora here, but also, and more importantly, they really flow seamlessly into my ears. Even the percussive synths didn't disturb me in the slightest. They, otherwise, can sometimes be really like a "piercing" to the ear, and I'm not a big fan of that. Hahah. Of course, I'm talking about the nature/character of the sounds used. Otherwise, the album has some really bewildering and slightly unsettling moments.

Well, Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk... the influence thingies. I frankly believe that any album that is totally groundbreaking and cleverly and also masterfully crafted will/would be appreciated, sooner than much later. OK, it may not be MJ's Thriller, but would at least not be as "nameless" as a regular dragonfly. I mean, this album is really enjoyable, but I'm not surprised that it is this recondite. I wouldn't assume that Mr. Winther sacrificed all his sanity, spirit, and fortune; or sold his soul to the devil for creating this work. Come on, he is a smart musician. It can be deduced from his musicianship. He should be earning his life by producing more accessible stuff!

My rating is 3/5, as I'll give 4 and 5 stars to the albums under specific conditions; being groundbreaking/original and extraordinarily interesting/enjoyable are the pivotal ones of them.

Nobody can deny Norway's Terje Winther's abilities to construct enticing electronic melodies and their respective well threaded arrangements.

"Trespasser", 2004, has many extraordinary sections and some conscious use of his direct influences. Take as an example its first track "The City Of Cruithne" an implosion of diverse routes in constant mutation, yet somewhere along the way he blends in J.M. Jarre's super famous Oxygene riff, and plays along with it for a while and then moves to some other more personal stuff and then again invites an Edgar Froese like simulation or Schulze's, yet returning to his classicaly trained musical language. In some way these brushes with alien electronic languages in this piece sound more like hommages than rip-offs. 4 stars.

Track 2 ,"Wishful Drone Around Midnight" is experimental, obscure and in the sacred music tone. It holds some surprises yet it does not grow outside itself, thus not that memorable but truly enjoyable almost all way through. 3 stars.

"Waiting for the Next Wave", track 3, makes its way through, sequenced counterpointings. Although it is fairly impossible not to be reminded of T.D. it at the same time shows how to handle these Berlin School's canons without resembling T.D., which reminds me a lot of Mother Mallard's Portable Masterpiece Company's ability to do the same. A very good track with some great sections although it runs out of original "creative" gas somewhere along its way. 3.5 stars.

Anyway talking about running, "Running Through The Edge", track 4 and the longest one, arises in the symphonic electronics mode like overture to pay another kindly hommage to Jarre's musical idiom. I guess he made quiet an impression on Terje Winther's personal soundtrack. It takes a while for the piece to become more personal, it does eventually, in the form of, first time appearance of electronic/box/drums and some Jazz like crying moog soloing, they add something, yet the awaited highlight just never really shows. 3 stars.

"Essinc" track 6. As soon as this composition starts you will be reminded, again, of the highly intoxicating and addictive TANGERINE DREAM's fumes. The track offers, in the middle of these aromas, some very personal touches which could have been exploited in favour of personal expression, yet the comfort zone, is just too comfortable. 3.5 stars.

This release closes with "Jumpgate Shore". Stripped down electronics, suggesting an inconclusive and nostalgic melody line among some synth-laser shot gun's sounds and detached noises. By far the most Terje Winther's signed only piece in this release, yet overlooked probably in the delirious T.D. fever. 3.5 stars.

Promising due to his somehow self-overshadowed, but very good ideas and as to see if he overcomes the common flu.

***3.5 PA stars.