KLAUS SCHULZE & ANDREAS GROSSER: BABEL

Released in 1987 in collaboration with Andreas Grosser, "Babel" is constituted of one long atmospheric synth piece, secondarily divided into several chapters. This is a concept album around the mythical Biblical passage of the Babel's tower edification. The composition is built around different sorts of Roland synth equipments, the piano and massive sampled choirs. The first half of the album combined floating synth experiences with Andreas Grosse's light, rhythmical, repetitive piano playing. The atmosphere is quite grandiose, epic but tends to be boring. The second part of the album follows the evolution of the story, delivering a consistent musical evocation of ascension to heaven and the fall that accompanied the dream. This is the most emotional, interesting dimension of the project. Klaus Schulze explores one more time the use of synth choir (previously illustrated in his "Moondawn" or "X" album). The choirs are obtained by a digital processor. The voices in the background are accompanied by a monotonous piano part. The mood reaches you into a deep, sinister, funeral atmosphere. The final section contains concrete noises, "bells", metallic sounds delivered in a rather chaotic, apocalyptic atmosphere. Not KS best effort but a memorable heroic/ funeral synth symphony.