KLAUS SCHULZE: Moonlake (CD on Synthetic Symphony)
This CD from 2005 offers 74 minutes of superb electronic music.
Joining the maestro on his first new album since 2002 is Thomas Kagermann on viola and vice on one track.
Long time fans should make no presumptions regarding the title of this release in connection with the man's older material. As the liner notes say: " 'Moonlake'--a mixture of 'Moondawn' and 'Crystal Lake' perhaps? Certainly not!" The title of this new album comes from Schulze's fascination for the Austrian lake of that name.
You will find, however, a pronounced presence of percussion in this new music, which has been absent from Schulze's recordings for some time. And we're not just talking about synthesized tempos--but actually drums. The rhythms here are typically lush and driving, propelling the tuneage with lavishly intricate gusto.
Also featured are familiar strains of heavenly keyboards and an assortment of sounds that have become Schulze's signature sound during the last decade. Haunting tones that combine organ tints with orchestral flair. Choppily generated notes that flow into a liquid structure. Non-lyrical vocals that are utilized as an instrument unto themselves.
One of the factors that has earned Schulze his international renown for over thirty years is his ability to continue to break new ground and explore fresh sonic expressions derived from his collection of high-tech machinery. And that is true of this new album too, as he blends trancey resonance with snappy tempos. Astral arcs bridge together passages that will appeal to aficionados of the old school EM genre as well as followers of contemporary electronics and techno.
His mixture of beats and oozing tones is a marvel to experience. Hypnotic passages of elaborate rhythmics become drenched with synthesized honey as extravagant textures intermingle with meticulously crafted keyboard riffs. Orchestral seasoning only serves to elevate this music. These compositions are thoroughly modern, yet rich with a timeless quality.
Feathery sequencing produces engaging chains of dreamy loops which lead to the emergence and ultimate explosion of compelling rhythms accompanied by riffs of delicate complexity. The melodies swell, gradually accreting additional layers until the result is a textural mesh of remarkable density and glistening appeal.
The first two tracks were performed live-in-studio, while the album's remaining two pieces are edited versions of live recordings from a Schulze concert in Poland on November 5, 2003.
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