Here's a short, first impression of the album, after having listened to it twice.
The album contains 8 tracks of which 5 are composed by Edgar and 3 by Thorsten. Six tracks clock around 8 to 9 minutes. Two are a bit shorter. No information of whom is playing, but I have the impression that everyone has been involved.
The album sounds very pleasant and is generally very rhythmic.
The third track has a nice surprise, no no I won't tell you. Don't read the booklet either before listening, because there is a hint.
The fourth track: goose bumps. Reminds me of Living in Eternity.
The last track is heavily sequenced, I like it!
Sound quality is, as usual, excellent!
the last track is an absolute highlight for me. edgar is at his best on this. some well judged froesian guitar, and some special reminders of, in my view, a great TD soundscape - sequences and gentle lilting tunes overlaying an emotional , yet driving theme.
There are times in life when the everyday grind can make life monotonous,but when you hear the musical delights of Tangerine Dream,life becomes a bright light of hope. Finnegans Wake is yet another delicious slice of genius from the world's finest.
My first impression: Dark, driving, mysterious.
I can't descibe this new album properly, so some random thoughts must be enough right now.
The Sensational Fall Of The Master Builder
A slow build-up, choral voices in the background, after two and a half minutes a steady drum beat enters. These "Atomic Seasons" cries add to a feeling of unease throughout this composition - there's no real melody either, just a mountain of sounds. A really dark and mysterious opening track by Edgar.
Finnegans Excessive Wake
Thorsten's first contribution brings more dark voices but also some addictive melodies - or melody fragments that add up to a bigger whole. Just listen to these bells ... In the finale a great guitar solo is on the forefront.
Resurrection By The Spirit
Indeed a nice surprise by Edgar ... I won't spoil the surprise to those of you who didn't recieve their album yet. It's a ghost from the past, a flashback in the purest sense of the word.
Mother Of All Sources
Thorsten compiles bleeps and dry drum sounds on this track. And then ... after the first minute the thing simply is slowed down until the piece dies. Such a thing never happened on a TD record before.
A completely different mood emerges out of the ashes, a beautiful violin and synth melody on top of it all. In the middle part bits and pieces in the background are suddenly played backwards. What's going on here? Partly strange, partly simply beautiful.
The Warring Forces Of The Twins
Edgar's pop masterpiece on here. Fast rhythms, a clear synth melody and some well-known sequence patterns. This tracks lies in the tradition of recent TD tracks like A Snail's Dream. A nice way to soothe your troubled mind.
Three Quarks For Muster Mark
Wow, this time there are some really strange sounds which play a nice tune nevertheless. Thorsten again biulds up an anthem of a composition. In the second half we get to hear another of his characteristic synth solos (reminds a lot of the last part of Babylon The Great Has Fallen). Another addictive Thorsten tune.
Everling's Mythical Letter
Edgar brings back the mythical atmosphere from the first track. Mid-tempo beats, a long and winding guitar solo in the bed consisting of the familiar synth sounds. Somehow I think it's a "sunny" track ... don't ask me why. It's relaxing and puts you in a somnambulistic state.
Hermaphrodite
Edgar's finest composition here ... safe the best for last. This tune using some sad piano and acoustic guitar sequences can bring inyour eyes. An overwhelming sadness emerges - even as the beats and a great electric guitar solo kick in. I always thought Thorsten created the better finales in the last years, but this time it's Edgar's turn ... and he delivers one of his best compositions ever!
On the first listen this album feels a bit disjointed. Very different elements float in and out of your speaker. It's not an easy listen at all. Some tracks are in fact just as experimental as Chandra. At the same time there are melodies that one will remember long after the album has ended (Mother Of All Sources, The Warring Forces Of The Twins, Hermaphrodite).
Sonic Poem No. 3 is just as rewarding as the first two I'm sure ... but it's a tough listen, just like Joyce's book must be a tough read.
MrCox wrote:The Warring Forces Of The Twins
Edgar's pop masterpiece on here. Fast rhythms, a clear synth melody and some well-known sequence patterns. This tracks lies in the tradition of recent TD tracks like A Snail's Dream. A nice way to soothe your troubled mind.
It might very well be a re-worked leftover from the Melrose Years, more in particular Lily On The Beach.
Thanks for your review.