Various Artists Analogy Volume 3 CD / 17 Tracks / 79.31 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'In the Moog (Eric G)')

As with earlier volumes this is a collection of predominantly previously unreleased tracks, by diverse artists, mainly producing sequencer driven numbers but also with the occasional excellent atmospheric outing, all linked and cross-faded together. A lovely thick squelchy analogue sounding sequence backed by gorgeous mellotron provides a superb opening for 'Vintage Contemporaries' by Gert Emmens & James Clent. A typical Emmens signature lead line does pyrotechnics above the pulsations. A heavyish rhythm strikes up, giving something of a Jarre feel whilst the lead starts to go ape. We move onto Create's 'Red Alert'. Dramatic stabbing notes conjure quite an ominous melancholy feel over yet more tron pads. This is only a short track but with a very effective moody feel. Stephen Parsick donates 'A Molecular Surge'. As with much of his more recent work this is dark brooding stuff, bass heavy drones / rumbles mixing with brighter metallic shimmers. Gert Blokzul is a new name to me but his 'Monopology' is one of the stand out tracks of the album featuring a superb heavy sequence and a vast array of wonderful swelling sounds and twittering effects. A real Berlin School romp but with a mean powerful edge where even the backing provides something of a snarl. After a very short cosmic piece by Russell Storey we get 'Synthology' by SYNTH.NL. This sounds a bit like something from Edgar Froese's 'Ages' album. A mean bass sequence mixes with its high register splashing partner. The lovely slow moody melody brought up memories from Peter Bauman's first LP. Very impressive stuff. Francois -Pol Cornec's 'Sea Click' starts with moody twittering electronics. A jaunty sequence emerges; it ain't bad but didn't do as much for me as some of the other tracks here. The next track takes us back to atmospheric realms and is by another name I hadn't heard of before, Erwin Hofstede. Very nice it is too with soothing pads swelling then fading gradually away as new sounds emerge to take their place. James Clent picks up the pace again with his rhythmically infectious 'Ambiology'. This really is captivating stuff. I couldn't stop my hands beating the table. There is a real 'attitude' here that just made me want to close my eyes and go with the flow. A lovely guitar melody comes in nearer the end. Another real highlight of this project. The pace now slows for more space music by Russell Storey, his 'Cosmic Kiwi III Part 2' being one of the best pieces of picture music I have heard from him so far. Terje Winther's 'Familiar Surprises' cranks up the sequences, a nice high register one skipping above bass laden rumbles. A lovely little melodic motif and swelling pads complete a captivating picture. As with the previous track, this is one of my favourite pieces I have heard by the artist so far. Studio 35D is yet another new name to me but on the evidence of 'Probe One' I will be hearing more from him in future as the rhythms immediately strike up an infectious groove and little melodies hit the spot perfectly. So all in all a highly enjoyable and easily accessible crowd pleaser. Mario Schonwalder and Frank Rothe team up for 'Analogum'. This is a return to more traditional Berlin School, where the sequence is King and the mellotron Queen. There are so many ways of breathing life into such a classic formula and these guys do it so well. Things build so slowly but so surely to a near perfect climax. That track is going to be very hard to follow but if anyone can do it, it is Eric G. 'In the Moog' is a wonderful combination of Jarre, Magic Fly and Peter Baumann from his second album. Melodies just don't get any better than this. Truly awesome! Rene van der Wouden seems to be popping up almost everywhere at the moment and on 'Ceci n'est pas un analogue' he shows why as this is another wonderful piece of gently throbbing, tron washed magic, a staccato melody bouncing over the top. Mono-Poly's 'Semdrone (Spaceship One Edit)' mixes NASA samples over a slightly ominous fizzing backing. Not really me cup of tea- sorry. Ron Boots rounds things off with 'Analowho'. Tinkling effects jingle over a slow bass pulse which gradually gets faster as a sequence skips over the top, a second falling into formation as things shift up a gear. There is something of a Schulzian feel to it all. Another fine addition to the Analogy series. (DL)

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