Frank Klare Area 2000 (New Version) Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband   Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Atlantis')

I am gripped by an air of déjà vu as Frank Klares 'Area 2000' album hits the CD player. This is an album that was originally reviewed by my good self in June earlier this year. An album which left me feeling that the collection of tracks presented here had been unduly edited down for no good reason, preventing the music from flowing in a more relaxed and familiar manner which l thought would have befitted an album of this nature more readily.

Those lovely folks at SynGate having read the review, taking the comments onboard made the rather extraordinary and radical decision to take the album back into the studio and rework the whole darn thing!!! (Nice to know someone actually reads these reviews!!!). The result being a more substantive recording, and one which flows with a greater sense of purpose through moods both upbeat and ambient. Given all the effort that SynGate have put into the new version it seemed only fair that the album should receive a reappraisal at this time. 'Area 2000' has now been given a sonic nip and tuck, (loosing about three minutes off the total playing time of the original release in the process). Edits here and there to address issues that l had highlighted in the original review leave an album which l find to be a more satisfying and rewarding listen.

Sooner than running the risk of repeating myself with a blow by blow account of the music I would suggest that you read on in conjunction with the original June review of the album for your musical signposts. On the whole the tracks remain unchanged, (though l don't have the first version of the album to hand so can't accurately do an A/B comparison of the two CDs for you). I can however say that the crossfades and edits work a treat throughout, the sum of all those small tweaks and overdubs making the big difference here.

'Groomlake Mystery' opens the ball only now crossfading seamlessly into track two 'Runaway To Hidden Secrets', which as stated in the original review was fundamentally a reprise of the opening track. 'Start from Area 51' and 'Unknown Objects' now seemingly more effective complimenting one another perfectly appearing stronger as a single piece than as two separate ones. Certainly one of the albums highlights.

'Flight to Shambala' now leads into 'The Arrival'. The link is seamless, again the tracks working better together than in isolation. 'Neushwabenland' and the brilliantly dreamy 'Area 2000 Theme' follow on making up a single piece with a running time of approximately 19.30 mins. Can't be bad.