Pete Namlook & Move D The Art of Love

This is a collaboration between David Moufang and Pete Namlook. 'The Art of Love' opens the disc; it's a contemporary, jazzy piece of electronic 'lounge' music, comprising shimmering electric piano chords, abstract effects, languid bass and saxophone/trumpet soloing. Pretty relaxing, very well done, but not really for me I'm afraid – it felt like something off a 'chill out' CD.

'Chattering' synth effects and a ticking rythmn mark the opening of 'One after 303'. The synth is constantly mutated, could this be the 303 sequencer mentioned in the title? The effect is very hypnotic. Swathes of synth pads build in the background – this is much more EM. Gradually a steady kick drum is added, then hi-hats and snares; this is a real body mover! Beautiful 'glimpses' of melody are deployed next, played with a bright, bell-like sound. By the 8 minute mark a squelchy bass sequence is added and a languid, brassy, retro-sounding lead. All in all a quality track fusing retro and contemporary references. A glorious analogue swell and melancholy lead open 'VS(OP)'. The 'drifting' mood is maintained for a minute or so before a very 'crunching' rhythm is added, along with synth effects and rather distorted 'vocal' type sounds. It all ends rather suddenly and we have a few seconds of silence before we get elements of the opening track of the CD repeated! These elements continue into the next section, titled 'Dial Again' (could this be a reference to the re-cycling of sounds previously used?). This track loses the 'real' instruments used in 'The Art of O Love', replacing them with distorted effects, but the backing track is pretty similar. An excellent, syncopated rhythm takes centre stage at the 4 minute mark, punctuated by bass synth stabs and bursts of noise. Sounds move around the stereo image in an interesting way also - try listening on headphones for the full effect. Vocal samples, distorted heavily add to the trance-like quality of the track. Challenging, but good.

'Kool Train Intro' opens with a pulsing drone. A beautiful but spartan melody is added, showing that these musicians can do 'conventional' as well! Faintly 'choir-like' pads add to the melancholy feel of the track. What a beautiful track!

'Kool Train Riding The Desert' follows – appropriately enough! – and opens with some train-like sounds, a simple hi-hat based rhythm. After a minute and a half we get some very heart-felt sax playing. I was reminded of the 'love' theme from the 'Bladerunner' theme here. Snatches of complimentary melody come from piano and synth, but the sax holds the centre-ground. Contemporary, and very 'cool' beats are gradually added to the mix, along with vocoder vocals. The last couple of minutes return to the gorgeous atmospherics from the opening to 'VS(OP)' – but it's a tantalisingly brief section. Like the opening track this sounded very 'chill-out' to me, again not to my taste – but very well done.