Ron Berry Where Dark Forces Meet Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband   Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Zanti Misfits')

This is a CDR release (re-issue?) of Ron Berry's first album, recorded in 1980 or thereabouts. As such it offers a great insight into the origins of one of EM's veterans. The packaging of the CDR is a little 'basic' but very informative. However, it's the music that counts, so let's jump in.

'Sea of Tranquility' opens with disembodied voices and a shimmering pad. A gentle, slow lead emerges. It all sounds wonderfully analogue and 'direct', the way EM used to sound! A vast organ tone joins the mix along with a pulsing sequence at the 2.30 min mark. Electronic percussion is introduced to create a very hypnotic groove. Yes it sounds 'dated', but boy does it take you back to the days when synthesisers sounded so new and out of this world. A heartfelt solo is deployed, played on a beautiful 'square wave' analogue voice. Totally evocative.

Next up is 'Sea of Clouds'. A swirling cascade of notes hovers in the ether as a gloriously syrupy string pad swells beneath. This reminded me a lot of 'Oxygene' era Jarre atmospherics. A symphonic lead adds melody before a loping, mid tempo bass sequence emerges. It builds, twisting rhythmically through emerging electronic percussion, but doesn't overpower the atmosphere created. More late 70's type leads are deployed. In the classic style, the rhythmic backing is allowed to run as Berry solos over the top.

'Zanti Misfits' opens with solar flares and distant voices. An ominous bass line crawls from the mix as vast pads build. A rapid argeggio builds and then slows. Storm effects smash through the mix, leaving a drone and 'siren-type' sound in their wake. A beautiful, analogue melody and echoed stabs emerge at the 2.35 min mark. You just know that it's the prelude to some mayhem! And it arrives in the form of a rapid mid-register sequence and old-school beat box shenanigans! This really has a feel of synth-pop, perhaps an early Depeche Mode jam – joyous and non-too serious! We switch between the slow and rapid sections – it's a lot of fun.

It's the title cut up next. A dark drone and shimmering pad creates a suitably dark mood for 'Where Dark Forces Meet'. A bell-like sequence emerges from the depths, sounding mystical and hypnotic. The backing dies away, leaving the sequence and some abstract effects to take centre stage. Various pads and drones weave in and out of the effects and sequence, but the track remains abstract. This track is the first that truly sounds contemporary (Fax or Databloem could release it!), impressive given the age of the piece!

The beat box returns, along with a simple arpeggio-type sequence and very synth-pop lead for the strangely titled 'Concrete Pete'. The melody is distinctly OMD-like, I expected someone to start singing about telephone boxes or oil refineries! It's a hugely enjoyable 2.45 mins. 'Matthew Street' is likewise rooted in synthpop rhythms and melodic motifs. Ron clearly just wants to have fun here, soloing over the boppy backing. We also get vocals of a sort, as spoken text is introduced. 'View From A Bedsit Window' closes the set. A simple bass sequence and stately pad combo emerge from an electric storm. White noise effects move around the mix. A simple, delicate melody is picked out on a faintly flute-like lead. It's short, but rather beautiful.