Robert Schroeder DMO Vol 2 CD / 11 Tracks / 70.36 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Analogue Vibes') £ 13.95   Visit the Store for special offers, sale and secondhand prices for this item.

All the pieces here are previously unreleased and from the years 1980 to 1983. Vocoded speech introduces 'Hallo' and keeps coming back from time to time, mixing well with the excellent main melodies. A lovely combination of little rhythms and melodic motifs are even more effective creating a lovely infectious track and positive start to the album. 'The Nomad Theme 2' begins with a good high register sequence. In classic fashion a second sequence falls into formation as little electronic wailing effects, almost like gentle virtual guitar touches, fly over the top. Ethereal pads add that extra class. Rhythmically and percussively 'Door to Heaven' is a rather quirky track, the backing acting as the perfect foil to the curious lead line consisting of a series of single notes played slowly one after the other, each fading gradually into the distance. At about the fourth minute however things are cranked up a little and the melody is played with much more gusto. 'Starlights' is another excellent track with good sequence backed by tron as well as massed swelling pads. The rhythms are given just the right emphasis and the lead lines quite searing. Excitement builds throughout the tracks duration. 'Wired Systems' is, if anything, even better than the previous number, the bouncy sequence being just Heavenly. Various relaxed solos create a contrasting moodiness. 'The Nomad Theme 2' is much heavier and in ye face than the first part. A repeated seven bass note pattern forms a very sturdy structure around which weaves rather delicate synth colouring. I think the best way to describe it would be a slow plodder with attitude! 'Synth Waves' starts with the best sequence on the album so far and so classic of the 1980 period from whence it came. It seems to get faster as does the rhythm that accompanies it but it is this rhythm that to me is a problem as it seems to fit slightly uncomfortably against its partner and quite frankly it all seems to degenerate into a bit of a mess. 'Modulations' has some really nice electronic backing over which rhythms and lead create a rather optimistic mood. I bet it would have been pretty good at the time but it does sound quite dated now though there is still some nostalgic charm to it. 'Springtime' surges forward with real oomph. Sure, again the drums do sound a little dated but this really ain't a bad track at all. 'Analogue Vibes' continues on the return to form with another super sequence and this time the rhythms work well alongside the pulsations, as does the lovely moody lead line. This really is a super track and one of the best on the album. 'Protones' sounds a little like video game music to me, quite bleepy and fairly simplistic. The sound quality on this release seems far superior to 'DMO Vol 1'. As for the tracks, it is a real mixture of ones that are well deserving a release at last, to those we could have lived without but do still posses a historical interest, to a couple that in my opinion maybe shouldn't have been included. Maybe a fifty minute album would have been a better idea than stretching it to seventy but then again I could always programme out those tracks I didn't care for so what the Hell. I still think there is enough here to make it a worthwhile purchase for Schroeder fans. (DL)

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