Robert Rich Electric Ladder Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband   Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Electric Ladder')

This is his third release in almost last twelve months, and my fears that his appalling hand injury might affect his music seem almost incredible. Firstly there was Echo of Small Things – An electronic tour de force, then Lithosphere – his second collaboration with Ian Boddy (and in my view infinitely superior to the first) and now this. What has really impressed me is how different these three releases have been, and after the ambient electronics of those two the sheer "joie de vivre" of this might well come as something of a shock. The title track is the opener, and an excellent drone gets things underway, almost lulling you into a false sense of thinking, ah yes, typical stuff … before a fantastic sequencer led rhythm kicks in, underpinned by the steel guitar. The whole track fairly gallops along at a very unRich like pace – what an opener! Play it VERY loud and it sounds just fantastic!

After such a start, you might well wonder how on earth he is going to maintain that standard for the remaining 45 minutes or so, and whilst it is true that the opener is without doubt the best track on it, the rest is never less than interesting. Shadowline sounds distinctly retro – not in a Berlin school sense (!) as it reminded me of his Geometry CD – this time the rhythm is a tad more subtle – more percussive than sequencer, but none the worse for it. On Poppy Fields Robert is accompanied by a Bassoon and Soprano Sax. To be honest, I am not wowed by this track, which I think is the weakest on the CD.

Sky Tunnel is better and more interesting. There is quite a lot going on here, and it is has a weird rhythmic groove. However the addition of the bassoon, soprano sax, and not to mention the flute will undoubtedly test some listener's patience. Me, I think it is one of the strangest pieces Robert has ever put together. Concentric sees us back in more familiar territory. Another busy piece, excellent synth work around another awkward sounding groove. It could almost be Shadowline part two. Aquifer, the penultimate track, starts with a scattering of electronics which sees Robert retreat even further from the pandemonium of the title track. I can just imagine his fans saying this is more like it, and I have to say, it is a really good piece, as indeed is the last – Never Alone – living up to it's title, an atmospheric and melancholy Trances and Drones sort of track, with some quietly understated steel guitar. An excellent finish.