Earthstar
French Sky
This album was first released in 1979. It was highly prized because it is something of a mellotron / moog modular / vintage synth fest. It was co produced by Klaus Schulze and his influences are obvious all over it. Other synths used include Minimoog, Polymoog, Oberheim synths and sequencer, PPG 1020, Elka String Synth and loads of ARP synths. Followers of 70s analogue sequencer music will already be salivating.

Right from the beginning the whole feeling of the album is cosmic but along with the usual thick washes of sound and mellotron. there is also quite a bit of crashing detail and other effects. The album is basically made up of two long suites with a shorter six minute track in the middle. The two longest tracks are called 'Latin Sirens face the Wall' and 'French Skyline Suite'. I can't really think of why they are called this as I can't make out anything particularly French or Latin about them. The second and third parts of the opener develop into a superb sequencer romp and we drive forwards at quite a pace. A meandering lead provides some focus but its really the sequences that will have retro lovers in raptures.

The middle track 'Splendored Skies and Angels' begins with some crashing synth string sounds that I am certain are identical to those I heard on an early Tangerine Dream album but I can't quite place which one. Actually much of the first half of this track would have been very much at home on 'Atem'. Its an extremely rich whirlpool of sound, very descriptive and atmospheric. The second half features a melodic lead line but with the same sonic gloop backing. The last track begins with strange alien animal / insect sounds.Its all very lazy and early morning feeling. I can just make out some faint sitar, like the first rays of sun breaking over the horizon. Then we get what sounds as like a spaceship taking off and another sequence starts up but remains pretty much in the background. Again the focus moves to an active lead line which shifts one way then darts off in another.

Sometimes the sound on this CD is so dense that it is very difficult to make out any discernible parts never mind individual instruments but it all goes to make a particularly heady brew. (DL)

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