Klaus Hoffmann Hook & Hans Werner Fassbender
Heartbeat
 
The two tracks are simply called 'Parts One and Two' and rather appropriately right from the outset a heartbeat can be heard very low in the mix. Windy cosmic noises blow over the top making for a deliciously atmospheric beginning. More conventional synth pads then make an entrance. At five minutes we get what sounds like a Mellotron (an instrument which is never far away when Klaus is involved). Things then become very atmospheric again as we enter a rather ghostly haunting section. Next on the agenda is a dramatic, filmatic, orchestral score type passage. Its a return to spooky realms next with wind blown percussion sounds but this doesn't last for long.

Organ sounds start to swell over tranquil drones, these are then replaced by faintly choral pads but as you are probably beginning to guess by now we soon move on from this into yet another section, this time more 'metallic' sounding. Everything is calm but rather fluid as we are constantly moving from one mood on to the next. At sixteen minutes we get the first melodic section played on the piano but even this is rather meandering. Strummed guitar sounds then accompany it. Its then back to floating pads and percussive effects. 'Part Two' commences with another filmatic passage. If anything this 'Part' of the CD is even more floating than the first. Apart from the glockenspiel solo at five minutes that is ! There are more gorgeous mellotron sounds at eleven minutes making the listening experience even more serene and this feeling continues with the addition of piano detail up until the end. 'Heartbeat' is very different from either Klaus' Mind Over Matter or Cosmic Hoffman material.

Like 'Shambala' it is ideal music for meditation but the sounds used on this album are very different. Whether it has any similarities with Hans' solo albums I don't know as unfortunately I haven't heard them. (DL)

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