Konrad Kucz Railroad Paths CD / 6 Tracks / 55.06 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Path 4') Please go to the Store to buy this item.

Konrad Kucz' last album was one of the best ambient CDs I had heard in a long time. When this one dropped through my letterbox I was expecting more of the same. This however is nothing like it's predecessor in style as now instead of exquisite sonic soundscapes we get a blistering Berlin School tour de force! A gorgeous relaxed bubbling sequence merges with lovely peaceful flute on the first of five 'Paths'. We then get a storm surge which combines with the mutating sequence to create a feeling of grandeur. Sounds swell to majestic proportions gaining an almost euphoric spiritual quality. This really is superb stuff, a little like a mixture of Tangerine Dream and Jarre. The second Path erupts with a rapid deep bass sequence of almost earthquake proportions. It morphs wonderfully as whooshing electronics fly from channel to channel. A second higher register sequence flashes over the top. From this highly exciting almost manic track we move on to the third Path. Again a heavy but steady bass sequence provides the initial structure around which more pulsations begin to weave. There is a grungy almost growling mid section through which the patterns evolve, re-emerging with a rhythmic backing and vocoded speech (which didn't really work for me). The fourth Path starts with what could be the sounds of a railway siding, gorgeous soft pads completing a misty early morning picture. Just when I thought we were going to get a more abstract piece however a fantastic sequence bubbles forward like an unstoppable force. The track just gets better and better with equally impressive lead line creating the ideal backing for playing air keyboard. There are elements that reminded me of Fanger & Schonwalder. In the sixth minute we return to atmospherics out of which emerges a new sequence, though this time more swirling and mystical. It's all change again a couple of minutes later as yet more sequences are urged into action but again they are only making a fleeting visit before we enter a lovely, almost early Vangelis like section, tron pads mixing with moody lead. What a wonderful track this is. The final Path returns us to twittering cosmic effects and solar winds. Uplifting pads swell creating a similar mood to the latter stages of the opener. A slow thoughtful sequence provides a little structure as things become quite moody. These pulsations are very quickly replaced by a new pattern as we meander first one way then another. We now enter a rather percussive section out of which float soothing mellotron pads which take us close to the end, finishing with yet more metallic percussion. The last track 'Robotic Missions' is labeled as a 'bonus' presumably because it is not one of the 'Paths'. I suppose the Kraftwerk feel is intentional- all rather upbeat and body moving. Nothing like anything else on the album but really catchy complete with more vocoded speech (which I thought really worked well this time). A superb track and indeed I would love to hear more of what Konrad does in this style. (DL)

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