Dutch Space Mission Masters of Space and Time CDR / 4 tracks / 60.36 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Kosmonautentraum')

Dutch Space Mission are really Eppie Hulshof and Bert Hulshof. Lovely lush half vocal pads provide a soothing but also ethereal start to 'Die Stimme Des Alls'. Gradually darker drones take a hold punctuated by some excellent twittering electronic effects. A first rate sequence gradually emerges then fades away again, keeping re-emerging and disappearing. All the time a wonderful but mournful cello melody almost weeps over the top. This is a very impressive start (with just a hint of Schulze). A deep bass throb takes over and another very Schulzian sequence rises to the surface. Things just get better and better as an additional sequence- a belting hundred mile an hour one, full of power and aggression erupts from the speakers. We build an enormous pure Berlin School head of steam then things suddenly decay to windy pads and what sounds like NASA samples as we drift off serenely into space.

We continue on in a similar state of float for the beginning of 'Kosmonautentraum'. This is well out there cosmic stuff with loads of lush overlaid constantly shifting pads and accompanying electronic twitters. Just when we are completely blissed out another sequence explodes on the scene, even faster, more powerful and awesome than on the opener. More sequences are added and they morph around each other wonderfully- this is so exciting! The pulsating mayhem develops something of a melodic quality- but this is melody with a mean bite. We return to the cosmos all too soon.

'E.G.B.E.R.T.' is all rather dark and eerie, hinting that there might be something rather unpleasant out there. A similar mood is taken through to 'Master of Time and Space' but if anything the atmosphere is even spookier. Half heard chatter mixes with ethereal pads and deep chimes. A slow sequence starts up and gradually builds but it is quite sedate and melodic one so also acts as a sort of lead line. It's really nice, getting under the skin causing the head to gently nod in time to the pulsations. A good track to finish a very enjoyable album. (DL)

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