Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij
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(Excerpt from track 'Vortex')
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CD / 5 tracks / 70.39 mins

Ruud is better known for his valuable contributions to two of the main retro / sequencer driven bands around, Free System Project and Kubusschnitt. Gert has a number of solo albums available in similar territory. Here they combine to produce another excellent Berlin School tour de force. We begin 'Vortex' with wonderful deep space drones rising and falling like solar flares exploding into the ether only to be dragged back to the star from whence they came. Amongst them we get a collection of lovely analogue sounding cosmic twitters and effects as well as sparing use of distorted unintelligible voices very low in the mix. From this exquisite atmospheric beginning emerges a rapid ballsey sequence which hits the spot perfectly, positively thundering along.

Another brace of higher register but just as rapid sequences quickly fall into formation increasing the excitement still further. Just as impressive however are the underlying pads and effects which complement the whole perfectly. The title track starts with lovely soft ethereal tones over which floats a delicate sequence. A second deeper and meaner one adds an urgency and the pulse starts to race even faster as a laser sharp lead line flashes over the top. The feeling of energy and speed is just as intense as on the opener though with something of a moodier twist. There is a section in the middle where things are stripped down to the mutating main sequence which then takes off with even more menace and oomph. The backing also becomes quite intense until it all calms down to a lovely melancholy finish. Fantastic stuff. The sequences keep coming with 'Solaris'. A pair bounce off each other, keeping the quality as high as before. A lovely deep bass line falls into formation providing yet another stab of mid 70s inspired brilliance. Each sequence mutates as they go providing a shifting backing for a dreamy lead. 'Life in Motion' has quite a delicate beginning with little twitters of sound shinning through a low volume breezy drone. Gradually more mournful pads come to the surface.

The opening section last for five minutes and provides a welcome interlude from the fairly constant sequences we have had so far. This sort of variety is essential as even for me seventy minutes of almost constant sequencing would be too much. It makes the sequence, when it does come, even more effective especially when it is of this quality, sounding very Schulzian from the 'Mirage' period. We then get some TD type sequences joining it blasting forwards on a wonderful ever-changing throbbing soundstage. Runs of notes come and go whilst others remain darting this way and that. What a wonderful track. We calm down for the finish floating through the ether straight into the final track 'So Long'. Again a soothing interlude is created then shattered with the arrival of probably the fastest sequence so far. I just closed my eyes and let my mind surf on the exciting wave of pulsations. If you are into sequencer based music this is an essential purchase. (DL)

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