Rainbow Serpent
The Sequel to Voyager (Reissue)
CDR / 12 tracks / 71.35 mins
Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband
Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb
(Excerpt from track(s) 'The Turn of an Era')
The 12 tracks are grouped into 4 sections. 'Scenes of Capturing Auras' is 19 minutes long and covers the first 5 tracks. There's some great stuff on display from the sequential lilt of 'the Visitors' to the superb symphonics of 'Scene From Within'. However, for me the album really starts to motor from track 6 where the 22 minute 'Scenes of Old Legends' spans the next 3 tracks. 'Rebuilt and Altered' is 9 minutes of completely top notch sequencing. It mutates and rasps in dramatic fashion as silken motifs provide the perfect accompaniment. 'The Magic of Ayers Rock' is suitably aboriginal and atmospheric, then follows the magnificent 'King Arthurs Quest'. Yes, the monkish touches are nothing new but it's packaged and presented with such skill, and you don't get EM style sequencing like this with Enigma!

The next 3 tracks comprise the 18 minute 'Scenes of Everyday Life' and 'Crusaders' gets it off to a lively start with neat rhythms and catchy main theme which again nods at our cloistered friends. 'The Turn of an Era' winds the clock back to Jarre's 'Equinox' era, and what a corker this track is. Understated yet so effective, and the last couple of minutes are simply incredible. 'Be Above It All' changes the mood completely, and embarks on yet another highlight. Delightfully chunky sequencing offsets some choice motifs.

Now then. The final track is 'The Huizen Performance 21.03.98'. So often these "bonus tracks" are there as filler. Here, nothing could be further from the truth. This is the best thing I've heard from RS, and it's why this album is possibly their best so far. It starts with the felling of a tree - be careful, it's so well recorded it could almost be falling through your front window. Then it builds slowly on a colossal wave of sequencing which threatens to break loose but then is pulled back to allow the most delightful arpeggiations to take over. A melody starts to form, and the jaw begins to drop. How can such a perfect melody be left undiscovered for so long? And the sequencing is just as good. EM from the Gods. 12 minutes of pure brilliance.

It's all great. But the last track - well, they don't come much better. (GG)

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