Synopsis Tempus Fluxus Play: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi   Download: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi (Excerpt from track 'Canyon Flight')

It’s not only the cover graphics which leave you in no doubt as to the inspiration of this music. Track titles such as ‘Dominion Dreams’ and ‘Canyon Flight’ infuse TD’s persona into the concept and the music strives manfully to live up the the task.

‘Nucleogenesis’ kicks off with a cacophony of noises and effects before the sequencer run takes over. The rhythm is well constructed and though fairly repetitive there’s enough in the way of motifs and effects to keep everything flowing. This track does have an ace up it’s sleeve though in the shape of several melodic pastiches which briefly punctuate the sequence, fleshed out by synth pads. Hugely effective and for me it could have been used a bit more.

‘Sequilog 77’ opens with deep synth stabs as a sequence shuffles into life. Then a steady single note pulsation takes centre stage before morphing into a surprising array of contortions. At the 4 minute mark a completely separate sequence takes over which is fleshed out by a bass beat. Listen through headphones because the stereo separation is dramatic indeed, and this is another example of pure sequencing being more than enough to carry a complete track.

‘Trance Galactica’ offsets heavily treated female voice samples against a slowly developing pulsations which again will have fans of the sequential art glued to the oscillations as they twist and turn. The main motif then hits home and what an excellent combination the whole mix produces. It’s like the KLF producing a dance version of ‘Ricochet’! A fascinating piece and really quite unique. ‘Dominion Dreams’ then gets an airing, and again it’s a strange and beguiling sound. A frenzied bass back beat, massive high register detail, scything synth interplay, extended pad melodics. It sounds like two, or perhaps more, completely different pieces have been overlaid - akin to a musical double exposure. Some parts work fantastically, others are a bit too much to swallow - but I assure you this, you’ll never be bored!

This album has got me seriously on the back foot by now. Usually I’m fairly well switched on to how albums are going to develop, but here literally anything can happen. So ‘Canyon Flight’ hits home and what a corker this is. Ear splitting effects and a monster sequence dart through the brain. Drums enter the fray and synth effects build and build. The “normal” chord structures and synth pads are subliminally there but the effects act like a feeding frenzy - following their every move. The EM Richter scale is about to reach maximum, then the bass beat finally breaks through and we’re into a superb dance floor stomper. We’re only 6 minutes through by the way - 5 minutes to go. I surrender.

‘Visions of Baikal’. If I described the last track as a monster sequence, how can I describe this? Wall-of-sound Electronic Music with a vengeance. Scorching synth lines, with no semblance of space left unfilled. The last track is a disappointment - but it’s the only one.