Lucifaere
This Temple of Strange Lights
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(Excerpt from track 'Isian Mode')
In my opinion Lucifaere albums become more accessible and better produced with each CD. And yet they also become more inventive. Here all dabblings with ethnic influences are left behind and we get Jim producing music at his brooding / rhythmic / ecstatic / despairing best. Dark bass thuds (not drums) beat out over FX then a splashing type sequence starts up. Whooshes fly over the top and another brilliant Kirkwood sequence rumbles forward. Drums add to the energy and an absolutely fantastic searing but also slightly melancholic lead surges forth. This is a hell of a way to start an album. All is suddenly change as a lone percussive loop with swirling effects around it takes centre stage but it isn't long before a different sequence and driving rhythm are introduced with that amazing lead line again doing the business.

This fantastic opener ('Sandstorm') is followed by 'A haze over Cairo'. It begins with apocalyptic explosions then we get sort of sci-fi spacey effects then more explosions. A very '3 am at the border........' type haunting melody comes in. I can just imagine the sun shining through the fumes rising from a swamp to reveal a multitude of horrors coming towards me. Half heard crackling alien speech can be heard. A loping rhythm strikes up which sounds rather bright against the dark backdrop and that melody returns. We go through one subtle twist after another through the tracks eighteen minute duration. At nine minutes a different but still moody and reflective melody leads us into yet another brilliant rhythmic section, laid back but with a real edge to it. 'Sirius Rising' is initially very atmospheric then a menacing sequence begins which is joined by another and yet another as the intensity builds and an additional fantastic melody is brought into play. All very 'Sorcerer' period TD.

A second lead line enters and - oh my God! If anything this is even better than the opener. We have a short break for synthesized animal noises then a high hat starts up and another ball breaking sequence surges forward - hold on tight, here we go! Tangerine Dream again comes time mind on the next track 'Bringer of Joy' but now it is more in the sequence department whilst the melody hints at Vangelis. The storming drums however are a creation very mush of his own. To start off with 'Isian Mode' reminded me of early Kirkwood but when the rhythms come in they have a much fuller sound. Ghostly pads float under the rhythms and as is typical of his style more and more is added, particularly in the sequence department building tension and excitement all the time. The melody when it comes in is also typical of his older style bringing back welcome memories. At seven minutes we get sawing virtual guitar. Turned up to full this will blast the plaster from the walls. Just in time to keep structural integrity we mellow out. But- you guessed it, it is only a matter of a few minutes before hundred mile an hour pulsations come back and we are brought to a blistering finish.

Jim Kirkwood, the man behind Lucifaere, is virtually worshiped by his fans whilst other people look on bemused. I can't imagine the "sceptics" not enjoying this one though. 2000 has been a fantastic year for new releases but this one would make its way into my top three - brilliant! (DL)

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