Johannes Schmoelling Wuivend Reit

smd now has this classic album back in stock, so when Dave asked me to review it I needed no second invitation. Schmoelling's first solo outing after his departure from Tangerine Dream remains for me his finest work to date. The title of the album comes from the Dutch "wind blown reeds" and when it was originally released in 1986 it confirmed the magnitude of TD's loss. In truth only side 1 (the first 4 tracks) of the (then vinyl) album has seen consistent wear on my turn-table, but I've heard other's proclaim side 2 as a landmark so there are depths to be charted right through this album. Schmoelling has the ability to produce infectious melody from very simple themes, and there is no better demonstration of this than on the opener 'Matjora is Still Alive'. This track is perhaps the best piano/synth composition ever to grace an EM album. Strong words yes, but there are not many who have heard this track that will disagree. It is spell bindingly beautiful and the over-used phrase "worth it for this one track" was never more apt. 'Zeit (for Stephan)' opens with strange vocal treatments then builds and surges into a synthesised wall of infectious motifs which still send shivers to this day. The piano virtuosity of 'Kneeplay No. 9' takes some getting into but when it clicks there's no looking back. 'Walking on Wooden Legs' features sequences and is the most TD-like offering, and graced with Schmoelling's wonderful synth leads it's another winner. If by some weird quirk of fate this album has passed you by, don't waste another moment... (GG)

This page is part of a frame set. If you can't see the information strip to the left of the screen then click on the smd logo above.