REDSHIFT IV - SIREN

A rumbling, pulsing beat emerges from a miasmic metallic synth wash, and the ethereal choirs start up in support. Thus begins another REDSHIFT odyssey.

This live album in no way reflects the contents of their previous studio album, 'Down Time'. Not only do none of the tracks come from that album (the only track previously recorded is from 'Ether', issued three years earlier), there is little of the sound that characterised 'Down Time'. Instead they return to once again mine the 70s Berlin School sound exemplified by TANGERINE DREAM. Further, they return to their previous habit of bookending two shorter tracks with two 20 minute plus tracks.

Unfortunately, the compositional quality of these tracks is nothing like as good as their previous similar effort, 'Ether'. The tracks chop and change too often, never surrendering themselves to the moment or exploiting it by letting tension build through the use of incremental changes. I can't overstate this enough: in my view the primary attraction of the Berlin School sound is the way in which incremental change keeps a repetitive sequence just interesting enough to compel your attention. TANGERINE DREAM's 'Phaedra' and 'Rubycon' exemplify this, as do REDSHIFT's own debut album, as well as 'Ether' and the brilliant 'Toll'. In this release, however, the musicians can't leave well enough alone, never allowing that hypnotic sequence its head.

That said, there are still some excellent moments here. The fabulous Gilmouresque blues guitar at the end of 'Bleed' is worth the 20 minute wait, and 'Bombers in the Desert' is as good live as in the studio (but isn't a compelling reason to buy this album). Part 2 of the title track is excellent, but ought to have been made into something rather than being spliced haphazardly into the track.

Overall, not up to the REDSHIFT standard.

Fade out into silence.