ELECTRONIC REALIZATIONS FOR ROCK ORCHESTRA

Synthesizers back in 1975 were a different animal than what we see today. One did not just his a button and get a sound. There were knobs, sliders, patch panels (I know Keith Emerson's Moog was a bit extreme, but you get the idea) that all affected the sound. And the majority of these could only play one note at a time. So artists like Walter/Wendy Carlos, Tomita, and the like did not have an easy task making their albums.

Larry Fast, recording as "Synergy" deserves mention with those other synth pioneers. His albums, at least at the beginning, were perfect examples of what could be done with synths at the time. Sure, they sound a little dated, but the instrument was still in it's infancy.

This, the first album by Fast, remains a classic of synth albums. His compositions here tend toward light classical, with only a hint of rock. And while he tries to get the essence of an orchestra, he does not try to fully imitate the instruments. And that gives the album a futuristic (in 1975) feel.

And although Fast's own pieces are good, the highlight is his fantastic rendition of Richard Rogers' Slaughter On Tenth Avenue. This famous piece has still never sounded this delicious.