PROTOAVIS

The Free System Projekt is an electronic trio featuring Marcel Engels, Frank van der Wel and Ruud Heij. They have delivered a beautiful album, containing three mega-long tracks. It opens with "In the ocean of Tethys" (22.39), this track is based upon the warm and unique sound of the string-ensemble, interwoven with flute-Mellotron solo runs and floods of choir-Mellotron. If you like Phaedra-era Tangerine Dream, this is an 'electronic nirvana' for you! Halfway pulsating sequencers join in, accompanied by lots of typical synthesizer sounds. In the second composition "Protoavis" (36.35) the trio succeeds to translate the dark and mysterious underwaterworld into a hypnotizing and a bit eerie sonic landscape, using a wide range of keyboards and electronic devices. It has obvious echoes from Jean- Michel Jarre. The last part contains a spectacular rolling sequencer sound and lots of synthesizer flights. The final number "Desolate landscape" (16.12) has a fat and low synthesizer sound, lots of violin-Mellotron, culminating in a splendid tribute to the retro- sound of early Tangerine Dream (74-77). This fine CD is a proove of the blossoming Dutch electronic music scene (annual festivals, some good labels and a wonderful magazine entiled E-dition), I'm looking forward to the next great electronic rock CD from The Netherlands.