RETURN TO THE ORIGIN (WITH RUUD HEIJ)

Gert Emmens is a very prolific and acclaimed Dutch ELECTRONIC MUSIC musician. At a very young age he got classical training on drums and keyboards. During the Seventies Gert started making his own compositions (Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode) and drumming in bands, mainly prog, rock and fusion. In the Eighties he played keyboards in some bands and in 1995 Gert released his first album entitled Light The Light, a blend of pop, fusion, funk and electro. Around that time he bought an old analog synthesizer, this regained his interest in the electronic music scene, things started to roll and in 1999 he got a contract at the Alfa Centauri label. In 2002 he switched to known Dutch ELECTRONIC MUSIC label Groove Unlimited in 2002 and released a serie of solo albums. On his latest entitled Echoes From Future Memories (2015) he collaborates again with Ruud Heij, the first time was on Return To The Origin. They knew each others musical outings since they were members of Alfa Centauri in the Nineties. Both liked what the other was doing, they decided to do a session and this resulted in the basic tracks for Return To The Origin, released in 2004. The recordings are based on improvisations in the studio.

The musicians and their instruments:

Ruud Heij: synthesizers (Arp Odyssey, Arrick modular system, EMS Synthi A, Moog 55 modular system, Minimoog, Yamaha S30), sequencers (Arp Sequencer and Doepfer Maq 16/3) and sampler (Yamaha A4000, with Mellotron set).

Gert Emmens: synthesizers (Arp Pro Soloist, Elka Rhapsody 610, Elka Solist 505, Minimoog, Polymoog, Moog Sonic 6 and Yamaha's AN1x) and samplers (Yamaha SY85 and Roland M-VS1, with Mellotron sound).

The album.

1. Vortex (17:36) : First a long intro featuring a spacey atmosphere with lots of sound effects. Then a hypnotizing sequencer joins, blended with soaring synthesizer strings and synthesizer flights, this is top notch cosmic Berlin School! The final part delivers a dreamy climate, to slown down from the exciting middle section.

2. Return to the Origin (14:13) : Again a mellow start, with majestic Mellotron choirs and sound effects, then exciting work with the sequencing, in combination with slow synthesizer flights. In the second part the Mellotron choirs rejoin, with soaring strings, a very pleasant mellow atmosphere.

3. Solaris (8:34) : In the shortest track of the album it's the realm of pulsating sequencers, blended with hypnotizing synthesizer runs and lush synthesizer strings, again this is excellent cosmic Berlin School.

4. Life in Motion (18:06) : This composition sounds like a tribute to 74-77 Tangerine Dream: sound effects and soaring strings, then another exciting part with great work on sequencers and synthesizers, EM fans wil be delighted.

5. So Long (12:09) : The final track is another tribute to 74-77 Tangerine Dream. After a spacey intro with many sound effects, we can enjoy a captivating blend of sequencers, different coloured synthesizers runs and an awesome Mellotron violin sound, how hypnotizing and compelling!

Highly recommended for the fans of 'cosmic' electronic music. And if you like it, I recommend Free System Project, Air Sculpture, ARC, Redshift and Rudy Adrian.

Thanks to EManiac Paul Rijkens.