MOMENTS OF ILLUSION

After the mediocre combination of synth-pop and electronic prog on ''Journey to a Nightmare'',German multi-instrumentalist Norbert Krueler moved on quickly to a follow-up the next year.Regarding Krueler was a dedicated Prog Rock fan,anyone would expect a complete turn towards more progressive compositions.The new LP was entitled ''Moments of Illusion''.

A slight turn of the events comes with the opening ''Physical Visions''.Bombastic synths,pounding rhythms and an atmospheric grand symphonicism is a very good introduction into the Electronic sound of the album.Unfortunately the eponymous track sees Krueler returning to boring New-Age/Synth Pop fields of little interest.''Spanish Impressions'' is even worse,not to mention is too long and repetitive.Light Spanish influences presented under thin- sounding synths and awful digital percussion.''Winter Colours'' is again very long,the guitar work and a good piano part is quite decent,but these cheap-sounding digital drums are childish,to say the least.''Power of love'' shows a return to the grandiose opening style,maybe this one is the best track of the album.There also New-Age elements here as well,but the majestic synth work close to JEAN MICHELE JARRE is of first class.''Mozart's Flight to Bangkok'' indicates the upcoming Classical influences and so it is,the opening part with the organ,the middle section and the grand piano finale are much Classical-inspired,but the rest of the track is again childish Electronic music of low quality and spoils the good parts of the track.

For one more time Krueler didn't escape from these faults,which made his previous albums rather uninteresting.There is a bit of improvement on ''Moments of Illusion'',but again the album is far from even a decent release.Only for dedicated Electronic Music collectors.