RICOCHET

There are many reviews raving about "Rick O'Shea" and there is little reason to upset the trend, as it's a shimmering effort from the get go and an excellent musical illustration of what electronic prog is all about. In my opinion, the reason why so many TDream fans revere this stunning recording lies within the memorable and haunting melody on one hand and the abundance of electric guitar leads throughout this live event. Rarely before, and almost never after, has Edgar Froese unleashed so many 6 string forays searing so deeply into the fleshy aural tapestries this German group is justly so famous for. This album has therefore a clashing theme, where robotic (almost Kraftwerkian) sequence-heavy rhythms, courtesy of Herr Franke, slash through the more organic electric guitar eruptions, dueling with sweeping sweet synthesizer colorations painted by Herr Baumann. The harmonious canvas strives toward various rich atmospheres, thrusting deep into the furthermost perspective of space, constantly on the move and never passive. This is definitely not ambient music where contemplation is the key but rather a propellant form of electronica where holding on for dear life to the Canada Arm seems way more appropriate! Even in the quietest moments (hey, that's a Supertramp title!) of the beginning of Part 2, it's just a brief respite from the fury, as the pulsating synthetic beat inexorably grows in stature, hinting at an imminent event horizon, a moment where patience of the build up is rewarded by noble crescendos of tonal bliss. When the synths cascade with limpid and crystalline abandon, the suddenly sublime enters the deepest recesses of the receiving mind, exploring those pleasure regions that you never thought ever existed. Many true fans of the Dream understand the almost spiritual essence of their highly crafted improvisations and the profound effect it had made on them, no wonder that many of their future albums would pale grossly by comparison. In the dozen years between Phaedra and Pergamon, the Tangerine "mannschaft" were not only on top of the world, they were way, way beyond. "Ricochet" is not only a must have for any Prog collector but certainly a pertinent case study for those ravers who actually believe that history began with their birth, now how arrogant is that? I have subdued quite a few with sonic auditions of TDream, Tim Blake, Ashra and Klaus Schulze, mostly by playing this full blast while driving in a snowy blizzard. The sound of jaws hitting the frozen ground was worth the hassle. Respect is the name of the game. 5 echoes, natürlich!