CRYSTAL MACHINE

The first post-Gong solo album from keyboard player Tim Blake, this is a fascinating--if uneven--LP. From spacey electronic music ('Midnight') via keyboard-driven grooves ('Metro logic') to the spare jauntiness of 'Last ride of the boogie child' (complete with unconvincing vocals), this combination of studio and live recordings has a charm that will beguile fans of analogue synth music but might be an acquired taste for newcomers. Perhaps if one experienced the psychedelic light shows Blake was noted for, the music might sound even better! Meanwhile, centrepiece 'Synthese intemporel' is pure Klaus Schulze (in a very good way). Soon after this release, Blake joined Hawkwind, with whom he played on and off for years. Vinyl Connection - www.vinylconnection.com.au