ATMOSPHERE

I didn't know anything about Adelbert Von Deyen until I've read of his passing away here on Progarchives. The comments made me curious and I've managed to find at least one of his full instrumental albums: this one.

The first track follows a drum machine with a fast rhythm. It's the kind of electronic drone of which Jean Michel JARRE was a maestro, ut it's 1980 and I can see some echoes of Alan Parsons, too. The German heritage is evidenced by some KRAFTWERK like sonorities. But it's only the first track, and the rest of the album is completely different.

The minor chords and the slow tempo of the second track seem taken directly from ELOY's "Oceans". This artist probably lacked a bit of originality, but in the end, being an innovator is not a must until good music is produced. And this is a good track. Very inspired by ELOY, but good.

Now the suite. Formally divided in 7 parts is effectively divided in two, probably because of the limits actually imposed by the vinyl: 10 minutes on side A and 22 minutes on side B.

The second part is really better than the second, but its structure is very similar to that of the TANGERINE DREAM of the Virgin period: 7 different themes tied together. the central part of Atmosphere part II values the whole album while in the final it seems inspired by Mike OLDFIELD.

So not very original but well written and arranged. I think I'll dig him more. In brief, if Tangerine Dream and the German electronics is your pot, this is an album for you.