QUINOA

Originally, "Quinoa" was a limited edition EP only available to the TD fan club members released in 1992. This one is an extended version which features two additional tracks and provides a full length CD.

The final result is fully acceptable I should say and can compete with most of their official releases from the nineties. The opening track "Voxel Ux " is quite an upbeat electronic track: purely repetitive but dynamic thanks to the drumming. It is quite in line with several of their songs from the nineties. It was apparently put together in '96 and finds its place quite well here.

The "pièce de résistance" is the title track that clocks at almost twenty-nine minutes. It starts on a languishing beat featuring some good sax, maybe somewhat repetitive again but there is no harm as far as I'm concerned (but you might know that I'm biased with their great music). The song quickly evolves to a fine ambient and dreamy affair which can even be related with their early work.

When those melodic keys draws you to the boundaries of the outer world, there is nothing I can do but succumb. And that's what is happening again when you reach the sixth minute of "Quinoa". A wonderful and spacey jewel. As they have performed quite a lot so far. I might understand though that it is a love-hate affair. I do belong to the former opinion (but is this a surprise?).

I can only agree with Pixel Pirate when he said that "Quinoa" combines the old and the new TD. A fine summary of three decades of music it is. The modern part might sound too much upbeat for some fans but once you have done the effort to listen to it quite a few times, you'll be rewarded. At least I feel so.

This track is varied, offers different soundscapes and ends up in a wonderful piece of melody for several minutes. Peaceful and interstellar like the band could be in the seventies. I have to admit that these parts are my favourite ones but the whole is quite decent.

My fave one from this set is with no doubt the moving "Lhasa". About ten minutes of poignant keyboards beauty. It reminds me of the superb "Indian Summer" available on "Green Desert". Some might say that it offers only the same keyboards lines, but these are so vibrant and crafted that I am just speechless while I listen to this piece of music.

This is another great TD moment for sure. Quite contemplative for sure.

This album is not a TD essential but contains enough good music to be of interest to more than a devoted fan. I rate "Quinoa" with three stars. A good album, this is what it is. No more, no less.