ICELAND

This is Richard Pinhas' third studio album recorded in 1979. Richard pretty much does it all here with electronics and guitar except for one track where guests Francois Auger and Jean- Philippe Goude add percussion, drums and mini-moog. There is a bonus 25 minute track that was recorded live in studio in 1983.

"Iceland (Part 1)" is a 1 minute intro track that features synths that pulse throughout. "Iceland (Part 2)" brings to mind that cold land that is surrounded by water. This is cold and dark and I feel like i'm adrift as synths beat and pulse while these haunting vocal-like sounds come in around 7 1/2 minutes. "The Last Kings Of Thule" features this synth line repeated over and over. Guitar comes in for a while playing over top. A cool rhythm to this one. "Iceland (Part 3)" is almost silent until sounds start to build around a minute. Waves of sound drift in and out while other sounds can be heard. The spacey sounds stop around 5 1/2 minutes but those creepy vocal-like sounds continue. Synths then proceed to come and go the rest of the way. "Indicatif Radio" is 1 minute of electronics(moog).

"The Last Kings Of Thule (Part 2)" has that pulsating synth like Part 1 as angular guitar melodies play over top. The guitar stops before 4 minutes as the beat continues. "Short Transition" is 35 seconds of moog. "Greenland" is the song with the two guests on it. I like this one. Lots of electronics that sweep, twitter and pulse. Another synth joins in before 5 minutes.This is much brighter and warmer than the other tracks. The bonus track "Wintermusic" is very much 25 minutes of drones that change ever so slightly throughout.

I feel like i'm being generous with the 4 star rating but then again i'm no expert in Electronic music. I like this album a lot though.