LA VIE ELECTRONIQUE 4

As I wrote in my previous review, there is a collection of (so far) eight volumes of "La Vie Electronique". Albums where one can find Klaus Schulze's music from different periods of his career. This fourth volume comprises tracks and live recordings from 1975 and 1976.

In the first CD, we will find a really long song entitled "Just an Old-Fashioned Schulze track which was recorded in an only concert back in 1975, it is a 73-minute track which can be also divided in nine compositions, though you have to be careful if you want to appreciate when the new track appears, because it sounds actually as just one song, but there are some changes that began to produce a brand new sound within the song, those changes (not all) give pass to a new "song". This track can also be found in "The Ultimate Edition CD 48"

This composition is in my opinion extraordinary, one of the finest live acts I have heard from Schulze, because since the first seconds you will find yourself motivated and expecting odd noises and a synthesizer injection that will flow through your veins until your body and mind are in only one place. The song is constantly growing and in every second you will feel part of it, you will see colors and create images on your mind, if you close your eyes you might be transported to another galaxy, but actually the effect appears even with your eyes wide open, so imagine the power of the music. The part named "Rock is a Four-Letter Word" is the one that really caught my attention due to the different nuances and ways that Schulze's skills create, because there are several sounds that appear at the same time, but the good thing is that you can appreciate them all, I mean there is no sound that shines above all, no, in fact, every single sound was created to build a strong and complete musical piece.

The spacey effects and all the science-fiction like sounds may put you in the mood of reading a nice book or even watching a movie related to that topic. The sound actually could work as a soundtrack of some film. A film full of different passages where there is tension, there is tranquility; there is nervousness, but also hope. I say this because of the different moods that the song produces. This is overall an extraordinary track that any prog electronic fan would love.

The second CD is divided in three parts, though the second one is also sub divided in six songs. The names of those parts are "Shadow Piece" which was recorded from a concert in Germany and can be found also in "The Jubilee Edition" CD 14. Then, "I Sing the Body Electric" is the one which has subdivisions, this long track can be found also in the "Historic Edition" CD 2. This piece was recorded from a concert in France in 1976. And the final part is entitled "Das Herz von Grönlad" which can be also found in the same CD of the same set of the previous track. This one was taken from a concert in Germany in 1976.

Contrasting from my feelings toward CD one, this time, CD two did not cause the same excitement as the first, in fact, there are moments where I actually feel bored and tired, my journey to the music's dead-end was much more difficult this time, though the thing would be the same as in CD one, several synth effects, production of different nuances and colors, moods and atmospheres, but this time there were only few parts that really caught me, that made me part of it. Sometimes I felt it monotone, like more of the same. Anyway, it is worth paying attention to "The Machineries of Joy" and "Das Herz von Gronland" specially, I would have chosen this last song as the first one of the CD, and then my mind may have changed.

And finally, the third CD comprises three other live recordings. The first two were taken from the European Tour in April and May 1976. And both long tracks are also divided in shorter ones. "The Andromeda Strain" opens this CD and contains four songs; while "Make Room, Make Room! Has another three songs. These two can also be found in the Historic Edition CD 6. The last part of this third CD is "Darkest Steglitz" is the shortest one, which was recorded in 1976 in a concert that Schulze gave at his hometown.

Now you can take a short break, breathe and sit comfortable, have some rest, and then return to your headphones and to this third CD, because here the first composition is more interesting and challenging to my ears. It is growing and growing, making some crescendos and becoming more and more exciting while the minutes pass. Now there is a climax, but it has to slow down in some moment, that happens in "Die Macht der Bilder" when the music turns softer and calm, but actually it is announcing something, and in the last minutes it begins to progress and grow again and be full of textures and sounds. The last part, "Darkest Steglitz" as the name suggests is a song with a dark atmosphere, but to be honest, a great choice to end the third CD.

It is not easy to listen in a row all the CDs in a box set, however, it is a challenging to the listener because it either could cause you total excitement, or deep boredom, you need to be on the mood and have enough time. I believe that if you are a fan of Klaus Schulze's music, then you'll be pleased with this collection, so if you can, get some volumes. But in the other hand, I would not really recommend them for people who are not eager on his music, because after listening to the first CD, they'll fall asleep. I like volumes 3 and 4, the latter a bit more, my personal grade would actually be four stars, but because it is not for everyone, I believe three stars is a more accurate rating.

Enjoy it!

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