STRATOSFEAR

Stratosfear has the perfect blend of guitar and synth. This was my first introduction to TD and apart from being hooked by the cover (Viewable inverted too..the LP cover not you!) I could not get over the overall balance between electronic and progressive sounds. Listen to the epic ' Invisible Limits' closing side 2 and you will enjoy some of the most beautiful guitar work by Edgar Froese ever.The title tracks for me though is the highpoint of the album. It kicks off nice an easy but slowly but surely escalates to a frenzed hypnotic beauty mixed with swirling guitars and changing tempos. The wall of sound off ' Streatosfear' is mindboggling.' The Big Sleep in search of Hades' is another fine example of how TD managed to change direction during this period but with no sacrifice to quality. As the tiltle suggests it plods along in the underworld or in the deepest recess of your subconcious looking for Hades.Okefenokee is a swamp in Florida, USA, full of alligators and all sorts of nocturnal unpleasantries. BUt TD managed to portray the potential beauty of a ' 3AM...marsh..' visit to Okefenokee.The slow build on ' Okefenokee' and the eerie atmosphere of this song must be listened to to be understood. This album is perhaps deserving of a five star but maybe because it is so short ( 34 minutes) I moved it down a notch.