STRATOSFEAR

Stratosfear is one of my favorite progressive electronic albums, and would rival Phaedra were it not for an occasional lack of compositional direction. The tones are wonderful and the more extensive inclusion of guitars adds an occasional glimpse into another dimension of the genre.

'Stratosfear' Twelve-string guitar and Mellotron merge dreamily with more traditional 1970s progressive electronic music, with a repetitive rhythm and a synthesizer lead singing sweetly like a violin. The electric guitar lead is run through a Leslie. As the electronic drive dies, the murky guitar returns, presenting a melancholic denouement.

'Big Sleep In Search of Hades' Light symphonic music underpinned by steady bass and a flute tone leads into a dark theme that gets the Mellotron treatment, as though Gentle Giant joined King Crimson during In the Wake of Poseidon or Lizard. The final minute is a rendition of the introduction with harpsichord.

'3am at the Border of The Marsh from Okefenokee' Like the musical timer for a quiz show, the opening rhythm consists of a single bass note followed by a chime. Otherworldly noises quaver and whine over this. Synthesizer and Mellotron emerge softly over a more complex version of the original backdrop.

'Invisible Limits' Subdued electronic music pulsate under melodic lead guitar. Midway through, the sound becomes dark and mysterious- the sound of a ghostly sorcerer casting a spell that transforms the piece into a morose piano and Mellotron flute passage.