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Synth Music Direct
(UK)
Well, David meant to keep this to review for
himself, but I'm awfully glad he accidentally mailed his pre-release copy to
me with some other discs, because it is fantastic! I enjoyed their 'Ocean
Drive' CD, but this is an even stronger release. Things start in fine form
with 'Gruga Park,' a typical slugfest of sequencers galore with wonderful
synth lead lines. I also really like the percussion which, along with the
sequencers, really moves things along extremely well. There is energy
aplenty here. After a great first movement for the first nine minutes, a
totally separate, and equally good sequence, finishes off the last third of
the track. Beautiful, clean choirs herald this last passage, along with
sweeping majestic electronics. Then a classic Berlin school bass pulse
propels exquisite sequencers and some cool astronaut-like vocal samples.
This is just brilliant, it gives me chills every time, very powerful
electronic music. An absolute grabber of a track, I can't say enough about
it.
'Secret' switches the mood to dark and cool, suitable for skulking about in
a flashy spy movie. The sinister tone and style of sequencing actually
reminds me of Synasthesia's 'Desideratum' CD, one of my all-time favourites.
As Pyramid Peak's music is usually lighter and brighter, I was really
pleasantly surprised at their ability to pull this track off. Excellent
change of pace. 'Flow' is just as good as the first two, and – well, you
get the idea, just go buy it already! The bright piano over the top of the
pads and sequencing at the end of 'Flow' is especially good. 'Distance'
turns more melancholy, with sad synth strings sounding very Schulze-like.
Yet another great sequence emerges out of this one, and again the drumming
is very good here, much better than most electronic drumming. The Schulzian
signature touches includes the obligatory key change and male choirs toward
the end.
'Dreams' is more like prior Pyramid Peak material, lighter in tone. This one
doesn't do a lot for me at the beginning, but strong sequencing rescues it
partway through, including a great finish in the last minute where a stellar
sequence is allowed to solo until the end. Two more strong, classic Teutonic
tracks finish things off. In short, a great CD. Berlin school fans will not
be disappointed. (PD)
Phil Derby, Synth Music Direct, 1999
Above was a review by Phil Derby of
the original release of 'Random Events'. This re-issue also has a bonus
track however, in the form of a live version of the title track. It is even
more exciting than the studio version. It is faster, has added oomph and is
just a bit longer. (DL)
Dave Law, 2006
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