Frank
Specht - Sebastian im Traum
(2000/2008, SynGate CD-R 2083)
Synth Music Direct (UK)
Frank is one half of the awesome Rainbow
Serpent. Here we have his solo album and as with Gerd Wienekamp’s (the
other half of Rainbow Serpent) album 'Der Laborant - Kontakt' what we get
is a mixture of very recognisable Serpent characteristics as well as a
different angle identifying the individuality of each member.
This is something of a concept album following the passage of a series of
dreams. Cosmic shimmers act as a gentle introduction to ‘Traum 1’ but
then a great whoosh of sound descends on us like a tidal wave. A gorgeous
shimmering lead line then grabs the focus and a bass beat forms a solid
structure on which a sequence starts to emerge and another brighter rhythm
is layered over the top. An energetic driving number providing a splendid
start. Each track runs into each other so we move straight into ‘Traum
2’ a very melodic piano lead piece. ‘Traum 3’ is a marked contrast
to the previous number as we are immediately treated to dark synth drones.
A delicate echoing motif is repeated and each time left to hang in the air
until it fades away. A sequence emerges out of the dark but just acts as
the backbone to a rather sleepy but hypnotic section. It is only after
seven minutes that things start to take off and we get more umph! ‘Traum
4’ introduces a superb heavy rhythm over which floats a sublime melody.
For the final minute and a bit we return to the world of shifting images.
‘Traum 5’ uses a faintly tribal
rhythm, flute and didgeridoo. The didg is an instrument I don’t usually
like on EM albums but here it fits perfectly. At two minutes the rhythm
becomes rather manic then fades back again to allow Gothic chants to be
heard, it all works superbly. I know some of you will be put off by the
description of this track, don’t be it is extremely inventive, effective
and not remotely cliched. We then return to the watery shifting thoughts
of background sleep. ‘Traum 6’ retains the flute sound from before but
then a sequence takes its first descriptively mellow steps. Another higher
register one is layered over the top then more and more until I lose count
of all the different lines involved. Superb stuff! More cosmic bleeps and
twitters take us into ‘Traum 7’. From atmospheric beginnings a bass
(non dance) rhythm very slowly unfolds then we get a steam train making
its stately progress down the line. More atmospheric pads are used as the
backdrop to a melodic sequence. This is a beautiful track and for me is
the standout number on the album. We flow from one stunning melodic
sequence to the next and the underpinning pads are just heavenly. Now on
to the final Traum. The sequences are now menacing but are added to by a
more playful one at around the four minute mark. We are dreaming again but
this seems like a disturbed and unsettled sleep from which we will be
pleased to wake.
So to sum up this album has sequences a plenty but don’t expect them to
be of the thunderous earthquake or a million mile an hour variety. What
you have here is quite an emotional album but in the best sense and not
remotely twee. (DL)
