- originally released in 1999 -

Rainbow Serpent - The Sequel To Voyager
(1999/2006, SynGate CD-R 2110)

Synth Music Direct (UK)

I feel quite honoured to be given the chance to review this. Usually Dave snaffles Rainbow Serpent releases for himself, such is his admiration for their work. But I said to Dave "...people expect you to give RS a rave review, perhaps I can give a more considered opinion...". I was wrong. With "The Sequel To Voyager" Rainbow Serpent have come up with probably their finest release to date.
The 12 tracks are grouped into 4 sections. 'Scenes of Capturing Auras' is 19 minutes long and covers the first 5 tracks. There's some great stuff on display from the sequential lilt of 'the Visitors' to the superb symphonics of 'Scene From Within'. However, for me the album really starts to motor from track 6 where the 22 minute 'Scenes of Old Legends' spans the next 3 tracks. 'Rebuilt and Altered' is 9 minutes of completely top notch sequencing. It mutates and rasps in dramatic fashion as silken motifs provide the perfect accompaniment. 'The Magic of Ayers Rock' is suitably aboriginal and atmospheric, then follows the magnificent 'King Arthurs Quest'. Yes, the monkish touches are nothing new but it's packaged and presented with such skill, and you don't get EM style sequencing like this with Enigma!
The next 3 tracks comprise the 18 minute 'Scenes of Everyday Life' and 'Crusaders' gets it off to a lively start with neat rhythms and catchy main theme which again nods at our cloistered friends. 'The Turn of an Era' winds the clock back to Jarre's 'Equinox' era, and what a corker this track is. Understated yet so effective, and the last couple of minutes are simply incredible. 'Be Above It All' changes the mood completely, and embarks on yet another highlight. Delightfully chunky sequencing offsets some choice motifs.
Now then. The final track is 'The Huizen Performance 21.03.98'. So often these "bonus tracks" are there as filler. Here, nothing could be further from the truth. This is the best thing I've heard from RS, and it's why this album is possibly their best so far. It starts with the felling of a tree - be careful, it's so well recorded it could almost be falling through your front window. Then it builds slowly on a colossal wave of sequencing which threatens to break loose but then is pulled back to allow the most delightful arpeggiations to take over. A melody starts to form, and the jaw begins to drop. How can such a perfect melody be left undiscovered for so long? And the sequencing is just as good. EM from the Gods. 12 minutes of pure brilliance. It's all great. But the last track - well, they don't come much better. (GG)

Graham Getty, 1999

(c) 2006 by Andreas Vogel
Used by courtesy of www.pixonthewing.de

Progessive Newsletter (D)

Der Albumtitel sagt es bereits – hierbei geht es um das Nachfolgewerk zum „Voyager“ Album. Rainbow Serpent sind die beiden Keyboarder und Soundtüftler Frank Specht und Gerd Wienekamp. Die Erstausgabe dieses Werkes stammt aus dem Jahre 1999, sieben Jahre später wurde es bei Syngate wieder aufgelegt. 
Das Duo lädt den Hörer wieder ein auf eine umfangreiche Reise durch den symphonischen Klangkosmos, wie man ihn schon von den vorausgegangenen Werken kennt. Teils sphärisch-ruhige Nummern, dann wieder flotter unterwegs, auch mal mit sehr symphonischen Tendenzen – das klingt eingangs ganz nett und unterhaltsam, packt mich aber irgendwie zunächst nicht so richtig. Das ändert sich etwa ab Albummitte, denn dann reiht sich ein toller Titel an den anderen. Einfallsreiche Arrangements wie zum Beispiel im leicht fernöstlich angehauchten „crusaders“ oder interessante Perkussionsspielereien, hervorragend ausgearbeitete Symphonik-Titel und abschließend noch ein sehr schöner, offenbar live eingespielter Titel („The Huizen Performance from 21st March 1998“), den ich bereits von dem feinen Soloalbum „Sebastian im Traum“ von Frank Specht kenne. 
Wer elektronische Musik melodiös, aber nicht zu süßlich, und mit einer gehörigen Portion Symphonik-Anteil versehen mag, liegt bei diesem Album richtig.

Jürgen Meurer, 2009