REMY

Disconnected

Akh (2003)

available through Groove

review by Mark Morton

Disconnected is a perfect disc for those who are yearning for a recording that takes as its prime inspiration the solo works of Edgar Froese and early Klaus Schulze, with a smattering of Mike Oldfield and Vangelis thrown in. Remy uses a variety of vintage and contemporary synths to produce a vintage sound with a few modern elements thrown in as a light seasoning. The result is an enjoyable trip to Berlin school land which, while it does not break much new ground, may be just the tonic Froese and Schulze fans need to reinvigorate their collections.

"Ego Trip" begins with a punchy sequence, bell-like and sounding very cheery, like vintage Oldfield. The sequence is composed of several lines that interlock quite nicely and bounce around for a while before coming to an agreeable conclusion. "Sleep" begins with a solid Berlin-type sequence that morphs nicely to a set of overlapping rhythmic patterns. The sound programming on this piece is particularly nice, with many sounds reminiscent of Schulze in his '70s heyday; there are many string pad /mellotron sounds. "Ages" is more reflective and slower, with nice analog sounding melody lines and effective transitions from the early , slow and lyrical parts to the faster sequences later in the piece. It also includes a nice electric guitar solo. "Stars' is a "pad" piece, with long sustained chords that successfully develop a dreamy and mysterious atmosphere. "Mystral" begins with phase-shifted whooshing that transitions to a chordal pattern that substitutes percussive organ sounds for a Berlin sequence and provides harmonic underpinnings and rhythmic focus to the piece. Remy provides a lot of soloing on this piece and some of the piercing leads sound like Schulze in his prime. "Back From Paris" ends the recording with a more typical Berlin influenced piece, featuring poignant minor chords, slow, static evolving harmony, a nicely constructed Berlin-sequenced line that gives a nice "floating" feel to the piece, unobtrusive percussion and a tasteful guitar solo. All combine to make this an effective closer.

While Disconnected breaks no new ground, it does provide freshly composed material that is lovingly crafted and that presents an alternative to classic recordings that are over 2 decades old at this point. Remy's craftsmanship in expressing himself through this medium is secure and fans of the artists mentioned in this review would do well to seel it out. Recommended.