Elemente ［LP+CD］

構成数 : 2枚
合計収録時間 : 00:00:00
Elemente is the seventh album from Qluster, by this point a trio consisting of Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Onnen Bock, and Armin Metz. Surprisingly, it sounds much more like an incarnation of Tangerine Dream than an evolution of Kluster/Cluster. There's a heavy presence of glittering, spiraling arpeggios on several tracks, giving them a forward momentum equivalent to a rocket jetting through space. While mostly improvised on analog synthesizers, a small amount of post-production parts were added, including the exotic-sounding prepared pianos which counter the rough, slightly charred sequencer lines of "Xymelan." A few of the album's pieces seem closer to conventional ambient music, but even these feel spirited and alive rather than just pretty drifting. The centerpiece is "Tatum," which adds a peppy, racing beat to fluctuating arpeggios which would come closer to sounding like acid techno if they were more direct and forceful. Instead, they sound detached, hinting at menace yet retaining a sense of calmness and order. Elemente sounds like the beginning of a new chapter for Qluster, but even beyond its place in their catalog, it's just a fantastic album that fans of Berlin School electronics will greatly appreciate. ~ Paul Simpson