The Putney Fax Records PK 08/76
1 Angel Circle 12.38
2 Putnet Dust 10.08
3 Aeols Harp 23.24
4 Pegasus &
Andromeda 12.30
5 Amourette 8.00
Well this is my first excursion into the FAX realm of music. The date on
this is 1993. I read in one of the reviews that the circles are some
sort of color code for the type of music. This has a silver circle.
Finally, the writing credit is given to Pete Namlook and Ludwig Rehberg.
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angel circle
It begins with some pretty analog synths with the filters opening and
closing, and soon after somewhat of a melody line enters in, with a few
lone snare drums at the end of every musical frame. About halfway
through a sub bass sound begins to throb beneith the whole mix. It seems
a lot longer than it really is, but it's very nice and pretty.
-
putney dust
This song begins much the same way with slow synth strings hovering and
slowing changing. There is a slight bit of drum activity which
forshadows the music to come. About 2 minutes into the song, the synths
stop and a drum beat comes in. I'd guess around the mid to high 130s.
It's rather acidic and layered, but not too harsh, with a sparce but
constantly present low bass bubbling. The beat then becomes a canvas for
splattered high-frequency randomness. These tones though hint at
alternate tunings, and arn't from the 12 tone scale series. Finally the
synth pads return and the song soon ends.
-
aeols harp
this long piece qualifies as ambient in one sense - it works as sonic
wallpaper, however I do not feel that it welcoms critical listening at
the same time. lots of processed white noise serves as a base for an
occasional electronic harp/chime sound. small percussive segments pop
up, but due to the amound of reverb, they merely blend in as effects.
about 2/3 the way through a droning sound surfaces and hangs around until
the end of the song.
-
pegasus & andromeda
the first 30 seconds of this sound like the end of aeols harp (the songs
don't run together), but then the same synth pad enters. more of the
same sustained tones ring through the begining of this work. the two
tones are only a half step apart, and due to that and the timbre, they
hint at a very dark and macabre work. A higher tone enters and just adds
more undirected notes, but adds to the mood. At large, seemingly random
intervals, small amounts of noise pop up, but arn't distracting. The
songs in its highly repetitious nature finishes in this manner.
-
amourette
light synths start with a cute trance theme (~100 bpm), and another deep
droning bass marks the beat. Analog effects and more chords enter and
guide the theme on its way. Soon, a split occurs and more track 2
percussiveness takes over the song. The beat takes the same speed but
doubles is, so depending on how you count, it's now 200 bpm. The
percussive section ends, and the original trancy motif takes over again,
with a soaring barely directed synthline above all. to end-
---
final thoughts
i enjoyed the prettier pieces on this release. there was really no
musical direction but the music was soothing and pretty. i didn't enjoy
trakcs 2 and 3, and found them a waste of time for sitting a listening
to. as a backround they are okay.
I can't help but hearing a very heavy tangerine dream influence in the
sounds and music of this. not that there isn't a large amount of
originality, but one of my first thoughts was to think of TD.
overall, this is very nice and spacy. hopefully i can get more of the
same on the fax label.