(2018, 62.25, Groove Unlimited cat # GR-251, jewel case)
The prime mover and musical brainchild of
Free System Project is Dutchman
Marcel Engels. On his
website you can find a mini biography:
“It was around 1980 at the age of seven, when I heard records from
Jean-Michel Jarre and
Tomita.
I really liked those records and I still do, although I didn't have a clue who they were or how they made such
music. Later on I discovered how they did it of course. When I was fourteen I bought my first keyboard. It was
a small Yamaha keyboard and I was very happy with it. Next I got a new keyboard and soon after that the first
synthesizers. Now I have a nice home studio where I can experiment with sounds and record the things I like.
Mike
Oldfield once stated in an interview: "It's a room with possibilities."
Marcel's musical partner on the albums of his
Free System Project is
Ruud Heij, who plays synthesizers
and sequencers.
Procyon, originally released as a download album in 2009, is now re-released as a CD by the Dutch electronic
music label Groove Unlimited. Marcel Engels plays an Access Virus A synthesizer module and a Yamaha A3000 hardware
sampler with Mellotron and String Ensemble sets. Ruud Hey plays the Alesis Fusion HD, an 88-key synthesizer workstation
with Mellotron and String Ensemble sets. Wow, this is a vintage keyboard maniac's wet dream! It's perfect gear
to produce the unsurpassed sound of
Tangerine Dream during the period 1974-1977 that the duo embraces.
As we can hear on their many previous efforts, my favourite one is
Okefenokee Dreams, recorded live in
the USA, at a Tangerine Dream fans meeting in 2001.
1.
Procyon (27:55*): After a spacey intro with science fiction sounds and the usual beep and bleeps, a
dreamy Mellotron flute and soaring synthesizer strings join in. Then majestic low sounding Mellotron violins follow
and gradually the music alternates and becomes more dynamic. In a wonderful way the Mellotrons and synthesizers
of the two musicians blend, culminating in a very lush and exciting electronic music (EM) atmosphere. Suddenly
it's sequencer time, around fifteen minutes long, accompanied by a high-pitched Mellotron flute and flashy synthesizer
flights, and then sumptuous Mellotron choirs. This is top-notch EM, obviously inspired by Tangerine Dream (1974-1977),
but with a touch of the duo. The final part delivers fading sequencers, mellow Mellotron flutes and synthesizer strings.
2.
Procyon (14:20*): At first you'll hear scary sound effects, then pulsating sequencers and the focus
on synthesizer flights. Halfway deep sounding sequencing and lush Mellotron choirs can be heard that colour the
music in a compelling way. Goose bumps! After an interlude with a high-pitched Mellotron flute this composition
ends with strings and a fading Mellotron violin sound.
3.
And Then There Were Two (20:15**): After the usual spacey sounds, beep and bleeps the music delivers
soaring Mellotron flutes and strings with a phaser sound, a wonderful dreamy atmosphere. It is followed by a deep
synthesizer sound and majestic Mellotron choirs. Now the sequencing joins in, the combination with the Mellotron
choirs turns into a very spectacular sound: this is the electronic music heaven! After a mellow interlude with
soaring Mellotron flutes the atmosphere changes into bombastic with synthesizer flights, the use of the pitch
bend button is sensational! The dreamy outro delivers tender Mellotron flute runs. Simply beautiful! By the way,
it tastes a lot better than
And Then There Were Three! If you are into the unsurpassed electronic music
of Tangerine Dream (period 1974-1977) don't miss this warm tribute from one of the best Dutch EM-projects!
*) Recorded live at Hampshire Jam 7, Liphook, UK, on November 15, 2008.
**) Recorded live at The 3 In 1 Theatre, Huizen, The Netherlands, on October 30, 1999.
Line-up musicians:
Marcel Engels:
Arrick synthesizers.com modular synthesizer, Access Virus advanced simulated analogue synthesizer, Yamaha A3000
128MB/2.1HD sampler, Elka Rhapsody 610, Eminent Solina String Ensemble and Korg Polysix 6voice analogue synthesizer midified.
Ruud Heij: synthesizers and sequencers
(Rating: ****)
(2018, 69.54, Private Release, FSPCD05)
On this album
Free System Project, consisting of
Marcel Engels and
Ruud Heij, has expanded
to a trio on
Spoon Forest, featuring the Norwegian guest musician
Terje Winther. To my delight,
since I consider Winther's contribution to the samplers of Edition, the former Dutch EM-magazine, as one of the
highlights. The recordings are from 2012 and recently put on CD as a private release. The three compositions feature
a similar intro with spacey atmospheres, the usual beeps and bleeps and an outro containing fading strings and
trons, blended with sound effects. In between you can hear wonderful layers of synthesizer strings, Mellotrons,
hypnotizing sequencers and several vintage synthesizers in the vein of the music made by Tangerine Dream in the
period 1974-1977. This is top-notch electronic music! Despite the similarities in the three compositions, the
trio has succeeded to add a special flavour to each composition. Subtle Rhodes electric piano runs can be heard
and finally majestic Mellotron choirs in
Winterflow (21:00). Enjoy delicate interplay between Rhodes electric
piano, Mellotron choirs and a pulsating sequencer in
Spoon Forest (24:05). In addition a sumptuous atmosphere
with dreamy synthesizer flights on the mighty Moog Voyager, and again majestic Mellotron choirs and pulsating
sequencing. Goose bumps again! This is what exciting electronic music is about! Every track delivers one musician
who does the sequencing: on
Winterflow Ruud Heij, on
Spoon Forest Terje Winther and on
Trollheimen
(24:49) Marcel Engels, the prime mover of Free System Project. If you like the unsurpassed electronic music by
Tangerine Dream and
Klaus Schulze from the seventies,
Spoon Forest is an album to discover!
Line-up musicians:
Marcel Engels: synthesizers, samples, Rhodes electric piano and sequencers.
Ruud Heij: synthesizers and sequencers.
Terje Winther: synthesizers, Elka string synthesizer, samples and sequencers.
(Rating: ***½)
(2018, 68.54, Electronic Composers Outlet ECO20181013-01)
Early 2014 the British electronic music (EM) trio
Brendan Pollard,
Michael Daniel and
Phil Booth
released their eponymous debut CD. Now, four years later we can enjoy their eighth effort simply titled
Eight,
released in a limited edition digipack version. Their music on
Eight obviously has hints from the Berlin
School, especially the music of
Tangerine Dream and
Klaus Schulze from the seventies era. It sounds
as a warm and tastefully arranged tribute to these legendary masters of EM. All tracks start with beeps and bleeps
followed by the compelling pulsating sequencers, blended with the sound of the Solina and Elka string-ensemble,
synthesizer flights, Mellotron violins and flutes, and ending with soaring strings and often tender Mellotron
flutes. All four compositions have their own flavour and their own tasteful arrangements. You'll hear sensitive
Pink Floydish guitar runs and fine use of the volume pedal in
Return (17:24), awesome sequencing in
Cell
(17:16) and
Midges (17:15) − also distorted electric guitar − and a captivating blend of Mellotron
sounds and sequencers in the final track
Clockline (16:59). Highly recommended to fans of early Tangerine Dream!
Line-up musicians:
Brendan Pollard: sequencers, Mellotron, FX.
Michael Daniel: synthesizers, FX, Mellotron, Gliss guitar, guitar.
Phil Booth: synthesizers, FX, Organismic Synthesis.
(Rating: ****)
(2018, 77.56, Eastgate - 083 CD)
The Sessions series is published in memory of
Edgar Froese, the legendary member and leader of
Tangerine
Dream (TD). He was their musical hero as the band stated. Froese sadly passed away on January 20th, 2015.
The current line-up consists of
Thorsten Quaeschning,
Ulrich Schnauss and
Hoshiko Yamane.
The first edition
Sessions I contains recordings from concerts in Budapest and Hong Kong early 2017. The
second version entitled
Sessions II was recorded at the annual Dutch EM Festival KLEM in October 2017.
And the latest effort in this series is
Sessions III. It was recorded in the German cities of Hamburg and
Berlin in 2018.
Sessions III is my first musical encounter with TD without Edgar Froese. I'm pleasantly
surprised by the wonderful blend of the music of TD in 1975-1980 era inspired sound and ambient music. Both tracks
are very long − formerly this would have been a double vinyl album − but they succeed to keep my attention
due to flowing shifting moods and tasteful work on the synthesizers, sequencers, percussion and violin. On the
one hand you can enjoy soaring strings, Mellotron flutes, a hypnotizing blend of violin, synthesizers, sequencers,
a dreamy piano or a distorted violin solo (like wah-wah). On the other hand you'll hear pulsating sequencers,
tender violin, assorted percussion, mellow piano and percussion, final parts with dreamy strings and beautiful
violin play. In my opinion this line-up of TD has paid tribute to the unsurpassed sound of TD during the period
1975-1980, blended with their musical ideas, rooted in ambient music.
Tracks:
1. 10.05 pm Session: Hanseatic Harbour Lights (35:14)
2. 9.10 pm Session: OST (42:42)
Line-up musicians:
Thorsten Quaeschning: synthesizers, piano, sequencers.
Ulrich Schnauss: synthesizers, sequencer.
Hoshiko Yamane: electric violin, viola.
(Rating: ***+)
