Album review
Nodular (early masters) 1998
Last update: 21.04.1998
RAMP Nodular (early masters) (1998)
001 Intrip
010 Nodular
011 Nachts, wenn es dunkelt...
(at night when it darkens...)
100 Phasenverzerrung
(phase disturbtion)
The CD will be available at
www.manikin.de
Hi there,
I've been fortunate enough to get a preview (means early masters) version
of the forthcoming RAMP - Nodular CD.
Overview:
Almost analogue improvised EM with some Dark Ambient and loads of Berlin
School
*with melodies* influences.
Well it´s not a collection of Pop songs, though.
It´s quite different from the track on the GT sampler, which is
good in my book
but Nodular is even better. Excellent, a straight '4' in my personal
rating scheme.
Sometimes it is similar to Stephan Parsick´s 'Traces to the past'
release,
no wonder as he's a member of RAMP.
Our own Frank Makowski is the second permanent member of RAMP,
donut read 'RAMP' the Dutch way, Marcel, btw !!!!!!
Ex-member Lambert Ringlage is featured on two track,
new member Soprano Martina Fantar appears on 'Nachts, wenn es dunkelt...',
while the title track 'Nodular' is by Stephen and Frank.
Short track by track review:
001 Intrip (Ringlage/Parsick/Makowski)
A nice Mellotron oboe melody meats gently strings, effects turn in.
That part is excellent, IMO. After a few minutes sequencers turn
in,
a Mellotron men choir prepares the trip, multi layered sequences
begin to dance, a kicking bass sequence is added, sounds as complex
as Ricochet part II or III. Unfortunately the sequences disappeared
quite quickly and soon it gets very dark before the track is over,
sadly.
Personal rating 4.5, would be better if the sequencer part would be
longer than
just 2 or 3 minutes, but that's my personal opinion, I could be wrong
;-)
010 Nodular (Parsick/Makoswki)
Experimental beginning, scary (not like Node, but I bet these guys had
heard the Node CD to death, right ? ;-)).
Dark Ambient environmental stuff for the first minutes.
Some noises reminds me a lot on the effects Klaus Schulze used on Stardancer.
After one minute a Mellotron choir appears shortly,
More on these choirs !!!
That part reminds me a lot on the slower parts on 'traces of the past'.
The backing is heavily modulated.
While we're waiting for a cheap sounding drum machine disturbing the
silent (Grant, wink!),
the track slightly changes and a solo line appears.
After 10 or so minutes (that part could be two or three minutes shorter,
IMO),
the sequences came in. Lovely. Franke typical elements (Diamond
Diary, should I say more ?)
dropping in, *real EM typical* white noise percussion and two additional
lines
quickly turn in. Fasten the seat belts, ya sequencer nuts, and on we
go !
I for one miss a 8 step modular moog bass sequence but you just can't have all ! ;-)
A Mellotron flute melody (we all had heard that sound !) is nicely added,
now it´s an almost dark backing and an analogue synth lead line
not million miles away from (guess who, ex TD member ?) can be heard.
Sounds very much Baumann era TD-ish, although it´s NOT A COPY
but
it reminds me a lot on one of my favourite albums, Encore. At least
as
RAMP are using a similar instrumentation.
The last part is again Dark Ambient with Mellotron flute and choir bits.
All in all it´s a 4 in my book, the 1st and the last part should be shortened, though.
011 Nachts, wenn es dunkelt.. (something like 'at night when it darkens...')
Dark, slow piece with a great atmosphere, the vocals are good
but the whole track is too slow, would be great on a Namlook CD, though
!
Personal rating 3
100 Phasenverzerrung (phase disturbtion)
After a slow beginning a sequencer tour de force starts.
Some weird bits but very varied and rhythmical,
a stunning Minimoog solo is added soon.
RMI meets a good playing Schulze, or wot ?
Wait a minute Franke Diamond Diary sequ. bits are added too !
Personal ratings 4.
All in all an excellent *musically* retro Berlin School album with Dark Ambient influences.
Some parts are too long, but that's my personal taste as I prefer Berlin
School to Dark Ambient stuff.