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Various Artists: Moog (OST)

Alabaster-haired synth pioneer and living legend Robert Moog is paid tribute in a docupic which is long overdue. On the CD soundtrack to the film Moog, the creator of the world's most popular and best synthesizer is grandly represented by a potpourri of today's actively working synthesists (and then some) — if they aren't Moog-exclusive 24/7, they are here, for the time being. While the range of styles could have been even more diverse, it's probably for the best, and even the most "safely chaotic" tracks adhere to a melodious design. No seriously avant-garde pieces turn up, save "Plastiq Phantom's mockcollage "Sqeeble" & Baiyon's auralform, unimaginatively dubbed "Mixed Waste 4.2." Check the EQ before pressing PLAY, because the bass response on this set is hefty.

Every track has something to offer, as the soundtrack is a smorgasbord of the most sinfully scrumptious analog basses and "oscillastic" sawtooth pads ever proffered. No amount of thesauri will yield every adjective that could be used to describe the pornographic knob tweakery that goes on here, from the bass-strut of Bostich's "Realistic Source" to the mouthwatering dish that is Meat Beat Manifesto's cleverly-titled "Unavailable Memory." Electro-funk is spoken for, courtesy of Peter Devriese's turbulent "You Have Been Selected" and the downright thigh-slappin' "When Bernie Speaks" by Funkadelics Worrell & Collins — plenty of cool soloin' in that one, too. The Devo, Numan and Kraftwerk fanatics will dig the bleep-bloop gander of Money Mark, 33, and Stereolab. And, naturally, The Moog Cookbook is open to a new page.

For my ears (and money, considering I may have some discographies to poke around in), Charlie Clouser's "I Am A Spaceman" is my fave cut, after Bernie's & Bootsy's. Clouser's is a well-rounded, significant contribution pressed along by choice sounds that are never completely overwhelming, thoughtfully arranged: lo-fi drumloops, filter sweeps from yesteryear, Tangerine Dream manipulations and a generally schizoid demeanor when it comes to vintage prog and EM. A final surprise comes from former Cure keyboardist Roger O'Donnell, a very graceful subtle piece called "Another Year Away" defined by a simplistic melody, equally minimal textural complements, and discernible loop points. An elegant end bookend to a highly varied collection.

Online vendors appear to be excluding a slight morsel of data pertaining to this release: a bonus disc of landmark recordings. That's all, really. No big deal. ELP, Yes, Devo, Gary Numan. Nothing to get worked up over, right? Well, it's a nice touch to include prog and new wave pioneers when you don't have to, especially if it doesn't affect the price.

P.S. I just can't believe Larry Fast and Wendy Carlos aren't on this comp!

Tracklist:

1. 33 "Abominatron"
2. STEREOLAB "Variation One"
3. THE MOOG COOKBOOK "Bob's Funk"
4. JEAN-JACQUES PERREY & LUKE VIBERT "You Moog Me"
5. PSILONAUT "The Sentinel"
6. MEAT BEAT MANIFESTO "Unavailable Memory"
7. BERNIE WORRELL & BOOTSY COLLINS "When Bernie Speaks"
8. ELECTRIC SKYCHURCH "Endless Horizon (I Love Bob Mix)"
9. THE ALBUM LEAF "Micro Melodies"
10. CHARLIE CLOUSER "I Am A Spaceman"
11. PLASTIQ PHANTOM "Sqeeble"
12. BOSTICH "Realistic Source"
13. PETER DEVRIESE "You Have Been Selected"
14. MONEY MARK "Nanobot Highway"
15. BAIYON "Mixed Waste 4.2"
16. TORTOISE "Beautiful Love"
17. ROGER O' DONNELL "Another Year Away"

Total time – 74:15

Secret Phat Bonus Disc, F.O.C.

1. ELP "Lucky Man"
2. GARY NUMAN "Cars"
3. JEAN-JACQUES PERREY "E.V.A."
4. DEVO "Mongoloid"
5. NEW ORDER "Blue Monday"
6. THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS "Baroque Hoedown"
7. YES "Close To The Edge"

Added: October 19th 2004
Reviewer: Elias Granillo
Score:
Related Link: MOOG—A film by Hans Fjellestad (Official Page)
Hits: 3749
Language: english

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