This reissue of Can Atilla’s 1996 recording has been remastered, and includes three additional tracks from 1998 and one from 2003.
“Torchlight” is so eerily similar to Tangerine Dream from the early 90s that it is virtually indistinguishable from the genuine article, full of synth harpsichord and drums, and even saxophone, courtesy of Meric Demirkol rather than TD’s sexy Linda Spa.
The title track is even more a dead ringer, with the staccato playing of the harpsichord, scorching guitar leads, and the same cadence to the synth drums as many a TD track from that era. So the question becomes, do you like 90s TD? I think this is as well done as other synth music I’ve heard, indeed better than some. But it still sounds like my least favorite period from one of my favorite bands, and it’s not something I would choose to emulate.
It succeeds on this level, and sometimes rises above it, as on “Love Sequence”, which sounds more like it harkens back to Optical Race, with a mellower lighter touch.
In general though, since Can Atilla seems more than able to achieve any musical goal he sets out to do, I wish he had set his sights toward something higher.
If you like this period of TD, though, you will find yourself in heaven.
