Rainbow Serpent have been one of the top-selling synthesizer acts around Europe in the last couple of years, and with their seemingly effortless integration of the styles of Vangelis, Klaus Schulze and Steve Roach it's not difficult to see their appeal.
On "Sequel" though they're stretching out a little, perhaps influenced by the more experimental attitude of Gerd Wienekamp's solo project Der Laborant, but not too much - so that the four-part "Scenes Of Capturing Auras" (19.00) opens with a declamatory voice but rapidly moves into a techno dance workout and on through Vangelis-style romanticism into an incredibly Jarre/Oxygene-like sequencer piece.
"Scenes of Old Legends" (in three parts, totalling 22 minutes), covers among other subjects Ayers Rock (the inevitable didgeridoos are very distant and synthesized though) and "King Arthur's Quest", giving the subject a beaty, rolling-sequenced treatment a million miles away from Rick Wakeman's rich orchestral style (although a Gregorian choir does put in a brief appearance before the end!).
"Scenes Of Everyday Life" (another three parts and another 18 minutes long) again merges abstract synthesis with subtle techno dance/acid elements using a range of styles and tempos. And in closing, there's a 12-minute extract from 1998's performance at the Alfa Centauri Festival in Holland, concentrating on huge choral sounds, lightweight warbling sequencers and a touch of acid dance rhythm towards the end.
With "Sequel", Rainbow Serpent have turned in another immaculately produced, widely varied and epic synthesizer set. Some of the tracks (as ever) are too close for comfort to the very recognisable styles of other artists, but there's much to enjoy here.
