Valley Forge

Artist: Valley Forge
P: 1995
'Leaving To Nothing' is a concept album by valleyforge aka Thomas Bechholds with psychedelic electronic rock music that takes us back to the mid seventies, with great analog synthesizers, electronic + real drums and electronic + acoustic guitars. Me and Marks 'set the controls for the heart of the sun' and take the 'entrance' to 'the grand vizier´s garden party'. On 'the narrow way' with some 'dogs' around us we are looking for 'a saucerful of secrets'. What a spacious world where coloured flowers are destroyed before time expansion like 'several species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave and grooving with a pict'. Observed by scrambled eggs in geostationary orbit a spiral 'shine on' me and Marks over seven 'Grantchester meadows'. Careful we take the 'exit' leaving to nothing.

Artist: Valley Forge
P: 2005
Songs from the "leaving to nothing" concerts and studiotapes.Composed, mixed and produced by Thomas Bechholds and taken from live or studio sessions and performed by Bechholds, Michael Seitz, Jurgen Winter and Guest Bernd Kistemann, this is the first Valley Forge offering I have heard. 'Opener' starts with radio waves, voices and the simplest of melodies interspersed with brief radio extracts before 'The Entrance' Part 1 begins with lush melancholic orchestral chords with sporadic percussion effects, and guitar, added to the mix. Parts 2 to 4 undergo changes in pace and atmosphere with a dramatic sequence of guitar chords, drums and synths and receives an enthusiastic response from the audience and deservedly so. 'Dogs Around' starts with some atomospheric storm effects and some barking dogs and is followed by a strong bassline and synth lead , an ideal soundtrack for a supernatural thriller. 'Coloured Flowers are Destroyed before Time-Expansion (Observed by Scrambled Eggs in Geostationary Orbit)' does not quite live up to the promise of the title and is more soundtrack fare with subdued electronics interspersed with plaintif guitar lines and strings.
Cross fading into 'Spiral Shine'. Slowly building on a simple synth sequence with pads, the guitar adds colour and bite with controlled distortion and sustained vibrato, here a little reminiscent of early 80's TD soundtracks like 'Thief'. 'Me and Marks Over 7 Meadows' starts with marimba effects before drums and dramatic sustained synth chords are added but don't quite rescue the piece. 'Lord is a Trademark' starts promisingly with strong metallic rhythms, church-like organ and eventually choral/symphonic tones and it's a successful track, as the crowd gratefully acknowledges. 'Watching My Psychedelic Girlfriend' is another interesting tone poem, with simple, clear piano set against subdued sequencing with a few cackling voices thrown into the mix before a stronger rhythm emerges. An interesting piece. ' 'Leaving to Nothing' starts very quietly with sequence, effects and strings which seem to prequel a lift off of some kind which materialises at 4.35 with rock drums, voices, guitar and synth lines. However, the melody does not quite convince.
Finally, 'A Different Exit' concludes the set with a return to the soundtrack template, and the marimbas and strings merely add colour without obvious melody to create a reasonably successful tone poem. Overall, an enjoyable, if undemanding album. Valley Forge create cinematic soundscapes which are well crafted and they seem to be an accomplished live act. Perhaps we may get an opportunity to see them live soon.