Various Artists - Index 09

Artist: Jiannis 
P: 1997
'Plugged' is a Berlin School, analogue, sequential masterpiece. The shortest track is eighteen minutes so things are really given plenty of room to develop and mutate creating pure aural heaven. 'Erstes Schattenspiel' (catchy title) begins with lonesome synth sounds and vocoded speech in the manner of 'Chromium Echoes'. Don't worry these vocals are used more as a sound, not singing. As soon as the opening sequence takes its first tentative steps low in the mix, fitting perfectly to the washes of synth, you just know that you are in for something VERY special. The sequence beefs itself up and is accompanied by another sequence of a more ballsy variety. The lead line is a real stunner and sends the spine a tingling rather than screeching through the cranium, just right. It is constantly changing and being put through all manner of effects. Things calm down a bit at the eighteen minute mark (can't believe the track has been running that long already) but builds up again shortly afterwards over sequential themes that keep the feel of before but are combined differently. The lead line when it returns is even more effective than before and with even greater variation, the sequences adjusting perfectly. The second track 'Zweites Schattenspiel' (another cracking title) starts with a noise half way between the wind blowing across an alien landscape and a space ship coming in to land. We then get sequences similar to early Jean Michel Jarre ('Oxygene' / 'Magnetic Fields') which initially are rather laid back and to which a more typical Berlin School sequence is added. The lead lines are straight from 1975 / 76. The final track 'Drittes Schattenspiel' starts with more haunting winds before massed chords add to the melancholy feeling and a lonesome lead plays over the top. Seven minutes in a bubbling sequence is added and the lead dies away. This sequence builds and a different lead comes to the surface. Just as we are getting used to this groove a rhythm fades in then drifts lower into the mix. The sequences, lead lines rhythms mutate all the time creating an ever evolving brew. At the twenty minute mark all but the main sequence and the drones die away but after only a short while all the main elements are introduced again one by one with the addition of a second rhythm. The track then fades gently away.

Artist: Jiannis 
P: 1998
‘Apocalypsis ll’ and most of this CD in fact is very much Tangerine Dream in ‘Encore’ and ‘Sorcerer’ mode. Spooky atmospherics and strange alien animal noises lurch from the speakers. Calm descends and electricity arcs across the atmosphere to be joined by sonic booms then a beefy sequence jerks into life. The lead lines could have been taken from ‘Encore’, ‘Force Majeure’ or even ‘Romance 76’ by Peter Baumann. Graham Getty once said about RMI’s ‘Republic’ “if it gets any better than this, tell us”. Well Graham I put this up as a contender. As the sleeve notes mention, the sound quality occasionally leaves a little to be desired but really this music is so brilliant I am sure most people will be only too happy that these gems have been released. Just wait until the distorted synth guitar blisters over the top, lasting less than a minute but devastating in its impact never the less. After about ten minutes there is a welcome return to the spookyness so that we can get our breath back though the heart keeps pounding. The atmospherics sound a little like Edgar Froese’s ‘Epsilon In Malaysian Pale’ but with a bit more bite. More booms like vast metallic doors being slammed in subterranean hell add to the tension but even these fade away into the foggy wastes. At around the twenty minute mark another sequence tentatively emerges and takes us close to the end until more atmospherics and a beautiful piano melody bring us to the close. Oh My.
The next track ‘Zoomland l’ is a real shorty at almost quarter of an hour. It begins with metallic shimmers then we are treated to some very ‘Sorcerer’ type eerie bits but it isn’t too long before a tinkling sequence breaks through. A chopping static laden sequence joins it and a flutey synth lead line plays over the top. A third more robust sequence is also added but somehow Jiannis manages to avoid overload. Things mutate and shift throughout the piece in a most magical way, I just wish it had gone on for longer.
‘Zoomland ll’ initially takes us back to the alien jungle of the first track but then all is change with the ominous tones of an organ droning over the top. Just before the ten minute mark the sequence decides to make an appearance but it is not on its own for long before a slow snapping rhythm is added.