The Dark Side Of The Moog – The Dark Side Of The Moog IX

Probably my single favourite FAX release. Not a single weak moment. Ambient music with a slightly more melodic and rhythmic edge.

Across the entire DSOTM series, IX is the most cohesive in musical expression without ever falling into repetitive filler. The compositions are soft, bubbly, enigmatic and extra-terrestrial without succumbing to any of the sonic cliches of spacey ambient music. In other words, Namlook at his best. Recommended not just as the pick of this series, but as a masterwork of ambient music, period.

Excellent DSOTM; probably the pick of the series. Jackthetab below summaries it quite nicely; i found it to be the least meandering of the series- by that i mean that it doesn't start off perkily, run out of ideas fairly rapidly, and resort to the pound or kickdrum as an ersatz for the development of any further ideas. Also Namlook's descending mews (you know what they sound like when you've listened to his stuff for as long as i have) and bleeping ostinatos are absent. Rather there is a forward momentum rather than a pulse, a bit like he achieved with Mixmaster Morris on the ravishing 'Dreamfish', and a real spacey vibe without dissolving into aqueous drones (ps i LOVE aqueous drones by the way) and thus a genuine Kosmiche feel to it that holds the mind and ear. A bit too brief, but that's an indication of it's success- you want to hear more. Highly recommended for Namlook aficionados, and well worth your time and money for other folk.

The disc starts us off in dark droney tunnels. The tone changes rather quickly. Slow moving brilliance, building to some chilled beats. There are some more upbeat elements similar to alien community I+II's beat oriented material. The music is deep and emotional sounding. With -7:30 in part one, Klaus Schulze shines. This mixes with (at -4:55) an amazing synth combination, that will make you smile. Hypnotic mind trance. The journey slows into a klaus schulze ambient fadeout.

part two -
Again, drones building into something moving, and something impending. A rather intense piece that never seems to let you go. It hovers and haunts.

part three -
A brighter beginning, leading way to an upbeat sequence. There are some nice tangerine dream moments throughout. A beautiful ambient dream swells within. With -1:40, schulze emerges again.

part four and five -
Ambience with a nice build. The beat like sequences slowly tease us with a short coming climax (starting -8:15). A single loop builds with intensity, only to fade away. At -6:53, some electronic tangerine dream synths swirl around the backdrop beat. The cd closes on with some heavenly samples. Slow moving namlook loops, build slightly, and come back down. With -6:53, schulze breaks into the foreground. A slow funky bass lurks through the electronics creating a chilled environment. Again there are some elements from the alien community series.

part six -
A nice highlight of schulze and namlook to end a wonderful journey (even though rather short).

This is quite possibly the best in the DSOTM series. Lush and expansive, with a thoroughly cosmic feel. The nods to Pink Floyd are very much in evidence here. Not a bad moment through the entire disc.