Dark Side of the Moog Vol. 2 (1995)

Klaus Schulze and Pete Namlook - Dark Side of the Moog Vol. 2

Track Listing:

1.

A Saucerful of Ambience

61:04

Rating: 5 Stars

On the CD the track is split into 10 tracks, but they're divided at even five minute breaks, which have no relationship to the musical content. It's really only one single track.

The album was originally released on Pete Namlook's private label as a limited edition of 1000 copies, which quickly sold out. In 2016 it was re-released as part of a box set, which is now also out of print.

This is the second collaboration between Klaus Schulze and Pete Namlook. According to the description on Pete Namlook's web site:

"The new Schulze-Namlook collaboration goes more deeply into environmental ambient this time. The concept leads from ambient to melodic interludes, spacey solos and very moving beat-oriented parts".

That description says it all. The piece begins with ambient electronic sounds that are similar to a bird chirping, finally overlayed by beautiful slow synthesizer themes. Slow beats develop out of the initial ambience, becoming faster towards the end. This is an album that has the feeling of the Klaus Schulze works of the early 1970's. If we can thank Pete Namlook for one thing, it's for leading Klaus back to his roots. This is a masterpiece.