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Ron Berry was one of the wave of British synth musicians who, in the early and mid 80s took their influences from the German greats such as Tangerine Dream and, by adding their own unique styles, made the UK synth scene a healthy, strong one. "Osiris" is probably his best-known and best-loved album from this period (1985, to be exact), partly due to it being released on vinyl rather than cassette (this was a big step forward at the time) and while the excellent cover art that adorned the original is absent on this CD re-release that in no way detracts from the fact that this is a classic of British instrumental EM that deserves to be discovered by one and all.
Ron's use of home-built instruments such as a unique 16-channel micro-processor sequencer and such currently forgotten relics as the Godwin String Machine meant that his music has always had a most unique, easily-recognisable style and, 21 years later, there's the added bonus that the music has hardly dated at all, sounding just as fresh as it did way back when. Inspired by the Egyptian Book Of The Dead and comprised of just four long tracks the album boasts a nicely smooth, sometimes sultry and mostly laidback feel with the only exceptions being "Passage Through The Temple Of Maat" which has plenty of abstract elements during its earlier sections, only giving way to a more typically melodic style towards the end while the climax of "Dreams Of Osiris" zips along quite nicely with its catchy theme that has already been established by the earlier, slower sections.
Hereafter Ron took his music onto less melodic and more abstract (albeit not overly difficult) realms although his recent re-emergence has seen him once again exploring more melodic realms. For those seeking to discover the music of Ron Berry, however, this, along with 2002's Heavens And Highlands are the best places to start or go to his website to find out more about this talented and individual artist.
RATING: 8
Artist Link: http://www.ronberry.freeuk.com
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