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Although this album from the American musician Larry Fast is now 32 years old I feel compelled to bring it to your attention as it is, quite simply, one of THE finest albums ever released & now that it's been digitally enhanced & re-released on the English Voiceprint label there's no excuse for not discovering this masterpiece for yourself.
Fast was later to become known for his work with Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush & Meat Loaf to name just a few but this was his debut & even though the title might sound a tad cheesy it sums up fairly accurately (I'm not sure about the 'rock' bit, truth be told!) Fast's achievements in evoking the spirit of the orchestra using the finest electronic instrumentation available at the time, with Moogs, ARPs & Oberheims very much in evidence. It's this that gives the album the slightly offbeat feel that was a hallmark of EM in the 70s & which proves especially important on the twelve minute closer 'Warriors', where the very bouncy, happy mid-section that suddenly bursts in to what had previously been a rather mournful & moving piece (the tolling bell fits in very well here!) could easily have been a big let down were it not for the vintage sounds that no modern synth can ever replicate (& don't let anyone tell you otherwise!). The themes themselves are inspired by classical (the basslines on the opening 'Legacy' that owe a great debt to Bolero being just one example) & 20s jazz & musical stylings with the totally electronic rendition of Richard Rogers 'Slaughter On Tenth Avenue' bringing together these seemingly disparate worlds in perfect unison & creating an undoubted masterpiece in the process that packs more inspirational moments into its 11 minute duration than most acts manage in a lifetime. Likewise, the cover of 'Classical Gas' which wasn't on the original album (surfacing instread on the follow-up Sequencer which makes its inclusion here something of a mystery) sees Fast taking a well-loved theme & taking it into totally new realms whilst easily retaining the soul of the original.
The shorter tracks 'Synergy' & 'Relay Breakdown' both pack so much into their relatively short durations (5 & 6 minutes, respectively) that they both retain the epic feel of their longer brethren, the former having a rather furious feel in places while the pomp of the latter that lays the foundation for its triumphant conclusion is equally irresistable.
Another important factor is the compositional skills which have rarely been equalled since. Each track is so meticulously composed that if just one sound were either added or taken away or if just one sound were changed anywhere on the album then it simply wouldn't sound right, each track really is just perfect & the intervening period has done nothing to dampen its brilliance, making it an important release still, not as a historical relic but as a living breathing album that is sure to retain its status as a masterpiece for ever. Indeed, if you claim to be a lover of electronic music, then you simply MUST hear this album or miss out on a piece of monumental brilliance.
RATING: 10
Artist Link: http://www.voiceprint.co.uk
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