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The follow-up to ‘Intrigue’ is a natural extension from that 1st album, and like it’s predecessor, heavily influenced by the classic 80’s works of Mark Shreeve!
Apart from two space-music tracks – and even these sound massive – this is an album dominated by thunderous rhythms – sequencers, melodic synth themes and electronic/programmed drums!
Like the magnificent 2005 album by Otaku, ‘Transformation 88:98’ is unashamedly 80’s Shreeve influenced.
However, for this 2nd album, things are a lot more varied than TRANSCEIVE’s debut release in 2002!
‘Transformation 88:98’ opens in what you’d call “traditional” fashion, with: ‘Landscape Of Tomorrow’, a ten-minute track that roars along on a wave of drums and synth rhythms, with a huge amount of layers and melodies added on top, the result being something that flies through the air with the intensity jet fighter.
‘Element Of Intrigue’ is the 2nd track, and it starts at a more simmering level, but soon big, beefy sequencers emerge, then massive drums are added, and this time space synth swoops are scattered all around as the lead tune flies on top.
Synth choirs join the panorama, with the result being surprisingly melodic despite that fact that it’s incredibly powerful at the same time.
Track 3 is: ‘Moving Target’, a piece dominated by awesome electro-percussive thunder could be described as being almost Synth-Metal it’s that powerful – the sort of thing Shreeve used to do before he turned to the “Berlin” darkside – only here, there are more layers than Shreeve could ever have dreamed of at the time – with a massive sounding sea of electronics soaring above the rampaging drums.
For the 4th track: ‘Biomechanoid’, Steve decides to have a stab at Psychedelic Trance – with drums blazing, sequencers set on “stun” & “speed”, the thunderous trance rhythm boom out with an electric guitar-like lead ringing out above as the track positively gallops along, reminding me of the late Jake Stephenson’s Shamanic Tribes On Acid project, as the whole shooting match rampages through your skull with ruthless efficiency.
‘Creature Of Legend’ follows and gives a ninety second spacey synth respite as the intro builds, then this crunchy, choppy rhythm begins from the electronic drums and then the synth melodies with flute sounds add a distinctly Middle Eastern flavour with a hazy desert of electronics that starts to weave its spell on top of extra percussive beats, before morphing into a more solid sea of rolling rhythms and soaring synths. Backdrops of samples and very much an Eastern sounding mix of early Banco De Gaia and mid 80’s Shreeve; even adding sequencers for the closing section.
‘Rebus Tape’ is the 6th track and it’s a huge-sounding piece that mixes the atmospheric, melodic and rhythmic elements of Steven’s work to perfection, with some soaring melody lines twisting and turning from a seeming arsenal of keyboards. The whole piece changes course many times, yet remains cohesive throughout.
Track 7: ‘Delusions’ returns to Psych-Trance territory only with more of a chunky set of beats in there too, and sequencer lines that sound like TANGERINE DREAM on steroids - Simply awesome!
Of the next three tracks, two (‘Façade’ & ‘Eastern Promise’) are three minute-plus slices of spacey synthesizer music, and one (‘The All Seeing Eye’) a more rhythmic job that takes us to the album’s seven-minute closer: ‘Thru Rugged Terrain’.
That final track which opens in a blaze of sequencers and drums, as melodies rise up then dissolves into a wondrous ocean of string synths. As it all rises up once more, the savage rampage of sequencers, drums and synth rhythms continuing to roar, and the track just drives forward to superb effect. This is so incredibly powerful, taking you with it to its sudden conclusion at just short of seven and a half minute mark.
Overall, this is one of the most powerful electronic music albums around – it has absolutely nothing to do with the “Berlin School” - and, for that reason alone, stands head and shoulders over most synth albums around right now in 2006. If you want something to get your teeth into that is the synthesizer equivalent of a rock album, then look no further than: ‘Transformation 88:98’.
Also available by TRANSCEIVE …
EXIT TO NOWHERE (2016 Powerful Melodic Synth-Rock Album) CD – Stock # 1861620
FROZEN CIRCUITRY (2020 Powerful Melodic Synth-Rock Album) CD – Stock # 2204966
TRANSCEIVE: TRANSFORMATION 88:98 Track List:
01. Landscape Of Tomorrow (10:29)
02. Element Of Intrigue (7:38)
03. Moving Target (4:42)
04. Biomechanoid (5:37)
05. Creature Of Legend (6:44)
06. Rebus Tape (8:15)
07. Delusions (6:32)
08. Facade (3:15)
09. Eastern Promise (3:59)
10. The All Seeing Eye (6:48)
11. Thru Rugged Terrain (7:26)
TPT - 71:29