Lambert Ringlage & Stephen Parsick - Trancesession FLAC

Expect nothing less than lengthy sequences, whining improv synth leads and broad phasing strings and your anolog rhythm sections, as is so typical for berlin school. But wait, don't get too excited just yet!

Voyage To Nowhere (Part 1) starts the album with subtle percussion, quickly accompanied by broad strings and a simple bass sequence. The song gradually builds up and other sounds join in. About half way, the energy rises with some big sweeps and subtle secondary melodies keep the track interesting till the end. Nothing wrong here!

Trancemission 1 is the next in line, but oh boy, what's happening? The main lead synth is out of tune and the melodies are messy. It takes far to long to reach the end and 17 minutes in, it's more of a jam session over the sequencer than anything else.

Start Motion luckily is a different ball game. Imagine a 360 degree cinema that shows you a journey through the galaxy. This track would certainly fit that image: random sparkles of sound, slow and easy strings and vox pads, later joined by staccato sequences and even a rhythm section near the end of the track. Great atmosphere!

Trancemission 2 is uptempo, neat and tight, with loads of syncopating sequences. The leads fit in much better than in Trancemission 1, they are in fact just as you'd expect in Berlin School, though still I sense an odd note here and there. Better, but not quite fantastic.

I'm anxious to hear what will happen in the final track, Voyage To Nowhere Part 2. It fades in with a myriad of sounds before the analog strings draw most of your attention. Unfortunaly, the solo/lead becomes a mess here too, just as if Ringlage or Parsick (whoever plays it) lost track and is just testing the possibilities of his Moog. Of course, Berlin School often has these almost live sounding lead performances, but surely one can do better than to just go about the keys? A while later, the phaser kicks in just like that, but fortunately the end is near.

My overall impression of this album is that I'd like it more if they'd put a bit more effort in making the leads sound good and tried to not show off what the knobs of a synthesizer can do to ruin the pleasure.