1. Pulse Trancemission [15:12]
2. Part 1 [13:25]
3. Part 2 [10:45]
4. Part 3 [10:28]
5. Part 4 [4:17]
6. Alien Nature [14:23]
7. Part 5 [9:50]

All Music Composed, Played and Recorded by Rainbow Serpent. Rainbow Serpent is yet another in the recent glut of Berlin school enthusiasts. These two guys have lots of gear and a penchant for classic seventies synth sounds, blended into thematic works with more melody than most. This time, though, they have moved more toward the classic retro sound, with soft atmospherics and light sequencing. The titles are laid out a bit unusually, with "Pulse" being a 5-part track, but it is tracks two through five, and track seven. The first track, "Pulse Trancemission," floats in a sea of sound drifts and choirs, with a little light sequencing developing midway through. The music fades at the end, with only the ominous choirs remaining as "Part 1" begins. This is a fairly impressive Klaus Schulze impression, as Moog-like leads play over an electronic pulse, and some great drumming very reminiscent of Harald Grosskopf's work with Schulze in the seventies and early eighties. The music finds a mood and stays there, which may require patience from some listeners, while others will find this a perfectly enjoyable sonic space to ponder. Synth strings soar in to begin "Part 2," and the pulse becomes very-like Schulze's "Totem." Seems like everyone is using this bit these days, but as long as they keep finding different ways of interpreting Schulze's 1973 classic, I don't mind. The strings dominate this gentle drifter, and nicely so. Throughout, the music remains light and airy, favouring sequencers over actual beats in most cases. A notable exception is the techno-heavy, vocoder-laden "Alien Nature," which doesn't seem to fit very well. A spastic, irregular beat lasts throughout the 14-minute track. Thankfully, things return to more familiar Teutonics as "Part 5" closes the proceedings. This is a builder, thanks again to some effective drumming to increase the intensity. It could easily pass for a Ron Boots track, similar in feel to his "Current" CD. A good way to finish.

2000. © Phil Derby Throughout 78 minutes of music, Rainbow Serpent project vivid unearthly sensations, thrusth out by hard sequencer rhythms, dreamy melodies and magical atmospheres. The strong connection of their music with the trend known as the "Berlin School" will appeal to the followers of this genre, yet at the same time, the plentiful traits of Trance present as well, make this CD available to a much wider potential audience. All in all, a fresh, dynamic work that is easy to listen to.

2000 Edgar Kogler / Amazing Sounds