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This is my first exposure to Radio Massacre International, and I guess you may never have heard of them either. This is probably due to the fact that they are an Electronic/ Space music outfit, rather than a Progressive Rock group (though many people debate whether groups such as Tangerine Dream could actually be categorized as Prog – there is definitely some crossover/ common ground shared between the two genres – if this is the case, then RMI would qualify as well).
This wasn’t quite what I would expect from the label either – most of the releases I have heard from them are in more of an Avant/Rio vein, or Canterbury scene artefacts. Speaking as someone who has loved Tangerine Dream’s Ricochet, Phaedra, Zeit etc since I first heard them in the mid 1970’s, and who still plays and enjoys them to this day, I was absolutely delighted to experience RMI for the first time. Now don’t get me wrong, I have heard many electronic artists who have been inspired by TD, but often their imitative music is but a pale copy of the original. There are scores of bedroom boys beavering away in this field, but much of their output is only likely to be of interest to the most dedicated of Electronic Music fans.
RMI on the other hand, rather than imitate, take the baton of Space Improv- so skillfully wielded by TD, Klaus Schulze and a handful of others- and strap it to their spaceship for an Interstellar voyage into the fathomless depths of the Outer Galaxies. Consisting of Steve Dinsdale, Duncan Goddard and Gary Houghton, RMI have been together for 12 years and have recorded at least as many albums, so there’s plenty for the newcomer to explore. All three members utilize keyboards and electronics, with Houghton taking a leaf out of Edgar Froese’s book and contributing electric guitar as well. His deep space grooving also reminds somewhat of French wizard Richard Pinhas of Heldon Fame.
This reasonably priced 2 CD set is the ideal introduction to the group, and contains two mammoth suites of the finest cosmic, drifting, sequencer-fueled space rock you’re likely to find. The package comes with a PDF file containing a comic strip, by underground artist Matt Howarth, which can be viewed on your computer, and which enhances the otherworldly feel of the project.
The first disc is a studio recording, and the second is a recording of a live radio broadcast from WXPN in Philadelphia form 2004. Both (conceptually interconnected) pieces are beautifully flowing, ethereal drifts overlaid with driving sequencers and burning guitar solos. The pieces are split into shorter tracks, but are best experienced in their entirety. There may be some who would accuse the group of rambling and repetition, but I personally am always a little disappointed when the tracks come to an end. The tracks build and morph in extremely subtle ways, expertly creating trance inducing moods which are quite elating. This is exactly the kind of music many TD fans wish they’d carried on exploring instead of their much more concise and commercial, soundtracky stuff of the eighties and beyond.
If this was an Electronic/ Space music site, I would be awarding a whopping great, richly deserved 9 out of 10, for what will surely join the ranks of the timeless classics of the genre alongside Tangerine Dream’s Phaedra, Ricochet etc., Klaus Schulze’s Timewind, Blackdance and X, and Ashra’s New Age Of Earth. In terms of Prog Rock in general, this is difficult to rate, and some of you would hate this, I’m sure, but many progressive fans (myself included) do enjoy this type of music, and for those who like the aforementioned albums, I strongly urge you to investigate this fantastic, mesmerizing cosmic odyssey at the first opportunity.
I fully expect to be listening to this album regularly in ten years time.
Conclusion: Unrated
Dave Sissons
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