623 C Street - Ralph Moore Quartet

Advantages: 1st Album To Feature The Electronic Quartet
Disadvantages: Hollow Sound, Experemental Nature Of The Peices

...Radio-Activity was the first Kraftwerk Album to feature what most folk regard as the definitive line up. The electronic quartet comprised of Ralph Hutter and Florian Schneider augmented by percussionists Karl Bartos and Wolfgang Flur. The album title is a truly dreadful play on words, as the album was about Radio and Radioactivity, it does suggest some dark Teutonic humor exists in start contrast to their public personas. As well as being the first album to feature the electronic quartet line up, it was also the first where all the instruments used were synthetic. This sent them in the direction of minimalist technological soundscapes that they would traverse for the rest of their careers. The title track shows this direction with a synthetic bass pulse controlling the mood and rhythm whilst eerie synths flesh out the rest of the song... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Perfectley Crafted Techno Pop
Disadvantages: Lasks Depth

...Karl Bartos was one of the electronic percussionists with Kraftewerk during the first electronic Quartet period. For many fans of electronic music Kraftwerk were the Beatles, even though the Beatles sucked. However using that analogy you can say that if Ralph and Floridan were Lennon and McCartney then Karl Bartos was definitely George Harrison and Wolfgang Flur was Ringo, even though Wolfgang is yet to publish a very surreal and entertaining website, or do the voice over for Thomas The Tank engine. Communication was his third solo album released in 2003 and the limited edition came in a digipack which is almost impossible to open. It typically goes on eBay for around about 30 quid, but rather luckily I got it on eBay for about 9 quid. The bonuses you get is a QuickTime video for the single "I am the Message" which is respectable... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Straightforward rock
Disadvantages: Nothing innovative

...After the severe disappointment of "A Different Beat" - Gary's latest album - I treated myself to this cut-price live offering just to restore my faith in the guitarist. Dating from 1986, although repackaged in 1997, this features 8 tracks recorded live in Japan (but you had already guessed that part right?). With a band line-up of Ian Paice, Neil Murray, John Slowman and Don Airey all playing real instruments, this couldn't fail to excite. The title track (co-written with Mr. Paice) and "Wishing Well" are the only two not penned solely by Mooro. The rest include "Nuclear Attack", "Back On The Streets" and "I Can't Wait Until Tomorrow". All are excellent, reminding us of what GM music can be like. And guess what? No "Parisienne Walkways". On a Gary Moore album? Shockeroonie.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful