Edward Ka-Spel- Dream Logik Part One
(Beta-lactam Ring Records mt203)
From Aural Innovations #38 (Jan 2008)
As with any new release by Ka-Spel (guiding light of The Legendary Pink Dots
for over a quarter of a century now), expect strange vibrations and a surreal
cornucopia of musical genres that virtually define the word “eclectic.”
The opening alien recitation of “Threshold” leads perfectly into
the bizarre electro-trip of “harvester,” for all the world sounding
like the Krell from Forbidden Planet jamming with The Orb somewhere beyond the
rings of Saturn. The aptly titled “And the Stars” utilizes a horde
of found sounds and whooshing synthesizer effects that recall the electronic
minimalism of such kraut rock pioneers as Neu and Cluster. Ka-Spel however updates
the post-Kraftwerk sensibility with his tortured oscillator theory of sound
wave genesis. “The 9 O’clock Train to Oblivion” is perhaps
the real stand out track on Dream Logik. A bouncy LFO-modulated synth pattern
buttressed (again) with various samples and percussion loops form the mainframe
to this cleverly undanceable dance track. Its pulsating minimalism is addictively
trance-inducing. In fact, most of the pieces on Dream Logik have the feel and
texture of musical fragments collected out of altered states and brought to
fruition with the resources of post-modern recording technology. Ka-Spel’s
songs are thus sometimes frustratingly simple, yet in their own way charming
vignettes. The onomatopoeic “Laughing Gas” is a case in point, its
almost Pere Ubu-ish intro signifying Ka-Spel’s innate humor and his ability
to elicit absolutely unearthly sounds from his array of electronic gadgets.
Think of Ka-Spel as the bastard son that Syd Barrett never had.
Check out the record label site at: http://www.blrrecords.com
Reviewed by Charles Van de Kree