Conrad Schnitzler - Ballet Statique

"This is Conrad Schnitzler, one man, one synthesizer, invite him into your home, switch on your music centre and re-create the future sound of 1978". That's the trailer over with, now the slightly less histrionic review! What we have here is a re-issue from the dark days of 1978, when men were men and synths were synths. It's futuristic bleepy Germanic electronica which reminds me of The Human League's first fruits on the 'Dignity of Labour' EP. This is bound to be a fascinating document for anyone interested in your Cluster, Tangerine Dream or Roedelius type affairs. The lengthy first tune leads into more pastoral, melodic territories with the minimalist title track possessing Kraftwerk-like charms. Each track seems to have a totally different feel with side two primarily flirting with industrial and noise and the final opus 'Black Nails' having eerie, late night scary atmospherics of which I am frankly terrified. Go seek.