Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra [Original recording remastered, Import]

Synergy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 16, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Import
• Label: United States Dist
• ASIN: B000167XVW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #243,165 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

This re-issue has been remastered and is the first in a series that will make their entire back cataloge available. Includes different bonus tracks to the US version.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very sophisticated recording of electronic music, June 19, 2006

By 

Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra (Audio CD)

This 1975 album is, in my estimation, nearly singular in the world of electronic music due to its sheer complexity. In fact, this album by American electronic composer Larry Fast is much closer to progressive rock than Berlin School electronica for example - there is just a lot going on in each of these compositions.

The six tracks on the album range in length from 2'58" to 12'50" and feature a range of tones and dynamic contrasts. Another interesting aspect of the music, and I never expected to discuss this in a review of an electronic composition, is the abundant use of melodies, harmonies, and most importantly both rhythmic and melodic counterpoint. In fact, it is amazing what Larry achieved with just the use of a mini-moog, an Oberheim Polyphonic, and a Mellotron 400. In fact, it makes me wonder what it would have sounded like if he had scored these complicated synthesizer pieces for rock instruments, including a full drum kit.

Interestingly, Larry's link with prog rock is not as tenuous as one might think with his being an electronic composer and he struck up a good working relationship with the prog band Nektar around this time. His excellent work can be heard on Nektar's Recycled album (1975).

This remastered album features restored cover art and excellent sound quality, along with some skimpy liner notes.

This album is very highly recommended to those electronica fans who want something a little more varied than the typical fare. Also recommended are two albums by Isao Tomita including Snowflakes are Dancing (1974) and The Tomita Planets (1976).

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pre-Digital Electronic Music, August 23, 2006

By 

Paul M. Gaerisch (Howard Beach, N.Y. United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra (Audio CD)

I have the original lp of this album(it came in clear vinyl) which was recorded in SQ quadrophonic sound! The early U.S. release on CD doesn't even come close. I only wish it could be remastered using SACD or Dolby Surround like some of todays CD's or even DVD Audio. But, even on CD this is one of the best early electronic music masterpeices!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Analog Bliss, December 11, 2009

By 

snowleopard (Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra (Audio CD)

This is the first album by Synergy, the studio electronic artist that is mostly Larry Fast, master synthesist, session musician, and keyboard player on several Peter Gabriel albums and tours.

There's a few things to know about this album, back when released there was very little in the form of pure electronic music. Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, Jean-Michel Jarre, Klaus Schulze, Vangelis and sometimes Tomita were the names mostly seen in the bin at the record store, and Synergy. What made Synergy stand out was that not only was it completely synthesized, it was American, and often sounded American (if that makes sense) in that they tend to be a bit more "up" or active than some of the droning layers associated with his peers. But it also had a very full sound, one that to this day still sounds very rich and full. Adding to this, is that the compositions are surprisingly complex and evolving. This is remarkable considering that when this was recorded, about 99% of this music was played by hand, and overdubbed with none of the computer editing or sequencing that's been the standard now for over a decade. Fast would write the songs, sit down, play them to a click track, and painstakingly lay down track after track after track until the composition was finished.

Okay, but how is the music? Great! Pure analog bliss! People clamor for fat, lush analog sounds from synthesizers, well, this is it! The songs are great, sound great, and the album stands up to repeated listenings.

I also recommend Synergy's album Audion from this era with the highest praise. Chords, Games, and Sequencer are good as well, but if you haven't heard Synergy, I suggest you start with these two first. By the time Fast got to Jupiter Menace and Metropolitan Suite his sound had changed a little. Not for the worse, just different and should be viewed in a different light.