Moondawn

Klaus Schulze | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 31, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Revisited Records
• ASIN: B000BYNELC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,161 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Originally released in 1976, Moondawn is an early highlight of Schulze’s voluminous discography, regarded by many as among his best work. Released one year before his breakthrough album, Mirage, this album marked the first usage of the Moog synthesizer in a way that would establish Schulze firmly in his career as a solo keyboardist.

Klaus Schulze first attracted attention as a member of the German progressive rock band, Tangerine Dream. Following the release of their debut LP, Electronic Meditation, he departed for a solo career. Klaus' recorded work typically features extended pieces sometimes filling an entire album built around computer-generated synthesizers and other specially programmed electronic effects. Klaus Schulze remains a cult figure in the United States, where the bulk of his prolific output has until now been available only through the import bins. He is widely considered an avant-garde mainstay as well as a founding father of both the new-age space music and electronica genres.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of his finest albums, June 6, 2006

By 

Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Moondawn (Audio CD)

This 1976 album is excellent and is somewhat similar in texture to Timewind (1975). The most noticeable difference however, is that drummer Harald Grosskopf (Wallenstein, Cosmic Jokers) plays a full drum kit on Moondawn, and with great results.

In general, the two tracks are very moody and long (27'13 and 25'35 respectively) and consist simply of long drones on the moog synthesizer and string synthesizer (or the Hammond organ as used on Mindphaser) and sequenced synthesizer lines on the "big" moog. This music is largely static, with loads of bubbling and fizzing synthesizer sounds and only subtle changes in key and tempo. I should note that Harald's drumming is excellent and really breaks things up a bit - in fact, Klaus seems to loosen up a bit during the passages that include drumming and solos on the moog. The best example of this is on Mindphaser.

This remastered version is absolutely superb and features incredible sound quality, restored artwork, a ton of pictures of Klaus playing his banks of synthesizers, and detailed liner notes. The real treat however, is the addition of the excellent bonus track Floating Sequence (21'11"), which was taken from the Moondawn recording session. This version of Floating Sequence is a stereo mix that is completely different from the version included on the 1995 release of Moondawn.

This album is very highly recommended to all electronica fans along with Timewind (1975), Body Love (1977), Mirage (1977), and X (1978).

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Klaus Schulze in all his prog-rock glory., May 11, 2003

By 

Louie Bourland (Garden Grove CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Moondawn (Audio CD)

After his phenominal 1975 breakthrough "Timewind", Klaus Schulze went a step further with his next release "Moondawn". With the assistance of drummer Harald Grosskopf, Klaus ventures into a hybrid of his trademark sequencer style with elements of progressive rock. I found this album to sound the most like his former band Tangerine Dream (especially their "Green Desert" album). Like many of his albums at the time, "Moondawn" consists of only two tracks. The first track "Floating" is built in a musical arc beginning with fluttering cosmic sounds along with a German recitation of The Lords Prayer. Waves of synthetic strings and tolling bells dominate the opening section of this piece. A sequencer pulse begins to emerge after several minutes followed by Grosskopf's drumming. The interplay between Schulze's keyboards and Grosskopf's drums is superb. The piece builds with intensity as it runs its course and by the end, Schulze and Grosskopf are fully rocking out.
The second and last track "Mindphaser" begins with the crashing of ocean waves which leads into a soothing sections of string-synths with an oboe-like lead playing over the top. This piece maintains a sereen mood for its first 10 minutes but then does a complete about-face. With a heavy swoosh, Harald Grosskopf's drums and Schulze's electric organ take over in a full-on space rock jam. The two really let loose here especially Schulze when he improvises on his MiniMoog. After 25 minutes, the piece finally hangs itself up as Grosskopf bangs out a grand finale and Schulze finishes off with some dynamic synth-string chords. This is surely some breathtaking music.
It should be mentioned that all CD versions of this album (except for one) DO NOT contain the original mix. When this album was first released on CD, Klaus remixed the tracks due to flaws in the original master tapes. Also, both pieces had several seconds edited off of them. It wasn't until late 1995 that the original mixes as they were released in 1976 made it onto CD. This CD is entitled "Moondawn-The Original Master" on Manikin Records in Germany. The Original Master version also includes a bonus track entitled "Supplement" which is an early version of "Mindphaser". If you've never owned "Moondawn" on CD, the Original Master version is the one to get because you get the original mix plus a bonus cut.
"Moondawn" is still a favorite amongst Schulze fans. Many consider this to be his peak in the 1970's. It's worth every minute of ones listening pleasure. On a personal note, it was one of the first Klaus Schulze releases I ever owned (A used LP nonetheless).

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Schulze at his Best, December 3, 1999

By 

James Schulze - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moondawn (Audio CD)

This is easily Klaus Schulzes greatest album, and arguably one of the best ambient rock albums ever made. It features ethereal, beautiful synth work and a dark, mystic atmosphere that has been unmatched in electronic music history. If you get one Schulze album, this is the definitive. Superb.