Search - Software :: Past-Present Future

Berlin School lite

11/04/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Past, Present, Future is a compilation CD, that (along with an apparently unavailable Vol. 2) traces "The best music" from the albums Beam Scape, Phancyful Fire, Night Light, Chip Meditation, and Electronic Universe. As you can probably tell by the titles, Software is interested in technology and how it "has pushed human civilization into a realm where traditional logic and structures are obsolete." The footsteps they follow however, aren't those of Kraftwerk, but more towards Klaus Schulze territory. Not that Software will be misaken for Schulze, but they use the same structure for their works, generally speaking, a fairly hypnotic sequence, over which they play synthesizers and other electronic sounds. The only piece which doesn't follow this formula is "Voice Bit", a 1 minute spoken (in German) word piece. Electronic music lover that I am, I still have never really gotten enthused about this album (Vol. 2 is a more satisfying album). Still, it makes for decent background or reading music. Plus, the (computer generated) artwork is very nice."