Search - Stardrive :: Stardrive

Analog moog blasts off

Richard W. Abrams | Middle of Nowhere, OK USA | 09/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At the time of release, it had only a few high points with Pulstar being the most accessible as for the rock minded listener. Keyboardist, Robert Mason uses a standard Moog synthesizer then added some of his own filters and electronic gizmos to enlarge his abilities for mixing on the run as computers were several more years down the road. Stardrive kicks with real drums and bass guitar backing the synthesizer as the lead instrument. Some of the tracks are spacey and purely experimental while others definitely show a major influence of Keith Emerson. Some tunes even have a touch of Walter Carlos (Switched on Bach). Now 35 years later, this album sounds better now than it did when I purchased it! Perhaps it's the old school analog sound mixed with live energy, a little funk, a little rock and some progressive - spacey sounds thrown into the mix that make it all work together. Having never heard the first release, I can only state that this is one piece of electronica worth collecting. Try mixing all three Ballad tracks in succession for a real treat!"