Thunderbolt chose to combine Mirage and Angst for a unique
Klaus Schulze two-fer. Mirage is one of
Klaus Schulze's best albums; it is certainly among the eeriest e-music sets ever. He created it as "an electronic winter landscape dedicated to Hans Dieter Schulze." It has somewhat of a symphonic structure; there are two main pieces: "Velvet Voyage" and "Crystal Lake." Each piece has six separate movements with
experimental sounds serving as the recurring themes. The album has cold and icy textures that take listeners to the brink of the winter solstice. The
experimental timbres give the set a sci-fi feel. Angst is a unique soundtrack for a documentary film about judicial scandal in Austria, and it is inconsistent. The music came first and the film was edited to fit the soundtrack, so the score drives the film.
Klaus Schulze called upon his many influences to build this project. The primary style is Berlin school, but
Schulze uses his symphonic synths, his
classical training, and his atmospheric sensitivity as well. For the most part, it does work as a stand-alone musical event, but loses some of its impact with the rhythmic pieces. They have drama and mystery and are, undoubtedly, important to the score -- they just don't stand alone. All that being said, the strength of Mirage and the strong tracks on Angst make this a great set and a good starting point for a
Schulze library. ~ Jim Brenholts, All Music Guide
