As with Radio Massacre International (RMI), I have a large amount of Redshift CDs. In this case I own 12 of them. Of all the great bands operating in the retro Berlin School Electronic space, I would submit that Redshift are the best of the lot. Even within those tight confines, I had Siren in the upper tier. This listen may have moved it down to the second division. Which is still excellent in my book, but the competition is fierce. Siren is from their 1999 Alfa Centauri concert, and features them as a quartet, which was their best lineup. Veteran synthesist Mark Shreeve leads the group with his Modular Moog in tow. Literally you need a tow truck to move it around. When folks talk about fat analog sequences, you cannot surpass the original Moog. And that's on full display here. Like with RMI, Baumann era Tangerine Dream is the blueprint. Maybe more towards Rubycon than RMI's Encore sounds. As wonderful as Siren is, I would suggest it is one of their more mellow releases. There isn't the sequencer, mellotron, and guitar rave-ups that you'll find on their best albums. Siren is sort of their Stratosfear if making a comparison. The best track is 'Bombers in the Desert', but that is not a new composition, coming from arguably their best album Ether. Everything else is new to this recording. I'm nowhere near looking to shed any Redshift from the collection yet, but if push came to shove, this wouldn't be among those that are guaranteed a spot.
Ownership: CD: 2002 Distant Sun. Jewel case with 4 page booklet. Purchased new close to when released. Good thing, as this is one of their hardest CDs to source.
11/11/16; 6/26/22 (new entry)
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