Agneta Nilsson was the first Heldon album for me to hear, and like so many foundational albums, it helped shaped my tastes in music rather than validate it. I was very familiar with Tangerine Dream, Ashra, and Klaus Schulze by this time (early 1986), but little else outside of Germany in the electronic field. When I saw the cover, it seemed like a can't miss proposition. Used import records back then weren't expensive so I took a chance. And was rewarded, though once again it took a long time to fully appreciate. The opening track is more like Richard Pinhas' Iceland (an album I'd hear a few years later), which is a long.. cold... electronic landscape. This is followed by the second Perspective which is a wild combination of synthesizers and atmospheric percussion. It's the third Perspective that enthralled me initially (and to this day). 'Baader-Meinhof Blues' is an incredibly intense piece of music and it's here that I was introduced to Professor Pinhas' 1954 Gibson Les Paul guitar. When one uses terms such as anguished, tortured, or nightmarish electric guitar, then this is the textbook definition of that. And while Pinhas is conjuring up the evil side of Hendrix, the Moog playing is magnificent. It appears to be completely improvised with the unpredictable analog instrument threatening to blow up at any moment. Like a washing machine that's about to topple over. This is followed by the one peaceful track 'Bassong' which is a guitar bass duo from two players not on the rest of the album, but both part of Pinhas' world (Gerard Prevost and Michel Ettori). The long Perspective IV is a summary of the contents before it with added doomanality (new word). Pinhas can really crush your spirit with his guitar and "melodies". After this album, Pinhas added permanent members to create more electronic rock sounding albums, that are even better (especially the last two). But these semi-solo electronic experiments prior are not to be missed. Pioneering in every way.
Ownership: LP: 1976 Urus. Single sleeve. Acquired at Sound Exchange in Houston while there on winter break from college (Jan 1986). This was my first visit there and I would a return a few times more through 1988. Easily one of the best used stores in the country at that time. I consider this one of the most important LPs in my collection.
CD: 2005 Captain Trip (Japan). Papersleeve edition. I have it stored in a promo box with Interface on the cover.
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