Broekhuis, Keller and Schonwalder / Blue

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I have been a fan of Keller and Schonwalder (both with and without Bas, who is excellent here) for more years than I can remember. Their music is varied but one of the main influences must surely be Klaus Schulze. This album is the second in a series starting with ‘Orange’ and which is due to finish with ‘Red’. It contains three tracks, each over twenty minutes long.  Soothing mellotron hovers over tinkling percussion to create a gorgeous laid-back start to ‘Blue One’. Cello type string sounds emerge as the percussion starts to form a foot-tapping groove. The sound is warm and lush but at the same time has real depth. I find something new each time I listen to it. Flutey synth makes an entrance. You can either let the wonderful complex swirling sonic brew flow through you as a whole or try and focus on each individual element. Whichever method used the experience is just as rewarding. We flow straight into ‘Blue Two’ without a break on the back of a swirling sonic melee. A slow shuffling beat adds a little structure which gradually increases in complexity as the backing becomes denser, even threatening. A slow lead line sighs over the top, gaining in confidence and intensity all the time. It’s like a ray of positive energy questing through storm clouds all around it. A piano lead heralds a momentary slowing of pace before new insistent rhythms break through, a sequence close on their heels. Before you know it we are hurtling along at break neck speed once more, theremin type sonic shimmers flying above it all. As with the first track it’s all incredibly intense but also rather relaxed and meditative at the same time. It all depends on how deeply you choose to listen to it. Again we move seamlessly into ‘Blue & Red’ on a sea of gentle shifting pads. This is a very different track to its two predecessors. It’s best just to close your eyes and let your mind float along with the ethereal soundscape. More gentle rhythms enter in the sixth minute, then a slow sequence but things are still fairly relaxed. A shimmering melody comes and goes as rhythmically things become increasingly complex but never too in your face. Yet again there is great depth to the music but this final number is not quite as complex as what has gone before. It’s a lovely blissed out way to finish a wonderful album. DFL

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