The Nightcrawlers - The Biophonic Boombox Recordings [Anthology Editions Promo]

Recently released via Anthology Editions and drawing from the vast, 40+ self-released tapes spanning back catalogue of the Philadelphia-based experimental synth pioneers The Nightcrawlers is "The Biophonic Boombox Recordings", a compilation album that has been announced on these pages prior and is aiming to provide a proper overview over the bands body of work released between 1979 and somewhen in the early 90s. Opening with "Phase I: Discovery And Approach" which provides a kind of desolate, yet futuristic and at the same time scientific feel before drifting off into busy, meandering and surely KrautRock-influenced Cosmic / Kosmische Musik realms with "Beckoning Beacon" whereas the following "Geistesblitz" emphasizes on the floating, intense live aspects of the groups work with coughing and other noises from the audience still audible and captured on The Nightcrawlers' recording device, a JVC boombox. Following up on this sampler promo is "Crystal Loop III", presenting an array of multilayered, crystalline sonic fountains and tender underlying percussion elements providing a complex, yet captivating rhythmic pulse before the already featured "Luv-Li-Musik" creates an atmosphere of sheer synth beauty. Furthermore "Zeitgeber" is a massive, 24 minutes spanning jam, a perfect blueprint for defining Synth as a genre in its own right, clearly influenced by the likes of Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze, predating Ambient by far and telling a true story due to its musical twists and turns, even winding into mystical Field Recordings-infused realms before "Reprieve" finally returns to a dreamy, improvised space-age drift into one's inner mind and deepest layers of imagination. Highly recommended.