Orfeon Gagarin - Orfeon Gagarin [Verlag System 017 Promo]

Scheduled for re-release on February 23rd, 2k19 is the self-titled debut album of Spanish electronic music pioneer Miguel Angel Ruiz, better known under his artistic alias of Orfeon Gagarin to those digging deeply into the early years of the scene. Originally put on the circuit in 1986 as a tape release on Toracic Tapes in 1986 the album is comprised of thirteen tracks based on an arrangement of Korg synthesizer, sequencer, organ and tapes as the foundation for Ruiz' compositional work. Starting with "Not Is Possible Landing" we're drawn straight into a sonic realm of quirky, yet clearly Contemporary Classical-influenced synth movements and early text-to-speech experimentation whereas "Traumatoid" drifts into dreamy, spaced out sci-fi territories, "Eucarystics" predates minimalism in Ambient / lo-fi IDM by several years and "Gulag" elaborates on mechanical, multi-layered percussions and distorted bleeps at high speed levels. The follow up "Voces Mauritanas" brings forth a collage of brooding, fever'ish experimental SynthWave and crackly Field Recordings of seemingly arabic chants and music, "Teatro Sucio" follows the raw, experimental path of SynthWave / Ingenious Dilletantes and "Proceso In Vitro" provides a blueprint of swampy, hypnotic loop techniques in combination with retrofuturist synth sweeps, clunky rhythm signatures and processed non-vocalisms. Furthermore "Omsk 1939" evokes memories of DubTechno-infused Ambient created years before the mentioned genres where even invented, "Necrontocratycs" caters to the needs of fans of highly experimental music resembling wildest modular synthesis on overdrive and seems to predict and depict an early and pioneering variation of beatless, yet grinding MonoAcid way before this style skyrocketed in Techno clubs around 1993/1994 whilst "Ultima Instancia" provides an early take on Ambient purism. Finally "Geriatrol" combines tweeting birds and running water with beauteous, highly melancholic synth harmonies, "Ulan Motor" harks back to swampy Ambient territories which will be highly appreciated by fans of Future Sound Of London and the concluding cut "Canada Dry" provides a feel of desolation and post-apocalyptic greyscale for all those with a dystopian mindset out there. Interesting stuff that surely was ahead of its time when originally released.