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Reviews

Spacecraft — Paradoxe
(Spalax 14928, 1978/1995, CD)

by Peter Thelen, Published 1996-03-01

Paradoxe Cover art

John Livengood may be better known for his recent collaborations with Richard Pinhas, but this was his electronic duo back in the late 70s, joined by Ivan Coaquette on guitars and bass. Their purely instrumental music blends the best of sequenced electronics in a floating sea of dreamy atmospherics. The sound occupies the French electronic middle ground, not quite as aggressive as early Heldon and Ilitch, nor as sweet and slickly produced as Space Art or Jarre. Other points of reference might be early Kraftwerk or Cluster – experimental, but not ugly. There is enough grunge in Livengood's electronics (Arp Odyssey & 2600, Farfisa, echo, delay, and primitive tape loops) to keep it interesting over the long haul, while Coaquette throws in some interesting, and sometimes noisy guitar textures that keep the sound from getting too pretty. As a reissue bonus, an early Livengood recording from 1973 Pays de Glace ("Land of Ice") has been included. Fans of Heldon and the like should find much here of interest.

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 9, 1995 releases, 1978 recordings

Related artist(s): Spacecraft

 

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