3.5

Release data:

Megabyte – Powerplay
CD, Innovative Communications, 1987

This is, in my opinion, one of the most peculiar electronic releases put out in the second half of the ’80s.
Megabyte is Billy Byte and Amanda Mega, but the actual musicians behind it are no other than Thilo Rex (who sadly passed away at the age of 51 in 2009) and Steven Töteberg respectively. The latter is also known from projects such as G.E.N.E and Quiet Force.

Well, on “Powerplay” Megabyte follows a adventurous but still accessible approach, beside a few psychedelic sidesteps. Sonically, their multi-faceted sound environment rides the edge of groovy sequencer lines, catchy percussion and warm, nicely layered melodic textures.

All elements that -one way or another- always have been the trademark of the music put out by Innovative Communications. The most appealing track by far is the catchy, up-beat and highly melodic title-track, which even gets an overhauled “Power-Mix” at the end of the album.
However, things are only taken into a more experimental/psychedelic but also fascinating realm on the 10-minute “Secret Destination (The Flight of Mathias Rust)”, which I think is a bit tougher to appreciate.

Nevertheless, there’s a lot to like in the uninterrupted sonic and imaginative explorations that make up “Powerplay”.