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Larry Fast, better known as Synergy, has always regarded music as a soundtrack without an accompanying movie: a medium capable of conveying spaces, atmospheres and emotions without the need for words or visual imagery. “Metropolitan Suite”, inspired by his fascination with urban architecture, is a symphonic progressive electronic work that musically portrays the evolution of New York City throughout the 20th century. The album is particularly noteworthy for marking a technological milestone in Synergy’s discography. It was the first project Fast recorded directly in the digital domain rather than onto analogue tape. The compositions were initially developed using MIDI sequencers and subsequently refined during the production process. It also marked the first Synergy album to incorporate digital synthesizers beyond the pioneering Bell Labs technology Fast had previously explored. Sampling, digital FM synthesis and various other emerging technologies all play a significant role in the album’s sonic palette. Nevertheless, the production retained a distinctly hybrid character, combining these new digital possibilities with established analogue equipment, including the Moog modular synthesizer, complete with its extensive patch-cord configuration, as well as instruments such as the Prophet-5 and Memory Moog. Yamaha’s DX7 also features prominently throughout the recording. The five-part “Metropolitan Suite” is undoubtedly the album’s strongest achievement. Its expansive melodic development and pronounced cinematic qualities create a compelling musical narrative, successfully evoking the scale, complexity and changing character of a modern metropolis. Unfortunately, the remaining tracks are considerably less convincing, lacking the impact and distinctive character needed to leave a lasting impression. “West Side Nights” is particularly disappointing, relying on a rather uninspired mellow-jazz atmosphere dominated by synthetic saxophone sounds that fail to make much of an impression. The cd and cassette editions of “Metropolitan Suite” include the five movements of the main suite, alongside four shorter compositions. One of these, “Redstone”, is an entertaining historical piece paying tribute to the music of the 1960s, but is notably absent from the original vinyl edition.
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Website: synergy.emusic.com
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