Stephen Palmer 'Berlin'
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Sample the tracks

This is a double album for the price of a single.
Check the track lengths, these are immersive Berlin school pieces.
But with that Stephen Palmer ethnic edge mixed in, so refreshingly
slightly different to the usual Berlin school fare we get so much of.

Berlin via Cairo:

1. Giza Plateau   17:30
    Pounding sequencers, Egyptian percussion, electric guitar and synths all combine 
    to create a seventeen minute track that hypnotises the listener, never once letting go. 
    A choir mellotron and an Arabian flute enhance the mood.

2. nymphaea caerulea   29:04
    This twenty-nine minute track begins with glacial sequences and runs through 
    a dazzling range of sounds, from deeply reverberant guitar through to synth and 
    electronics. At the one third mark the sequences retreat to leave us with spacey 
    electronics, as a shifting melange of sounds takes us into futuristic Egyptian space. 
    The last third of the piece is a glorious tapestry of sequenced synths that echo composers
    such as Steve Reich, but also Tangerine Dream as that group entered the 'eighties...

3. Osiris Flute   2:48
    Flute mellotron, electronics and synths combine to create a brief sonic image of 
    oriental reflectivity.

4. Papyrus Head in the Nile   12:17
    A backwards saz (a Turkish seven-stringed long-necked lute) leads us into a bouncing 
    twelve minute track of sequences and synths. The euphoric mood peaks, then subsides 
    into calmer oriental sequences.

Berlin via Istanbul:

1. Garden of Earthly Passions   17:06
    Ghostly oriental sounds combine with electronics before a floating sequence enters, 
    reminiscent of '77-era Tangerine Dream. This seventeen minute track weaves its way 
    through various sequenced delights in classic Berlin School style, overlaid with synthesizer, 
    saz, and electric guitar solos.

2. Smoking Oriental Censer   19:56
    A zither straight from the bazaars of Istanbul leads us into a heavy sequenced track 
    which at almost twenty minutes goes through a mesmerising maze of spacerock guitar, 
    saz and wailing synthesizer solos. This one is perhaps more reminiscent of early period 
    Klaus Schulze, with its use of the choir mellotron and organ.

3. Turkish Delight   18:22
    The more delicate of the three tracks on this disk, at eighteen minutes this one
    features sequences that hop across various time signatures, not unlike Michael
    Hoenig's work. Features flute mellotron, synthesizer solos, oriental flutes and guitar.
    This piece hints in parts at Terry Riley's work.



Reviews ...

Berlin via Cairo & Berlin via Instanbul, credited to Stephen Palmer rather than a 
specific band/project name. This is Steve's homage to his earliest influences, 
German electronic pioneers like Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Michael Hoenig 
and Robert Schroeder. But there are also ethnic influences creeping in, not unlike 
Blue Lily Commission, and I liked the reference on the Ambientlive site describing 
this as what might have happened had Tangerine Dream et al recorded with Peter 
Gabriel in the Real World studios.

"Giza Plateau" opens the Cairo set with piano, crashing ocean waves and space 
synths, but Steve quickly settles into an electronic groove that's pure 70s Klaus 
Schulze and Tangerine Dream. And when the guitar kicks in and starts to jam 
we're really rocking in space. Later we hear some ethnic horns which inject a 
Blue Lily Commission feel into the music, though the classic 70s sequenced 
synths continue to rumble alongside. "nymphaea caerulea" starts off light and 
spacey with Dub bass and more Blue Lily styled ethnic horns. We're also treated 
to excellent guitar on this one. Spacey liquid psychedelic jamming licks, along 
with keyboard melodies that remind me of a Goblin soundtrack, ethnic percussion 
and that cool Dub pulse. Then around the 13 minute mark space-industrial synths 
indicate a transition to a more subdued, darkly atmospheric, sound exploratory 
segment. Like an extended introductory buildup, it has a space-ambient but rich 
cinematic feel, like the soundtrack to an avant-garde documentary about space 
exploration. Eventually we return to the opening theme and we're back in dreamy 
rocking space for the duration. Nearly 30 minutes of luscious spaced out BLISS! 
And speaking of bliss… we've got a flute and mellotron combination on "Osiris 
Flute", a brief track that sets the stage for "Papyrus Head In The Nile", which 
right out of the gate made me feel like I was among the pyramids. It develops 
into Blue Lily styled space trip, with cosmic horn and sequenced synths. 
And of course we travel through a variety of themes, from spunky, almost jazzy, 
keyboard driven rocker, to more deep space drift.

The aptly titled "Garden of Earthly Passions" kicks off the Istanbul CD with 
ethnic horns, wind-swept synths, bells and mellotron. All this sets the stage 
for the main portion, a spirited synth melody and rhythms. The guitar jams 
while the mellotron sings, and the sequenced rhythms lay down a steady 
groove, and ethnic stringed instruments add the Turkish delight. Very much 
at the crossroads of 70s Berlin school, the ethnic psychedelia of Blue Lily 
Commission, and deep space progressive rock. Next up is the once again 
appropriately titled "Smoking Oriental Censer". A steady dancey sequenced 
pattern opens the track, with lots of additional gurgling space electronics, 
and then a zither starts to jam along with it, and throughout the track trading 
off with cool guitar jamming. In fact, this has some of the most ripping guitar 
I've heard from Steve. Excellent spaced out dance grooves and even some 
cosmic jazzy vibes as well. We've definitely taken Berlin to Istanbul on this 
one. A heavenly 20 minute journey. 

Finally, we've got "Turkish Delight".... ooooh, flute and mellotron again, plus 
a bouncy sequenced synth pattern. Another outstanding space-prog excursion,
though somewhat more minimal in parts than the rest of the set. A minimalist 
brand of Berlin school, but still with the ethnic influences, varied rhythms, 
lots of freaky electronics, and more rocking guitar too. In summary, Steve 
does a great job of wearing his influences on his shirtsleeves while in no 
way being completely retro. The Berlin meets the East theme is apparent 
throughout, but the Blue Lily Commission elements and spacey progressive 
rock are prominent as well.

Jerry Kranitz / Aural Innovations



Although he’s been involved in numerous projects in the past few years,
Stephen Palmer is perhaps best known as the driving force behind the band
Mooch. Also involved with Spirits Burning and his own Blue Lily
Commission, Steve has been quite busy on the space rock/electronic music
scene. His latest effort focuses on a more solitary side to his music with
this double disc, released in conjunction with the Ambientlive label.

The Berlin via Cairo/Berlin via Istanbul set is basically self-explanatory
material. This is Berlin school electronic music ala Tangerine Dream,
Radio Massacre International, Klaus Schulze, etc. mixed with some Middle
Eastern spices. There’s really not much else to explain. Each disc
contains three extended tracks, while the Cairo disc has a fourth track
included that is shorter.

The music on the Istanbul disc was recorded between 2004 and 2006, while
the Cairo disc covers the time period of 2006 to 2008. The tracks were
essentially created using just a Mac G5 with Logic and Big Fish Audio
Software. Although some electronic music purists might scoff at someone
using mainly software to create this kind of material, let me assure you
that this has a very authentic feel and is exceptionally well put
together. I seem to detect a guitar here and there so I suppose it isn’t
just exclusively sourced from the computer software.

It’s difficult to pick out any favorites on here because it’s all freakin’
great. As a longtime fan of electronic music and particularly the German
stuff, I must say that Stephen has really outdone himself with these
discs. This could hold it’s own easily against the classics of the genre
and the mixture of world music to the electronic music really gives it a
classy touch. Sometimes it’s a very subtle combination but I guess that’s
what makes everything run so smoothly.

Stephen Palmer is, to put it simply, a very versatile musician. I realized
this when I first listened to Dr. Silbury’s Liquid Brainstem Band from
Mooch and everything I’ve heard from him since then just amplifies that
fact. From space rock, to vintage 60’s psychedelia to Berlin school
electronics, Mr. Palmer explores some of the most fascinating avenues of
mind-expanding music. If you like the bands that I mentioned earlier in
this review or if you’re a fan of electronic music in any form, I strongly
advocate looking into this one.

ffroyd / www.progressiveears.com