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c a l l i s t o   e u r o p a   g a n y m e d e   i o

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In 1917 Gustav Holst gave us The Planets. Now 75 years later Chuck van Zyl presents a suite of EM celebrating the Galilean satellites! This four cassette set recorded over the past 3 years demonstrates the range of van Zyl's electronic and compositional talents. These tapes do not contain the random synthesizer noodling that currently poses as space music. van Zyl's music is well thought out and designed to achieve a specific mood, emotion, or mental image. Each tape contains two side - long compositions. Callisto, released in 1989, emulates Klaus Schulze and middle period Tangerine Dream. Tasteful orchestration, a judicious use of bass, driving sequencers, eerie sound effects, and a classically inspired ethereal organ solo take you on the first interplanetary expedition to Callisto and Valhalla, the largest known impact crater in the Solar System. On Ganymede, van Zyl explores early Tangerine Dream - styled cascading analog pentatonic sequences and Froese - inspired bass guitar rhythms. The fabulous end of the tape is worthy of the largest satellite in the Solar System and creates the same mood as the finale of Mussorsky's Night on Bald Mountain. With Europa, van Zyl moves away from Tangerine Dream to create some genuinely ethereal EM. The mood shifts constantly back and forth as if you are crossing Europa's network of dark bands and bright streaks. There are no driving rhythms of sequences here. Slowly moving tone washes shifting major and minor chords, and angelic choruses culminate in a wonderful cathedral organ solo. van Zyl's suite climaxes with Io. Io is beautiful ambient music with no "classical" song structure, melody, or rhythm. It quietly evolves from volcanic eruptions and steam fumerole ventings to some heavily processed analog electronics. Io is SF space music at its finest! These four tapes are a joy and a neccesity for space music aficianados. Strap yourself in, close your eyes, and tour Jupiter's Galilean satellites! Highly recommended. Henry Schneider -- I/E   Winter 1992

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