Sequencer [Original recording remastered]

About the Artist
The man behind Synergy is Larry Fast a native of New Jersey who was to have a far-reaching effect on the use of synthesizers in rock music during the seventies and eighties. Larry Fast first came to prominence with the release of the debut album from Synergy called Electronic Realizations For Rock Orchestra in 1975. Prior to the release of Synergy’s debut Larry Fast had been at college. Initially Larry trained as a violinist and pianist before entering college and taking a few computer science courses. It was during this period that Larry Fast became interested in synthesized music and began to build his own synthesizers. At this time he was introduced to Rick Wakeman at a local radio station and both musicians enjoyed an immediate rapport with Larry Fast interesting Rick Wakeman in his home made instruments and his customizing of existing synthesizers. He was invited over to England to assist with the synthesizers on the Yes album Tales From Topographic Oceans. Shortly after this Larry Fast gained a record contract, which saw the beginning of Synergy and the subsequent release of the debut album which received plaudits from no lesser person than Robert Moog himself who at the time claimed the album to be "the most important recording using his Moog synthesizer". Soon after the release of the debut Synergy album Larry Fast was introduced to Peter Gabriel who at the time had just left Genesis to embark on a solo career and Larry was invited by Gabriel to help with the synthesizer work on Peter’s series of self titled solo albums. During this time Larry also worked as part of Peter Gabriel’s live band and performed on many sessions for diverse artists including Foreigner, Kate Bush, Art Garfunkel, Hall and Oates and The Fugees in addition to recording and releasing albums with Synergy. During the eighties Larry Fast also moved into film work scoring the films About Last Night and Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Product Description
Sequencer was the second album from Synergy and was released a mere twelve months after the debut album in 1976. Again the album is an intriguing and sometimes unpredictable set of instrumentals putting Synergy and Larry Fast at the forefront of electronic keyboard led rock music. This re issue has been re mastered for this release and contains sleeve notes written by Larry Fast and will form part of a series of releases which will see the entire Synergy back catalogue released over the next twelve months.

Sequencer,Synergy,United States Dist,Dance Music,Electronic,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock,Rock/Pop

Average customer rating: Lyric sheet not included. . .and still no guitars

Sequencer Synergy Manufacturer: Voiceprint UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra Cords Games Audion Metropolitan Suite ASIN: B000167XW6 Release Date: 2004-02-16

Tracks:

1. S-Scape
2. Chateau
3. Cybersports
4. Classical Gas Paradox:
5. A. Largo, New World Symphony
6. B. Icarus
7. Sequence 14
8. Sequence 14 [Original 1975 Demo]

Product Description

1. S-scape
2. Chateau
3. Cyber-sports
4. Classical Gas
5. Paradox
a. Largo, New World Symphony
b. Icarus
6. Sequence 14

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

Lyric sheet not included. . .and still no guitars.......2005-12-04

After the promise of Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra the previous year, one would think that Sequencer would have been a comparatively impressive work. Unfortunately, this album is gravely disappointing compared to the first album. S-Scape, the first track, ends as soon as it starts to get good. Other tracks, like the wonderful Chateau and the cool Cybersports, are good short pieces but offer only a taste of the Synergy heard in ER. It just strikes me that Larry Fast may have been a bit short on material (or energy) at the time he created this album as the majority of the pieces on it are either covers of others' works or tone sequences. Only once the last track (Sequence) 17 gets going do you begin to hear the Synergy character that you wanted to hear more of when you bought the album.

Now don't get me wrong--there are tracks in here that are definitely worth listening to. It's not a bad album, but this is not the best that Synergy has to offer.

Average customer rating: Bo-o-o-o-ring CLASSICAL ELECTRO FROM AN EARLY PIONEER Excellent Electronic Music Album The synthetist that was Peter Gabriel's keyboardist timeles expermentation

Sequencer Synergy Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Games Cords ASIN: B00000612L Release Date: 1998-03-31

Tracks:

1. S-Scape
2. Chateau
3. Cybersports
4. Classical Gas
5. Paradox: A. Largo, New World Symphony
6. Paradox: B. Icarus
7. Sequence 14

Amazon.com

Though he's recorded with Peter Gabriel, Nektar, and dozens of others, all you really need to know about electronics guru Larry Fast--who records solo under the name Synergy--is that he's the guy responsible for the music at those planetarium light shows. His recently reissued Synergy discs from the '70s are virtually interchangeable exercises in orchestrated synth music. Think Yes without the guitars, drums, or vocals. Sequencer's most distinguishing moment is its cover of the old Mason Williams chestnut "Classical Gas," a cover that's even cheesier than the original. If you want to stay ahead of the retro camp curve, here's your ticket. --Keven McAlester

Customer Reviews:

Bo-o-o-o-ring.......2002-09-18

Sorry I agree with the other reviewer. I had only heard Electronic Realizations, which is a CLASSIC. So I had a chance to pick up an old vinyl of Sequencer expecting more bliss...boy what a letdown. The first track is ok, yes, and Classical Gas is amusing, but the rest is unlistenable. Let me compare ERFRO and Sequencer.
Sound quality:
ERFRO has ambience galore, crystal clear sound, warm sonic oceans with soaring melodies. There is not a more perfect track than "Relay Breakdown" that demonstrates everything great about the sound of this album.
SEQUENCER sounds like plastic keyboards with no dynamics at all, everything is at the same volume, and so flat it actually is irritating to the ears. A little more attention to the MIX would have helped. And a little reverb!
PERFORMANCE and COMPOSITION:
ERFRO features clever tunes by Fast, though Warriors is a bit bombastic. There are time changes and key modulations, changes in timbre effected by switching up different instruments for the ensemble portions. It remains interesting for most of the album.
SEQUENCER everything seems to be diatonic (based on a major scale or relative minor). There don't seem to be any memorable melodies, just absent-minded noodley stuff like he spent all his time working out the sounds (or distracted by other projects or success) and then just improvised quick sketches in the studio.
Perhaps he was trying to come up with something new, new sounds, and ran out of time or something...The album sounds unfinished in some respects.
Sorry Larry Fast, I am a fan, I saw you with Peter Gabriel twice and enjoyed your work on his albums (esp 3 and Security) and even on Recycled by Nektar, but I can't explain this album. I want to hear the others, Chords, Audion etc. I hope they are better.

CLASSICAL ELECTRO FROM AN EARLY PIONEER.......2001-07-19

LARRY FAST AT HIS MOST ACCESSABLE. "CHATEAU" IS A BAROQUE MASTERPIECE THAT BACH WOULD OF BEEN PROUD OF. REST OF CD PRETTY GOOD TOO. ANALOG AT ITS PEAK.

Excellent Electronic Music Album.......1999-12-30

I have enjoyed this album since I first heard it on vinyl from our local library. I now own that same copy. I never tire of it. W/W Carlos and his/her Switched on Bach is good, but texture-wise, Larry K.O.s Mr./Ms Carlos...I will join the others in recommending it for your collection of electronic music, or if you are just starting out. Not a boring track on it.

The synthetist that was Peter Gabriel's keyboardist.......1999-11-30

Before Peter Gabriel did "Games without Frontiers", Larry Fast, AKA Syenergy was working up his second album, "Sequencer" which rivals Walter/Wendy Carlos and all other electronic key boardist that have come. This is a must have item for those interested in the development of the synthesizers in music. His version of "A Classical Gas" and the "Largo" (from the New World Symphony) remain as very illustrative and interesting compositions comparable to today's artistic works. This is a second album project and it just gets better with "Cords", "Games", "Audion" and his others releases. His first album's title discribes his compositions: "Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra".

timeles expermentation.......1999-03-20

this is larry fasts second outing of rock tinged electronic music that would become known as new age. Once again he provides tasteful use of synthesizer and other eletronic instruments. gREAT MOOD MUSIC

Average customer rating: Fabulous WOW A journey to the future with visions from the past DO I HAVE TO GIVE IT 1 STAR? Pink Floyd [Copies]

Dream Sequencer ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00004SZ1V Release Date: 2000-07-18

Tracks:

1. The Dream Sequencer
2. My House On Mars
3. 2084
4. One Small Step
5. The Shooting Company Of Captain Frans B Coco
6. Dragon On The Sea
7. Temple Of The Cat
8. Carried By The Wind
9. And The Druids Turn To Stone
10. The First Man On Earth
11. The Dream Suquencer Reprise

Album Description

2000 release from the much acclaimed prog metal band.Featuring luminaries from the world of prog & metal including Clive Nolan (Pendragon), Edward Reekers (Kayak), Lana Lane, Johan Edlund (Tiamat) and Damian Wilson (Threshold), to name a few. 'The Dream S

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous.......2006-09-30

This is an amazingly good album.

Yes, it has echoes of Pink Floyd, but also of Mike Oldfield, and--most significantly--the Beatles.

It is wonderfully varied. There are lots of different vocalists, male and female, and lots of different tempi and moods.

I didn't really follow the story line (though I like the narration), but the music itself was gorgeous and involving.

There is also a really nice balance of instruments: at times, blistering guitars, sometimes soaring synths, and very often (and most Beatlish) great orchestral accompaniments.

What is most amazing is how different this CD is from Pt.II (Flight of the Migrator).

This one has ever-changing diversity and sweetness alternating with harshness, so that each complements the other.

Pt. II (Migrator) alas, is one long uninterrupted thrash-guitar speed-fest, with relentlessly screaming male vocals. Pt. II is strictly for 13-year-old males.

Avoid Pt. II, and stick with this one. A triumph!

WOW.......2005-12-30

I am siting here listining to this wonderful CD, this is a classic and should be in everybody's cd collection. Arjen Lucassen weaves a great tale and all the tracks are good, but my favs would have to be My House On Mars, And The Druid Turns To Stone. Bieng older in years and a teenager when Pink Floyd made Dark Side Of The Moon. It is good to now there is still some great talent out there, the range of music and the playing are superb. And to the reviwers who don't like this go listen to some other crap, and leave the good stuff to those with an ear for good music.
So buy this now and then get the rest of there CD's especially Human Equation.

A journey to the future with visions from the past.......2005-09-07

Let me start by saying that this is a very good album, but it takes time to really enjoy it's substance.

My first impression was that of a little dissapointment. I am used to this, because now and then I miss the point of some great albums only to find later that I had missed a masterpiece. This time however I was very quick to "find the point" in The Dream Sequencer.

By the second time I've listened to the album, melodies started to catch as if I was used to them since a long time. It is a kind of magic when that little thing begins to happen, and you start to antecipate what chord progressions or change in beat will occurs next in an almost unknown song. This is a kind of thing that happens all the time when I am listening to classical music, but not as often in metal or progressive music.

It is not Dream Theater, it is not Symphony X, and it's not Pink Floyd (which is a good thing!), NO, it's another kind of thing entirely. It is progressive, it moves in a calm, slow pace. I regard it as more similar to Vangelis solo works than prog-rock/metal bands. Vangelis with a twist. And a good one.

I really didn't imagine myself listening (and enjoying ) this kind of singular music before I had the opportunity to listen to Ayreon: The Dream Sequencer.

DO I HAVE TO GIVE IT 1 STAR?.......2005-01-30

WHAT A LOAD OF PURE REGRESSIVE DRECK THIS IS ...PINK FLOYD COPIES???? NOT EVEN CLOSE. SOUNDS LIKE CHURCH MUSIC WITH BAD SYNTHESIZERS. I WOULDN'T EVEN PUNISH MY WORST ENEMY BY MAKING HIM LISTEN TO THIS CRAP

Pink Floyd [Copies].......2003-01-27

I had high hopes for this CD. I grew bored listening to it after the fourth track. It is only an average CD that left me wanting for more. I am a huge prog fan. This CD was very dissapointing. I got relly tired of hearing all of the keyboard effects. I would not reccomend this CD to anyone.

Average customer rating:

Numena Robert Rich Manufacturer: Linden ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Electronic | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music All Bargain Titles | Dance General | Dance & DJ | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music ASIN: B0006IB7KS Release Date: 1993-01-01

Tracks:

1. Other Side of Twilight
2. Moss Dance
3. Numen
4. Walled Garden

Average customer rating: One of the Greatest Electro Albums Ever Electro-industrial or future-pop?

Sequencer Beta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B000092VSE Release Date: 1996-01-01

Tracks:

1. Feedback
2. Stalker
3. Figurehead
4. Phoenix
5. Slowmotion
6. Tabula Rasa
7. Storm
8. BONUS: Luminal
9. Flux

Customer Reviews:

One of the Greatest Electro Albums Ever.......2006-11-03

This is a watershed. It is a monumental achievement of word and sound. If you are unfamiliar with Covenant, they are an electronic band, utilizing samples and synthesizers. This is no 80s synthpop though. It's dynamic, edgy, powerful music. The lyrics are just as engaging as the music. Many songs are danceable, but that's not the point. Yes, this can be great party music, but it's also good for those introspective folks who want to sit and listen in solitude or isolation. This version of the CD does NOT contain the Stalker EP, with the extra mixes of that song, or the song Babel. Just get the regular Metropolis version for that. This CD does, however, contain LUMINAL, and it's the only place you can get it.

These songs are intellectual yet elemental. They have a strong sense of predator vs. prey. They present paradoxes in life and undercut the human will. Full of ego and yet cynical of that same ego. The music is brilliant and experimental in every aspect and yet accessible. It is darker than their later material. This is probably the most significant achievement of the band, though. One of my favorite albums of all time.

Electro-industrial or future-pop?.......2004-01-27

Second release from one of the most popular and addictive electro acts around.Sounds like electro-industrial but is the sound of future electro so...is the base of future-pop?

Average customer rating:

Strange Planet Con Sequencer ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000BTP3JI Release Date: 2006-08-01

Average customer rating:

Soundings Manufacturer: Tall Poppies ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Computer | Electronic | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00005J6XG Release Date: 2001-05-29

Tracks:

1. Continuum
2. Suite-Leviathan '99
3. 345-A Study in Limited Resources for Stereo Tape
4. Suite-The Children of Lir
5. Birh Is Life Is Power Is Death Is God Is....
6. Suite-The Japanese Fisherman
7. Narcissus
8. Flute: Douglass Whittaker

Tracks:

1. Nonet
2. Soft Walls
3. Sine City II
4. Black, White and Rose
5. Clockpiece 1
6. Clockpiece 2
7. Clockpiece 3
8. Trellises
9. Counterpoint 4
10. Counterpoint 5
11. Counterpoint 6
12. Power Bounces1
13. Power Bounces 4
14. Cross-Accents 1
15. Cross-Accents 5

Average customer rating:

Sequencer Synergy Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000A2PMB0 Release Date: 2004-01-01

Average customer rating:

Sequencer Beta Covenant Manufacturer: Memento Materia ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Goth | Industrial ASIN: B0007UC3RQ Release Date: 2007-07-16

Average customer rating:

Keyboard Maniac Manufacturer: Albany Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Computer | Electronic | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B00005B6AG Release Date: 2001-04-24

Tracks:

1. Journey: The Longest Mile
2. Playfully
3. Mysteriously
4. Gloony
5. Joyfully
6. Etude
7. Nocturne
8. Dream Waltz
9. Morning's Glory
10. Afternoon Circles
11. Rumble in the Night
12. Piano Varations on Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing
13. Keyboard Maniac [Rhapsody No. 4]

Tracks:

1. Sax Haven
2. Chant
3. Eternity
4. Prelude to the Urban City
5. Fugue Ghetto
6. Sea Storm
7. Nebulae
8. Super Voice
9. Hit the Dust
10. Echoes from the Spirit
11. Daylight
12. Storm Chaser
13. Warning
14. Eruption
15. Red Sun

Album Review:

1. She: A Female Trip-Hop Experience
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3. Singles Collection [Box set] [Import]
4. Soul Trader
5. Soundphiles [Import]
6. St. Eustacia
7. Stadtkind
8. Supperclub Presents Lounge V.1
9. Tainted Lunch
10. The Transatlantic Move

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