Fine spacy electronic music from Gong synthesist
BENJAMIN MILER | Veneta, Oregon | 08/11/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'm a fan of Gong's Radio Gnome trilogy and I liked how Tim Blake contributed greatly to that band's spacy sound. You (1974) showed Tim Blake at his best when he was with Gong, there isn't another Gong album that I know in which Blake played so well (and I can say the same for the rest of the band, particularly Steve Hillage, Pierre Moerlin, and Didier Malherbe), so naturally I had to see how he was like on his own, and when I purchased Crystal Machine, I was not one bit disappointed. The music here is purely improvised space electronic music on Moog and EMS synths. Some of the electronic effects sound like they came off a Gong album (no surprise). All are recorded live, mostly from the Seasalter Free Festival in 1976, with one cut ("Synthèse Intemporel") being recorded at the La Palace Theâtre in Paris in February 1977. The first three cuts, "Midnight", "Metro/Logic" and "Last Ride of the Boogie Child" are typical for this album, but "Synthèse Intemporel" is a real delight for all those who enjoy mid-period Tangerine Dream (i.e. Ricochet) as that cut is an obvious attempt at Blake trying to sound just like TD. The last cut, "Crystal Presence" is basically an experimental piece that sounded like it came right off "Other Side of the Sky" from Angel's Egg. Crystal Machine is not perfect, it gets a little repetitive, but as a '70s vintage keyboard fan, it has that most wonderful '70s synth sound, so if you hate plastic sounding digital synth sounds (like too many albums from the 1980s and 1990s), and you like Gong or '70s electronic music, you might like this one."
A Great, Great Album of Analog Greatness
Music Expert | East Coast, USA | 10/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ben Miller's review (below) is excellent. I can't add much more, but will say that my experience was much like his -- that after hearing Tim Blake on Gong's "You" album I had to seek him out. Although his performances on "Radio Gnome" and "Angel's Egg" are impressive, it is definitely "You" where he shines. One thing that makes this album so great is that he manages to make this music with very little equipment. Citing an MXR Flanger as one of your instruments is padding the bill a bit, don't you think? It seems like he pretty much relies on two synths, and EMS and a Mini-Moog. Plus a reel2reel tape recorder for echo. But not much else, besides his stoner imagination. I listen to this album often. His "New Jerusalem" album is almost as good, but not quite. Mostly because he insists on adding acoustic guitar and much more vocals to the mix, but still, it isn't bad. It is worth seeking out, just to hear more of Tim Blake from the same era. His later albums are not the same style.Tim Blake's "Crystal Machine" is a classic album, that will always have an honored space (pun intended) in my collection."
FORGOTTEN MILESTONE
Larry Johnson | Arizona City,Az.U.S. | 06/28/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"WHY ARE ALBUMS THAT ARE MILESTONES IN MUSIC HISTORY LEFT IN THE DUST BIN AND SO MUCH GARBAGE IS CONSTANTLY BEING REMASTERED & RERELEASED? WHEN AN ALBUM SUCH AS CRYSTAL MACHINE COMES ALONG AND INSPIRES SO MANY MILLION ARTISTS, WHY ISN'T IT GIVEN IT'S DUE? PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND, WHO IS THE KNUMBNUTZ THAT LET THIS CD BECOME OUT OF PRINT? IS IT TIM TRYING TO MAKE BANK ON HIS DEBUT? CAN HE BE THAT SELFISH? I HAVE A SNEAKY SUSPICION IT'S SOME OTHER BLARNEY.(WHOEVER OUT THERE THAT KNOWS WHAT TO DO, PLEASE, BEFORE I DIE, REMASTER AND RERELEASE CRYSTAL MACHINE & NEW JERUSALEM)"
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1