Picture Music cover

Picture Music

Released

Schulze’s fourth album was actually recorded before its predecessor, 1974’s Blackdance, but held back. It consists of two side-long tracks, with a 33-minute bonus track added to CD reissues. The first, “Totem,” is a Tangerine Dream-esque journey through deep space, with some electronic pulses to create rhythm but an overall feeling of timelessness and floating. The second, “Mental Door,” is much more active and even hard-charging; some of Schulze’s playing verges on rock organ à la Jon Lord of Deep Purple, and he also sits down behind the drums (his original instrument), slamming out a mechanistic beat that boosts the energy level even higher.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
Arctic Riff cover

Arctic Riff

Joe Lovano, Marcin Wasilewski
Communication cover

Communication

Jazz Composer's Orchestra
Conspiracy cover

Conspiracy

Terje Rypdal
People in Sorrow cover

People in Sorrow

Art Ensemble of Chicago
Ask the Ages cover

Ask the Ages

Sonny Sharrock
Fase Liminal cover

Fase Liminal

Negra Chiway Band, Enrique Rodríguez
Emergency Exit cover

Emergency Exit

Throttle Elevator Music