Phaedra

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Phaedra · Richard Branson heard recordings that Edgar Froese and Christopher Franke had made in Berlin and gave the group a contract with Virgin. With the advance they bought a modular Moog synthesizer. Recording began in November 1973 at The Manor in Oxfordshire, and the album was finished in less than six weeks. Everything went wrong: the tape recorder broke down, the mixing desk gave up and the speakers were damaged by the low bass notes. After twelve days came a breakthrough.

This is the first record with the sound that later became so well known: the Moog sequencer as a driving bass guitar. In the title track the oscillators drift out of tune from the heat, which changes the music towards the end. Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares was recorded in one take on a Mellotron. The album reached number fifteen in England with hardly any airplay and is regarded as a landmark of electronic music.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Phaedra16:48Apple Music ↗
2. 2Mysterious Semblance at the Strand of Nightmares10:45Apple Music ↗
3. 3Movements of a Visionary7:58Apple Music ↗
4. 4Sequent C'2:17Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

See also

• Tangerine Dream