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FROM THE CD
LINER NOTES BY MICHELLE MOOG - KOUSSA
Bob Moog and Erik Norlander:
A Magical Connection Through the Circuits
Welcome to Erik Norlander's
“The
Galactic Collective”, where the realm of synthesis is nurtured and
explored, where keyboards and synthesizers rise up to take the lead in
telling an epic musical story of depth, texture and expressive
connection, where the distinctive sound and unlimited capabilities of
the Moog synthesizer grace the center of this sonic exploration.
Although synthesizers were, in their early stages, initially viewed as
a machines producing mechanized sounds, Moog instruments have a proven
45 year history of producing the warmest, most organic sounds of any
instrument in what is now the very large field of synthesis. This was,
after all, Bob Moog's intention: to provide musicians with the fullest
range of sonic expression. Bob saw himself as a toolmaker, putting
highly expressive, intuitive instruments into the hands of musicians.
Through the tools he provided, thousands of audiences have been
touched. While Bob was indeed a master of the circuits, it cannot be
overlooked that his groundbreaking instruments would have remained
silent if it were not for the talent and dedication of the musicians
who bring them to life. Moog synthesizers were a musical baton,
lovingly handed off by Bob into the creative hands of the communicators
of the music, the musicians.
It is said that in hands of the highest caliber, the use of technology
becomes magic. Not pull-a-rabbit-out-of-hat magic, but awe-inspiring
transcendental connection. Bob handed off his technological,
musical
baton and Erik Norlander has cradled it in his hands, skillfully,
lovingly exploring the limits of sonic expression and incorporating it
into his expressive, epic music. Magic.
Erik's music is full of intricate use of depth and textures. This is
due in part to his uncommon ability to seamlessly blend acoustic
and
electronic instruments. It is also due to the deep understanding of
synthesis that Erik brings to his music. Erik is not only a life-long,
highly accomplished musician, but he was also the group leader
for
sound design on many synthesizers for Alesis, most notably his
Andromeda A6. From this combination of musical experience an technical
understanding, Erik brings an added dimension to his music that can
only come from someone who understands his instruments, quite
literally, inside and out.
In this galactic collection of songs, which represents the best of his
instrumental tracks from the rather extensive back catalog of work he
has produced over the years, Erik makes great use of that use of that
dimension as he pushes his own rich arrangements and virtuosic playing
to new heights. Drawing from a bevy of incredible instruments
including a Steinway grand piano, a Hammond B3 organ, the Andromeda A6
and six Moog synthesizers (4 Minimoog Model Ds, the Minimoog Voyager
and Erik's massive Wall of Doom Modular Moog synth) and from a core of
talented musicians, Erik has created a new expansiveness in every track.
From his vast catalog of music, Erik reaches as far back as his first
solo album, Threshold (1997), from which he pulls Arrival, Neurosaur
and Trantor Station. These three tracks exemplify the range and
reach
that he obtains from this newly translated material. While Arrival's
ethereal theme is deepened, Neurosaur boasts new gothic intensity and
Trantor Station gets new electronica treatment in the beautifully
sequenced intro. In more current material, Erik enjoys his
musical
roots in the reinterpretation of his piano-drenched tracks in After the
Revolution (Rocket Scientists, Revolution Road, 2006) and
Dreamcurrents (Into the Sunset, 2000). From the many Lana Lane albums,
Erik carefully selects Garden of the Moon (Garden of the Moon, 1998)
and Astrology Prelude (Secrets of Astrology, 2000) and expands the
arrangements with heavier use of synthesizers, killer guitar
riffs and
completely new themes. The album’s conclusion, The Dark Water is a lush
and epic tour de force comprised of merging themes from the Rockets
Scientists’ (Erik's band) Dark Water series that runs through their
second, third and fifth studio albums. All of these reiterations
occur
while Erik manages to maintain a wonderful symphonic rock ethic.
In listening to every track on this album, we can hear that Erik is on
a quest. Just as it was Bob Moog's quest to create total expressivity
through his analog circuits, it has been Erik's quest to use that
technology in a supremely musical way and to add complexity and
interest to his already multi-faceted compositions. He is constantly
pushing the barriers of his own musical foundation to achieve that.
This quest gives us all a new way to experience Erik's music, his
story, his magic.
In all of the songs on this album, the Moog synthesizer is Erik's
voice, to one extent or another. He often uses the Minimoog to
such
great effect in his beautiful leads that he makes the instrument
sing. Erik manages to coax such musical flexibility out of the
circuits that the results sound human. The fact that Erik uses
the
richness of Moog instruments to shape his soundscapes speaks to to his
dedication to the integrity of sound. It is just this dedication that
has made him such a great friend of the Bob Moog Foundation.
We discovered Erik at Moogfest in NYC, and he quickly became a
supporter of our mission to carry Bob's legacy forward by
educating
and inspiring people through the electronic music. Whether bringing
instruments into elementary schools to teach kids the science behind
electronic music, preserving and protecting Bob's archives or working
on our future project, the Moogseum, Erik has been an ardent supporter.
While his contributions to the Foundation have been many, perhaps
Erik's most notable effort is an original song all-Moog song that he
composed for us, called The Princely Hours. Using five Moog
Instruments, and only Moog instruments, Erik created a tribute to the
Moog sound and Moog Legacy. You can hear and download this song
exclusively in the “Shop” section of our website
www.moogfoundation.org. The Bob Moog Foundation proudly honors the
dedication to the Moog sound that Erik has demonstrated throughout his
career and as we hear it so beautifully expressed through The Galactic
Collective.
How fitting it is that Erik has included Fanfare for Absent
Friends
(from his Seas of Orion CD, 2003) among this collection. Both the
name
and the music itself, with its stirring, aching intro which longs for
the spirits of the departed and its triumphant celebration
of lives
well-lived, conjure up thoughts of a certain beloved absent
friend who
was, in fact, a friend to music itself. Somewhere in the ether,
that
friend has the satisfaction of knowing that his work, the baton he
handed off, is being carried forth with grace, intention, creativity
and a healthy dose of magic by Erik Norlander.
Michelle Moog-Koussa
March 15, 2010
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