Medical Rec. 
Axxess : Novels For The Moons (F/CH/D,1983,re.2012)****'
The early 80s knew an increased use of sequenced repetitions in pop music, especially in Germany, where it had a heavier bass foundation, especially after the introduction of Kraftwerk of a new world of pop music with the use of synthesizers-only or eventually even computers (just check the albums “Computerworld” and “Electric Café”). This new pop format in Germany was called the “Neue Welle” (New Wave), which had risen simultaneously with the birth of electro-pop in England, where they used more simplified synthesisers mostly, with simple leading melodies, at times with responding-rhythms and a few sequenced melodies. Patrick Mimran who was co-director of Lamborgini Motors found the synthesisers area of Schulze/Tangerine Dream/Kraftwerk very interesting and commissioned the German engineer Andreas Bahrdt (who had build synthesizers for Tangerine Dream before) to build his own customized synthesiser, which became a perfect 16 voice analogue synthesizer called “le Bart”, which has been used to compose the 15 tracks for this LP.
When I first heard this album it gave me the impression it had something inbetween this already mentioned electro-pop area of England (because of the use of simple leading melodies, with its responses) and the German scene which used much more sequenced patterns, this album has instrumental tracks only. The result became in fact one of the most perfect voice-of-the-machine albums I have heard so far, one could even say there is involved a language or sound of its own. The tracks are multilayered with sequenced arrangements, have also a few simple accents of additional beats, drums or drumbox (I am not sure), there are always several interacting and responding sequences involved, sometimes only like an echoing second voice. Somewhere there’s an element of simplicity with clarity leading, while at the same time there’s a complexity of workout variations involved or arranged with it at the same time. The tunes often have this danceable and almost happy lightness too, which makes this so successful, succeeding in its formula for every track and in every moment as a perfectly balanced voice of its own, as if it almost gives a programmed feeling with the dancing melodies involved (and that’s what they were indeed).
Involved in the recording was Tangerine Dream/Agitation Free percussionist Christopher Franke who possibly added just the right accents here and there.
As an album that fits with the electro-wave period well, this is perhaps one of the most perfect ones of its kind, therefore comes highly recommended. THis reissue is strictly limited to 1000 numbered copies.
