Richard Pinhas - Rhizosphere ( 1977 )

Richard Pinhas actually recorded two albums while Heldon was still alive. But although closely related to the music developped in Heldon , the music available on those first two solo albums , it is clearly of a lesser interest than the group's. It is also much less aggressive as the guitars are very subdued, and the electronics layers of synths are a little too present, making his solo albums more experimental but also has an unfinished feel to it, compared to the group .

Among the tracks on the first side are some short themes but minimalisticly repeated and we are not far away from Eno or JM Jarre. Side 2 and its sidelong track is rather calm and constant but also unremarkable.

if the average proghead is really interested to further his Heldon-type of music searh , I would advise them to look at Ice Land or East-West, once Heldon had folded and Pinhas could tuirn all of his energies towards his solo work! Only the respect I have for the man will make give him the third star on this scale. RICHARD PINHAS Rhizosphère music reviews and MP3 ( Review from progarchives.com )

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Rhizosphere Sequent (4:50)
2. A Piece For Duncan (5:41)
3. Claire P. (4:47)
4. Trapeze/Interference (6:48)
5. Rhizosphere (17:51)

Total Time: 39:57

Line-up / Musicians - Richard Pinhas / synthesizer, guitar
- Francois Auger / drums (5)

Get Rhizosphere Sequent

Richard Pinhas "Rhizosphere Sequent" & "Toward Belfast"

Richard Pinhas Trapeze Interference

Download Mp3

Peter Frohmader - Fossil Culture (1999)

What can be expected in the meeting of such giants as Peter Frohmader and Richard Pinhas, especially knowing that they've been around for over 20 years at the time of release of this album? The attempt was definitely risqué, but it was worth a shot and the recording happened over two years. And to top it all of, the album was released on the excellent Cuneiform label, even if the general packaging/artwork (from Frohmader himself) is not the best they've done.

In some ways, this album could almost serve as a techno album, if there was not some almost-unnoticeable progression in some tracks, but it is all but too slow to capture the imagination or even tickle the listener's curiosity. Whether the album is closer to Frohmader or Pinhas is difficult to say, since I am not too familiar with both musician's late 90's careers, but you can see/hear some Heldon AND some Nekropolis. The seven pieces of Fossil Culture (just numbered differently) range from the lugubrious (the fourth part) to the sinister/gloomy (the fifth part) to the almost happy. This writer's best moment is the third movement with the recurring percussions.

Had these two geniuses met in the late 70's, I'm sure this meeting would've given something memorable, but unfortunately Fossil Culture might just go down as an all-too- prophetically-titled album, the fossils being those of two dinosaurs that might have retired a few years before. Not too bad an album, but certainly disappointing, partly due to the expectations one can have of such a meeting. (Review from progarchives.com)

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Fossil Culture 1 (11:57)
2. Fossil
Culture 2 (5:53)
3. Fossil Culture 3 (10:33)
4. Fossil Culture 4
(8:10)
5. Fossil Culture 5 (8:55)
6. Fossil Culture 6 (9:47)
7.
Fossil Culture 7 (16:58)

Total Time: 72:17

Line-up / Musicians
-

Peter Frohmader / synthesizers, E-MU
samplers, 5-string bass
- Richard Pinhas / guitars, Arboretum
Hyperprism process

                                                                        Fossil Culture 1

Peter Frohmader & Richard Pinhas - Fossil Culture (1999)

A very interesting dark mix from two of the giants - Richard Pinhas ( Heldon) guitar and Frohmader bass / electronics.

As one might expect this is very avant darkwave electro which pulses and pounds with bass and frippian electric guitar dominating the spaces. Ethereal at times, even soundscapey but never new age , always tense and foreboding.

An Excellent Album of primordeal electronics which at times recalls "Fripp & Eno".

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Fossil Culture 1 (11:57)
2. Fossil Culture 2 (5:53)
3. Fossil Culture 3 (10:33)
4. Fossil Culture 4 (8:10)
5. Fossil Culture 5 (8:55)
6. Fossil Culture 6 (9:47)
7. Fossil Culture 7 (16:58)

Total Time: 72:17

Line-up / Musicians - Peter Frohmader / synthesizers, E-MU samplers, 5-string bass
- Richard Pinhas / guitars, Arboretum Hyperprism process