[CP 045 CD] Steve Birchall; Reality Gates+

2017 reédition pf CP 045 now featuring several pieces of the puzzle missing from the initial C.P. version: The Ovation / "Zichron Ltd." pressing of the album is now available on a separate disc, which, as it turns out, is a completely different recording / realization of the same five pieces! It's essentially a different record. Then, the only other recorded & issued work by Birchall, "Reciprocals II" (for Two Tubas) is included as a bonus track at the end of the Ovation disc; it's a glorious acoustic exploration of the same electronic timbre-set witnessed across "Reality Gates!"

Creel Pone treatment of this set of deep-fried one-man-against-the-cosmos synth-automaton gunk from the distant US midwest - specifically; Bloomington, Indiana - of the early 70s, initially released on / by the “Custom Fidelity Records” label / plant. Starts out with the absolutely piercing high tones / clarion call of “Music of the Spheres” after which we become the (un)willing passengers on Dr. Steven T. Birchall’s mind-trip excelsior, passing through several key lobes of the beyond before zeroing in on the cranial lump responsible for, amongst other things, time itself.

As far as private-press American Electronic Music goes; ten years on, this still rates as one of the absolute apexes, and is an easy highlight of the Creel Pone series; very glad to have this back in circulation.