REVIEWS reviews...... sounds...... pictures...... words...... links...... info Ujamaa's Ambient Experience 9/98 (e-zine) http://www.susqu.edu/students/p/prindle/ Various/Eclectronica The Foundry FOU02 (USA), 1997 &laqno;&laqno;&laqno; Eclectronica, the second release on The Foundry label, is a collection of the early work produced by the Berkeley, California artistic collective. Ranging from classical to ambient to contemporary instrumental, Eclectronica lives up to its name with a wide variety of innovative styles. The first few pieces are very primitive attempts to electronically render classical works by Grieg and Schubert as well as original pieces in a similar style, reminiscent of Wendy Carlos' score to "A Clockwork Orange." Thankfully, the album soon moves into more mature territory. The Apiary's "Dreams of Ragnarok and Sisyphus" leads into a section of more subtle, ambient works, including the haunting "Autumn in Her." "Fanfare From" and "Port Klang - First Impressions" are more playful, sometimes sinking into the trite. "Flora" is an interesting surprise, with its vaguely Latin guitar lines. The album concludes with "Wail and Waft" and "Deep, Listen," two deep ambient pieces. Eclectronica chronicles the evolution of The Foundry sound through some very interesting and telling passages. Although not all the pieces here display the simplistic maturity of the label's other releases, there are some intriguing moments that make it a worthwhile listen.