Citadels of Mystery

• music

A vital and curious musical fusion of what today might be deemed as tribal-new-age-exotica-jazz-world-music, Bernie Krause’s "Citadels Of Mystery" was decades ahead of its time on many levels. Originally best known as a pioneer in the field of electronic music, Krause was one of the major players in the introduction of the synthesizer into the music, films, and broadcast media; he contributed to the soundtracks of such landmark productions as Apocalypse Now, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Love Story, and Rosemary's Baby. On this recording he assembled a crack team of jazz and ethnic percussionists including Andy Narell, Kenneth Nash, Mel Martin, Glenn Cronkhite, and George Marsh to accompany his synthesizer-shaded, impressionistic compositions. The results sound as fresh and surprising today as they did nearly 30 years ago, when they were recorded.