Terraformations 4 Out of 5 Stars
Before he became a successful producer in the New Romantic era of new wave, Richard James Burgess led a synth-band through three albums of eclectic pop. "From The Tea Rooms of Mars..." was their most successful, due primarily to the brilliant pair of singles "Einstein-a-go-go" and "Norman Bates." "Einstein" was my introduction to the band in my college radio days, and years later the hook of "You better watch out, you better beware, Albert says that E=Mc squared" would occasionally rear itself in my aural memory.
While Burgess did eventually tie his reputation to the likes of Spandau Ballet and Living in a Box, Landscape was far more experimental. They fiddled with synthed out jazz, like the multipart title suite, and soundtrack styled instrumentals like "Alpine Tragedy Sisters." And rather than use synthesized instrumentals for everything, the band incorporated actual woodwinds and trombone playing into their recordings.
The four bonus tracks (some of which were released on the follow-up, "Manhattan Boogie Woogie") are fine, making this a quasi-greatest hits. While the albums themselves are something of a new wave footnote, this is the best of their trio of recordings. "Einstein-a-go-go" is the keeper.
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