Klaus Schulze-La Vie Electronique 15 (2014)

"La Vie Electronique" is a monumental series of compilation albums released by German keyboardist Klaus Schulze, a musician and composer widely regarded as one of the great gurus of electronic music. His tenure in iconic bands such as Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra Tempel, and The Cosmic Jokers, combined with an impressive solo discography, numbering well over fifty releases, has earned him a place alongside geniuses of the stature of Vangelis and Jean-Michel Jarre, cementing his status as one of the most significant electronic music artists in history. "La Vie Electronique 15" consists of three discs. The first is entirely dedicated to the expansive track "Nuff Siad", lasting nearly an hour and a half, taken from his 1997 album "Jubilee Edition 25". The second disc features several pieces recorded live during a concert in Bologna in 1998. On the third disc, Klaus Schulze collaborates with cellist Wolfgang Tiepod, who plays a Venetian cello dating back to 1722, to perform three compositions originally recorded in 1999. Within this colossal triple album, a standout piece is the solemn, almost liturgical "Cum Cello Spiritu"; it unfolds in a sumptuous and extraordinary manner, showcasing not only Schulze’s ethereal keyboard work but also the dark, melodramatic nuances of Tiepod’s cello. The five-movement suite "L’Opera Aperta" serves as another highlight of the collection, featuring sounds that evoke the era of his acclaimed 1976 album, "Moondawn". This piece is consistent with what one might expect from Klaus Schulze: a vast body of electronic music that, utilizing an astonishing array of synthesizers and samplers, creates a meditative, space-oriented soundscape transporting us, through his remarkable sonic journeys, across the infinite cosmic ocean.