Faster Than The Speed Of Light

Arthur Brown and Vincent Crane first performed together in the former's Crazy World, somewhere towards the beginning of the timeline. However, during the sessions for one of the Richard Wahnfried albums, the pair offered the album to Klaus Schulze. Judging the duo weren't "boring old farts" Schulze coalesced, releasing Faster Than The Speed Of Light on his Innovative Communications label, one better known for new and electronic music. With music from Crane and words from Brown, the album is a concept record, again roughly having something to do with sanity. Crane handles piano and keyboards, while one Clifford Venner was enlisted as drummer and percussionist. Brown's voice is forceful and to the fore in the mix. Bold and rich, it's a thoroughly modern album. The album's sonic icing however is Crane's brilliant orchestration, performed by the Frankfurt Symphony Orchestra. The opening track, "Nothing We Can Do" is full of majestic drama, including one helluva hook - you'll know it when you hear it. "Timeship" follows, both contemplative and driving, and the playful "Come and Join The Fun" wraps up. The second side highlights the duo's soulful side, in particular on "Tightrope". The album's title track closes the album, reprising the grand arrangements of the first side. The album saw limited release in Germany and predictably sold very little. It was re-released on Voiceprint in 1993, but ceteris paribus: the original tapes were lost and the CD was mastered from - if you can believe it - a scratchy vinyl record! In the early '80s, Crane reformed Atomic Rooster for a few years, while Brown immigrated to the US and began a career house painting in Austin, Texas.