Since lots of people will buy anything that sounds weird, Phaedra may well turn out to be the novelty record of the year. It's several lengthy pieces of haunting, almost frightening music touching some of the darkest corners of Pink Floyd's astral travels, and like Tubular Bells it will be subject to many varying personal interpretations. Many will no doubt envision spaceships swishing through an immense void while others may claim to see ugly maidens imprisoned in dank medieval dungeons prior to ritualistic disfiguration. Some might even think they see God, but what I see is three incredibly visionary German kids fortunate enough to have rich daddies who bought them the tons of keyboards necessary to realize their musical dreams. It's an amazing record, though, the most effective mating of the mellotron and synthesizer to date, and its lush employment of rich sonic textures makes it an immensely enjoyable experience. (RS 169)

GORDON FLETCHER