STYLE Live electronic wizardry woven into a non-stop mix. Mythos here presents the Gallery Concerts recorded live before an enthusiastic crowd of EM fans from all over Western Germany on August 29th 2009. The familiar sounds from previous albums well up in new form as Stephan Kaske allows his synths to meander around his strong melodic themes with an increased ambient improvisational approach. The crystal clear synths ring sharp and distinct in all their various layered forms whilst flute, electronic bagpipes and vocoder add further depths of sensitivity. The beats are strident and firm, even when allowed to dissipate and lighten, the measured certainty of their structures remains, bolstered by the constant ripple and cycle of morphing sequencer patterns. Gallery Concerts reveals something of the mastery that Stephan Kaske has over his musical form - whereas some live concerts become rambling and loose, Stephan avoids these pitfalls deftly. Instead this hands on performance enhances the emotive content and exploratory interludes to great effect. ARTWORK A stark monochrome approach is taken to deliver this jewel case presentation. An angular edifice shot from a low view point rises in symmetrical grandeur on the front cover - few details, heavy texture. A detail from a similar image bisects the rear, titles, credits and recording information to one side. The two panel insert opens up to reveal a second half to the cover graphic - a dark gargoyle dragon semi-transparent and a single scarlet square. Flipping the sheet we find a gear list, website info and brief credits laid out on the left side whilst a black and white photograph on the right displays some of the essential Mythos kit. OVERALL The impressive Mythos catalogue broadens with this 'back to his roots' live CD. The album arrives with a Gallery Concert at the open air famous Grugapark in Essen, Germany and will be followed up with appearances at several Galleries, EM-Concerts and Vernissages. The music was all recorded in real time without the use of on stage PC control, instead utilizing hardware sequencers to drive the evolving sounds. This method allowed the artist the opportunity to improvise and develop emergent structures as well as space for solo performances using voice effects and flute. Stephan tells us that the initial presentation was very well received with, as he puts it, "Lots of happy faces, 2 times "we want more" and a hundred sold and signed GALLERY CONCERTS albums."