Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Wendy Carlos :: Switched-On Bach II

30 years later, still controversial

PScooter63 | Pelham, AL USA | 05/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Upon reviewing my predecessors' comments, I am amazed at the degree to which Wendy's orchestrations and performances still provoke listeners! I was given the vinyl version for Christmas when I was ten years old, and basked in it regularly for years (the Brandenburg particularly made for fascinating headphone listening, and still does). Personally, this CD release is a joy long awaited, especially because of all the TLC lavished on those original analog masters. These recordings shimmer more than they ever did years ago.On artistic merit: While the original "S-OB" contains inspired musicality and novelty in equal doses, and "The Well-Tempered Synthesizer" reflected a maturing of vision, I believe "S-OB II" represents the most consistently musical effort of Wendy's four Baroque releases. Even the inevitable "special effects" timbres here are more wry, and just plain feel natural. For example, the sly suggestion of a snare drum in one of the two-part inventions is a delightful auditory pun unique to Carlos' sensibilities. The treatment of "Sheep May Safely Graze" falls within the realm of a solo organ performance, but oh, for an organist to have these stops at their disposal!Speaking of organs, Carlos has already acknowledged the role of her Yamaha Electone E-5, apparently acquired sometime between S-OB I and II. It was responsible for click tracks and continuo parts, and even those marvelous runs in the Brandenburg's cadenza section. Not to shatter anyone's romantic notions of Wendy exclusively slaving over a single-note instrument... but really, so what? A masterpiece is still a masterpiece."

Staggering for the time, holds up well today

Laura Halliday | 05/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Switched-On Bach II (along with The Well-Tempered Synthesizer) really shows what the analogue Moog gear could do in the hands of people who knew what they were doing. The performances hold up and the arrangements make the most of the material. This is Bach, after all, so that's a pretty tall order. Wendy and Rachel's experience on the earlier albums shows.



After nearly 40 years Switched-On Bach sounds, frankly, clunky in places (though it was revolutionary at the time). SOB-II still sounds fresh."

Still Switched-On

J. Edwards | Sydney, Australia | 01/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Some of the tempi are very much slower than modern taste prefers but this matters little. The Carlos sound is still gorgeous after all these years."