Timecode
	Produced by Patrick Moraz and Barry Radman
	Released on 1984
	no chart information
	Find it at GEMM
PB 6039 cover (shrinkwrapped) [high resolution photo]

I ’ve seen two reviews of this album on ProgArchives, both rating it one out of five stars. Me, I’ve got precious few single-star arrows in my quiver, as I feel that dismissing any work of art (musical or otherwise) diminishes us, the audience. So first order of business: Timecode isn’t a bad album at all. Secondly, a frame of reference by which to admire it: Thomas Dolby, Tony Banks, the Peter Baumann of “Repeat Repeat.” Moraz and vocalist John McBurnie plied similar terrain on Out In The Sun, only this time they’re blinded by the science of DIY (do it yourself) synthesizer pop. (McBurnie even references the Dolby hit on “Beyond The Pleasure”). I’m not particularly fond of synthesizer pop music, cautious as I am of the thin line that separates guilty pleasure from gullet-choking tripe. Yes, you’ll find both on Timecode, sometimes in the same song. For example, the first run-through of “Life In The Underworld” is a hoot, the repetition of it a bore. And the cleverness of “I Want U” is canceled out by a lame entry like “Shakin’ With The Passion.” McBurnie has a good voice, warmer than a lot of the synthesizer clones (Peter Schilling, Dolby, etc.), and Moraz again makes sound choices with his synthesizers. If you found Bankstatement an unprofitable exercise, then Timecode might be a waste of it. The only progressive moment is the instrumental “Black Brains of Positronic Africa,” which sounds uncannily like Chick Corea. The rest of the album is less catchy than The Fugitive, more catchy than Dolby’s The Flat Earth, and otherwise a pretty good example of what happens when progressive keyboard players try to cross over into the global pop market. The lyrics are ESeLementary, and a theme of love over the airwaves seems to run through the album, but I don’t believe this is a concept album. (The absence of a two-page insert with mad notes and drawings squeezed into the margins would confirm that belief.) I don’t believe this is a one-star album either, but rather an average album of synthesizer pop from a fertile mind. And my world feels a little larger for it.

PB 6039 back cover	PB 6039 lyric sleeve

TRACK LISTING

1. NO SLEEP TONIGHT (Includes "Take Off")    (music: Patrick Moraz, lyrics: John McBurnie)    4:50
2. I WANT U    (music: Patrick Moraz, lyrics: John McBurnie)    3:57
3. BEYOND THE PLEASURE    (music and lyrics: Patrick Moraz/John McBurnie)    3:48
4. LIFE IN THE UNDERWORLD    (music: Patrick Moraz, lyrics: John McBurnie)    4:13
5. OVERLOAD (CAN YOU TAKE THE PRESSURE)    (music and lyrics: Patrick Moraz/John McBurnie)    3:27
6. BLACK BRAINS OF POSITRONIC AFRICA    (music: Patrick Moraz)    5:00
7. ELASTIC FREEDOM (IN SEARCH OF)    (music and lyrics: Patrick Moraz)    4:14
8. SHAKIN' WITH THE PASSION    (music: Patrick Moraz, lyrics: John McBurnie)    3:59
9. YOU ARE THE VISION OF MY DREAM    (music and lyrics: Patrick Moraz)    4:55

CREDITS

PATRICK MORAZ -- all instruments & chants, programming
JOHN McBURNIE -- lead vocals and harmonies
Gregory Scott Alban -- drums
John Avila -- bass and vocals, lead vocals (9)
Kitty Bruce -- lead vocals (7)
Bill Bruford -- additional Simmons drums (4)
Lyn 'Cecil' Collins -- additional backing vocals
Gregg Jackman -- additional chanting vocals (3)
Barry Radman -- engineering & programming, post-production, remixing
Shoot That Tiger! -- art direction & design
Martyn Goddard -- back cover & inner sleeve photos
Bill Bavinger (Hal) & Charles T. Forney -- logo computer graphics

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