Wendy Carlos Albums (15)
'Switched-On Brandenburgs'
Release Date 1/1/2001
Tracks 19
Label East Side Digit
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Switched-On Bach II'
Release Date 1/1/2001
Tracks 13
Label East Side Digit
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'A Clockwork Orange'
Release Date 11/3/1998
Tracks 10
Label East Side Digital
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What The Critics Say
Even before Carlos knew of a film project concerning A Clockwork Orange, the composer had begun work on a composition (Timesteps) based on the book. It's the best piece of music in the score (and one of the most famed in the early history of electronic music), fitting in well next to late-'60s minimalist works by Terry Riley as well as the emerging Tangerine Dream (pre-Phaedra). Carlos also pioneered the effect of synthesized vocals (known as a vocoder), and their eerie nature perfectly complemented scenes from the film. Much of the rest of A Clockwork Orange is filled with rather cloying synthesizer versions of familiar classical pieces (from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Purcell's Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary, Rossini's The Thieving Magpie) similar to Carlos' previous Switched-On Bach recordings. Still, it's worthwhile if only for Timesteps. A Clockwork Orange was originally released as a Warner Bros. soundtrack, containing only film cuts (which edited Timesteps down from 13 minutes to only four). Though Carlos released another version with more music, that issue was superseded in 1998 by the release of A Clockwork Orange: Complete Original Score by East Side Digital in the label's comprehensive reissue program. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
'Tales of Heaven & Hell'
Release Date 10/13/1998
Tracks 7
Label East Side Digital
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What The Critics Say
Synth history firmly holds Carlos-- a pioneer, a visionary, and amply talented. From Switched-On Bach to Clockwork Orange to Sonic Seasonings to Beauty In the Beast and others -- Carlos is matchless, an innovator, working wonders. On Tales of Heaven and Hell the magic continues in an eerie music drama full of all the things Carlos fans love. Seven pieces carry you through a sombre, introspective, and somewhat disturbing territory, a sonic Dante's Inferno. A twisted and warped return to Carlos' legacy is offered in the 17:47 "Clockwork Black" which will make chills run up the spine of ye olden ones familiar with Carlos' bizarre discography. This isn't music for blank smiles and sunny mornings. It paints a Boschian or Morality play backdrop of torments and gnashings of rotted teeth. "Clockwork Black" is dark and foreboding with demonic titterings and Latin chantings intermingled. Finally, in the 12:49 "Seraphim," eternal light and righteousness, prevail, and a wearied rest comes through. This is a deeply moving piece in a good way after the oppressive pathos overlaying much of Carlos' dark drama she offers. Carlos is always a unique trip. ~ John W. Patterson, All Music Guide
'Switched-On Bach 2000'
Release Date 4/16/1995
Tracks 16
Label Telarc
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What The Critics Say
Switched-On Bach 2000 is a bit of a misnomer. Carlos released this on the Telarc label in 1992 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of her classic recording, Switched-On Bach. That recording, remarkably futuristic in 1967, is still a major milestone in the history of e-music. (It is also, alas, long since unavailable.) Carlos' mastery of the synthesizer in the '60s and her transcriptions of classical music were extremely instrumental in moving electronic music from its strict avant-garde classification to an acceptable and accessible form of musical expression. These are beautiful recordings, too. Given the composing and the performing talent, it is difficult to imagine anything else. This CD comes with a 30-page booklet full of wonderful technical, historical, and biographical data. It all comes back, however, to the music. This performance is damn near perfect. Carlos' meticulous attention to detail and her production skills serve this project well. There are no mistakes. In her style, Carlos has few peers. Among the electronic music artists successfully transcribing classical music are Tangerine Dream, Michael Stearns, Kevin Keller, William Orbit, Isao Tomita (of course), and Michael Bentley. ~ Jim Brenholts, All Music Guide
'Switched-On Brandenburgs, Vol. 2'
Release Date 10/25/1990
Tracks 14
Label Columbia
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'Switched-On Brandenburgs, Vol. 1'
Release Date 10/25/1990
Tracks 19
Label Columbia
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Secrets of Synthesis'
Release Date 10/25/1990
Tracks 16
Label Columbia
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
More than just a demonstration disc on electronic music -- the examples are original creations from her own works, from the best-selling "Switched-On Bach" to "Digital Moonscapes," and contain extremely interesting theories and a new procedure for harmonic synthesis that results in sounds never heard before. (There's an interesting article on this with a floppy disc demo in Keyboard magazine for November, 1986.) ~ "Blue" Gene Tyranny, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
A mere 16 years separate the original release of Digital Moonscapes and this remastered edition from East Side Digital, yet it seems almost a leap from the primitive to the advanced in terms of the effect on the sound of this album from synthesist Carlos. Even though the original album was a digital recording, the subsequent mastering process appears to have wreaked havoc with the tonal qualities of her work, rendering it harsh and unpleasant. This new edition, with its revised cover art, is quite the revelation. The tonal qualities are no longer harsh and tiring to listen to, the music has an impressive depth to it, and there is a new level of detail that simply was not noticeable in the original. The digital instruments of Carlos' LSI Philharmonic resonate gorgeously, depicting cosmic phenomena and icy moonscapes with quiet power and grace. Those with an interest in electronic music should not overlook this new edition. ~ Steven McDonald, All Music Guide
