As the only live disc in the series, listeners are assured an exciting sonic adventure with b2. The two b's stand for Berlin and Barcelona, the locations of 2 different live performances by Atom Heart from back in 1994. Technical information on the two improvised sets is actually typeset on the CD itself, most of the disc is covered in text documenting the details. The performances themselves were from the Interference and Sonar Festivals in those cities.

Our minstrel was travelling with a TB303, an MC202, and 4 cassettes which contained 8 total loops (one sound in each channel). TR808's were supplied at each location for him to use. Apparently, the tracks themselves were not pre-sequenced. With the 4 tapes running continuously, the different loops were faded up or down creating a heavily layered and predominantly monochrome atmosphere. The general tone is made up of wide-sweeping oscillations, spectral drones, and acidy dropplets of melody weaving in and out of each other. "While these loops were constantly playing," the text on the disc reads, "I was programming the sequencer and the rhythmbox."

Talk about crowd interaction! The venue, audience, and mood were all factors in the developing collage. Each of the two tracks start out with a soft, glowing monochrome session which shifts and changes in subtle ways for the first few minutes. To this aural primordial soup is added the familiar 303 worm which gives some tonal resolution to each track, and other ping-ponging monophonic synth sequences appear in the murky background. This is basically the second phase, and what was at first abstract and minimal gradually becomes quite layered up by about a third of the way into the piece. The bassdrum is gently introduced, and some time is spent with it's simple guiding rhythm. The 303 continues belching along while various parameters which alter it, the drums, and the loops are modified in turn. At 23 minutes into the first track, there is a slight hesitation, some beatless measures to emphasize the thickened morphing backgrounds. But there is only a few moments pause before launching headlong into the 3rd stage, dominated more by more or less continuously mixed percussion patterns. Eventually, a hihat and the recognizable electronic cowbell sound are thrown in. Finally, a powerful resolution back into the floating monochrome layers, and far off are the sounds of tribalist shouts of celebration, an appropriate coda for a flawless and spontaneous live performance.

The continuity of b2 is amazing. Sounds are introduced logically, one following the next until the archetypical trance groove is built up. If you happen to like any 4otF trance or Goa styles this will certainly please you. The two tracks on the disc are two variations on a similar theme, but one track is nearly 35 minutes long while the other is around 20 and the overall mix and feel of things differs considerably. The performances are presented in reverse order, with the later Berlin date appearing first. Also, the Berlin variation is more solid 4otF material, while Barcelona seems a notch less rigorous, but perhaps more spaced out.

This is something not to be missed in the RI series. b2 is really the only exclusively acid trance material to be found on ri so far, and it explores that territory rather well. I have to say that this is one of the finest demostrations of this style that these ears have ever heard and it is definitely another top notch release for the label.