The classical string arrangements of “X” add a warmness and humanity that Klaus Schulze’s cold, bleak, now-vintage synthesizers couldn’t have hoped to achieve before. It’s just a shame they aren’t featured more often.

Also: two hours? An ambient album is meant to be taken in one sitting, and the lack of gaps between tracks here confirm that “X” is no different. Who’s going to have enough time to frequently spin this without interruption? How will they attain the familiarity necessary for the album’s subtleties to reveal themselves? Schulze again shows that he may benefit from quality control and tasteful editing. Still, this is one of his better albums. Though I continue to insist that neither me or him have much to say about his music when comparing it to future ambient landscapes. If you like this era-appropriate style, more power to you, but it doesn’t sustain my interest.