Goddamnit! Have I no shame? I've been listening to this two- disc anthology of the supposed "best of" Synergy's first 15 years' worth of material. And I like it. Now, that would be just fine with me if I didn't have to admit it. What's worse, I actually have to explain why, and I'm not sure I can.

Of course, I could put it all on my fascination with disco/ synth-pop producer Giorgio Moroder, but I always do that. Instead, I think I'm just gonna have to be upfront and tell you the truth.

My personal theory is that we fans of experimental ambient music (and you Eno fans know who you are) were born with the desire to seek out pompous new-age classical works and groove to them for eternity. This is why we also love long, drawn- out prog rock songs and concept albums. Sadly, we're all smart enough to know that this shit is just plain uncool. Did you like Jethro Tull? You bet you did. King Crimson? No doubt about it. Genesis? Yes, again. But would you ever admit it? Certainly not!

My friends, I can relate. I, too, am trapped in a world of shame, surrounded by embarassing music that I hate to love. So, let me introduce you to Synergy. Synergy is one man (Larry Fast) and his closetful of analog keyboards. Fast uses said keyboards to record excessively lengthy classical compositions that no one in their right mind-- apart from us unlucky prog fans-- would ever want to listen to. His most heralded work was recorded in the 1970s and early 1980s, and this compilation covers it all.

From the ten- minute- long opener, "Legacy," the direction in which this record is headed is totally obvious-- outer- space whistling gives way to an evil robot's theme music before going totally haywire with triumphant synthesized harpsichords, trumpets, and bells.

Semi-Conductor was originally issued as a two- record set on vinyl in the 1980s. However, this second release covers a lot more material than the first version-- about 25 minutes more. Also, it's been resequenced and remastered, and features new liner notes written by Larry Fast himself.

So, if you've been hiding your Walter Carlos and Edgar Winter records in a closet, far away from your Guided By Voices, Yo La Tengo and Miles Davis albums, it's time to just break down and admit it: you like prog. This is your album.

-Ryan Schreiber