"...the fascination afforded by playing with Reason's rack and its virtual patch cables can be endless".

Focusing in particular on the Reason Piano and Abbey Road Keyboard Refills, the new issue of Keyboard Player Magazine includes an in-depth review of the latest incarnation of Propellerhead's Reason software, Reason Premium Edition.

"But what type of keyboard player would enjoy using Reason? Well, in its earlier incarnations the package was very much orientated towards loop-based dance music and experimental soundscapes, since the sequencers were rudimentary and the emphasis was very much on the synth modules and very extensive sound processing. But now the sequencer is quite complex: a halfway house between Cubase and Albeton Live, both of which are capable of long and complex compositions as well as more spontaneous, jamming-style work. And with the Abbey Road keyboards, plus piano, drums and bass packages, available as part of the deal, then Reason is looking like a more direct contender for Cubase, Logic and other more studio-orientated composition packages".

"Certainly if you enjoy sonic exploration, chaining effects together in random orders just to see what they'll do, then the fascination afforded by playing with Reason's rack and its virtual patch cables can be endless. If you're into more conventional composition, then the package has been tamed a little by its inclusion of a more conventional sequencer and a wider library of more bread-and-butter sounds, so may well be your solution of choice even if you're not all that daring".

To read the full review, pick up the June Issue of Keyboard Player (Issue 33). Reason Premium Edition is available now at £399 RRP.