The German Electronics artist Robert Schroeder (discovered 1978 by EM pioneer Klaus Schulze) has produced numerous excellent solo CDs as well as his success album Double Fantasy / Universal Ave., which reached the US Charts in the end of the 80s. The music of Robert Schroeder is various, but always soulful. He combines spherical synthesizer sounds with modern rhythmical contrasts, often supplemented by spacey guitars and sometimes also by piano, cello or voices. Schroeder's music spectrum includes Electronic, Ambient, Chill-Out, Lounge, Berlin School, Adventure and Trip-Hop. Electronic Music in the widest sense is the musical style of this artist who has his roots in the music of Klaus Schulze, Can and Pink Floyd.
This 16th solo album SphereWare is something for experts and lovers from Chill Out, Lounge, Space, Berlin School and Ambient with modern beats and sounds. The promising Ambient opener (dark, weird, atmospheric) is followed by an experimental and beautifully soft track with the finest effect sounds, nice surfaces, retro sounds, successful lead guitar and relaxed Chill-Out sound. This strong atmospheric track will inspire the electronic fans!
Other tracks offer interesting rhythmical elements, trance, hypnotic sequences, Techno reminiscences and analogue sounds, dreamy melodies and Melotron choirs.
SphereWare is a successful mixture of analogue and digital sounds and atmospheres. The precisely 15 minutes track "A Quarter Of An Hour" includes spacey e-guitar lines, these, however, also with strong and interesting effects.
SphereWare is Chill-Out, cosmic, spacey rhythmical, romantic and full of suspense and relaxing. Enjoy it .MP3 Robert Schroeder - SphereWare - Download Dance, Electronica
Showing posts with label progressive electronica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label progressive electronica. Show all posts
Friday, 9 September 2011
Robert Schroeder - Sphereware (2010)
Robert Schroeder - Brainchips ( Vocal version) (2010)
The German Electronic artist Robert Schroeder (discovered 1978 by EM pioneer Klaus Schulze) has produced numerous excellent solo CDs as well as his success album Double Fantasy / Universal Ave., which reached the US Charts at the end of the 80s. The music of Robert Schroeder is various, but always soulful. He combines spherical Synthesizer sounds with modern rhythmical contrasts, often supplemented by spacey guitars and sometimes also by piano, cello or voices. Schroeder's music spectrum includes Electronic, Ambient, Chill-Out, Lounge, Berlin School, Adventure and Trip-Hop. Electronic Music in the widest sense is the musical style of this artist who has his roots in the music of Klaus Schulze, Can and Pink Floyd.
With brainCHIPS (14th solo album, 74 minutes) the artist has produced a special kind of Electronic Music by adding some experimental and exotic singing atmospheres.
The Moroccan Rahal Brimil was inspired here by Schroeder's new compositions - and Robert Schroeder by the unusual voice and the unconventional style of the singer. The special: Rahal sings not only in up to 7 languages, he connects this even within a song, multilingual. There originated a music absolutely detached by usual structures, timeless and simply relaxing Electronic Music which invites you to dream and stay. Rhythmically music and singing play consciously sometimes mutually what leads to a very interesting and just detached atmosphere. brainCHIPS offers embedded masterpieces for your brain, musical tidbits, in a trip by different spheres of Electronic Music.
brainCHIPS is also available as instrumental version, especially for the friends of pure instrumental music. Enjoy both.MP3 Robert Schroeder - Brainchips (Vocal Version) - Download Dance, Electronica
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Richard Pinhas - Iceland (1980)
Richard Pinhas has included a music with this album. Iceland, or the Land of Ice, music glacial cold, pure, beautiful, dangerous, elusive ... Iceland Part 1 offers a apporhce of galciers. Iceland Part 2 refers to the fear that low voltage will be unknown, in this cold world, the sounds are fabulous. The Last Kings of Thid is particularly successful sounds getting more and more worried, guitar Richard Pinhas is half a moitié aggressive beautiful and flat, creating a kind of anxiety that can not come because it is really has a comfortable listening to this beautiful album. Iceland Part 3, here we discover the beauty of the land of ice, blue and white dominates ... purity, ecology. Sign to remind us of the turbulent world of cities, a concept album works perfectly, the title is simple but indispensable. The Last Kings of Thule Part 2, fortunately there is a deuxème on this trip so interesting, the guitar takes its splendor. Short transition, is probably a kind of animal prowess, a presence, without danger. Greenland, and the Green Earth, see the grass here, a way, the melody is sublime, the fullness, well be assured. Wintermusic is a title which announces the extreme cold, extreme, what we feared the most, the fear, but the title is very soft, soothing, simply beautiful and carefree as the album is a cure for happiness has RICHARD PINHAS Iceland music review by Discographia
Songs / Tracks Listing 1. Iceland Part 1 (1:07)
2. Iceland Part 2 (9:38)
3. The last king of Thule (2:26)
4. Iceland Part 3 (7:46)
5. Indicatif radio (1:04)
6. The last king of Thule Part 2 (5:30)
7. Short transition (0:35)
8. Greenland (8:54)
9. Wintermusic (24:53)
Line-up / Musicians - Richard Pinhas / guitars & electronics
- François Auger / drums (8)
- Jean Philippe Goude / Minimoog (8)
Monday, 5 September 2011
Robert Schroeder - Mindwalk (2008)
The German Electronics artist Robert Schroeder (discovered 1978 by EM pioneer Klaus Schulze) has produced numerous excellent solo CDs as well as his success album Double Fantasy / Universal Ave., which reached the US Charts at the end of the 80s. The music of Robert Schroeder is various, but always soulful. He combines spherical synthesizer sounds with modern rhythmical contrasts, often supplemented by spacey guitars and sometimes also by piano, cello or voices. Schroeder's music spectrum includes Electronic, Ambient, Chill-Out, Lounge, Berlin School, Adventure and Trip-Hop.
MINDWALK (11th solo CD, 74 minutes) was created with a lot of love to the detail. This album exists partly of rhythmical, tuneful tracks (Synthi, drums, e-guitar) and partially of sphere, meditation and sound sceneries. Some tracks were composed especially for live performance. They originated in 1990 on the occasion of the MINDWALK concert âSchwingungen Live Nachtmusik im WDRâ (WDR is the main German Radio (Cologne, 3.3.1990).
The repertoire of this successful concert was reconstructed and re-produced in the studio, exactly how it was, with the atmosphere and the mood of this live event but without the undesirable side effects. MINDWALK also contains a SKYWALKER (1983) remake, which counts always to the popular Schroeder's repertoire on live concerts. GUITRONIC, the DreamShocker, takes a special place in Schroeder's concert, as well as on the present CD. GUITRONIC does not adapt itself so easily in the available stereotype EM. GUITRONIC is hard, crude and aggressive - a dream shocker - an experiment. The effect with the audience: The best of the evening! Clear, this track had to go on CD.
However, MINDWALK also exists of new titles which were played neither live, nor were published up to now. Klaus Schulze said once to Schroeder's music: "If there is generally contemporary romantic music, it is this from Robert Schroeder". With MINDWALK-tracks like "FOLLOW ME" or "FROM A DISTANCE" Schroeder also does justice even today to this label. "IMPRESSIONS" is fresh Rhythm'n'Sound. Old-analogous sequencer sounds with modern drums, easy to remember guitar reefs and 138-bpm get going the imagination - impressions become free.
This CD is a re-release with sound update. The master recordings of that time were finalized with todays digital technologie and re-released in 2008. The result is a very powerful and clear warm sound. I called it the "Power-Sound-Edition".
Enjoy it
.MP3 Robert Schroeder - MindWalk - Download Dance, Electronica
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Richard Pinhas - East West (1980)
Often nick-named the 'French Fripp', Guitarist/Electronic whizz Richard Pinhas decided to release some solo work alongside his band work. East/West is the 4th solo release of his, and again he summons the help of his old Heldon cohorts Didier Batard, Georges Grunblatt, Francois Auger and Patrick Gauthier. I'm not convinced that Pinhas has conquered any new ground here, but the album is quite enjoyable. Track 1 - 'Houston 69', Pinhas relies on Batard, Auger and Gauthier, with processed vocals from Norman Spinrad. The track hits you in the face with a barrage of electronic sounds and sequencers backed with a heavy rhythm, the Guitars are Frippian, and the overall feel is quite dramatic. Next up, RP creates a total re- working of a Bowie composition, 'Sense Of Doubt', fully re-interpreted and un-recognisable from the sensational original with a more ambient/programmed electronic styling. 'Kyoto Number 3' is along the lines of what Tangerine Dream were doing during that time (or were about to do...) with more Fripp-like Guitars and sequenced synths. It can't be helped that Fripp and Pinhas go hand-in-hand when it comes to guitar style. 'La Ville Sans Nom' features Georges Grunblatt on a Polymoog, and is fully along the lines of Fripp/Eno works, with a slow sequence and sustained guitar backdrop with some excellent Pinhas soloing. 'Ruitor' finishes the first side, another ambient piece that's very Eno-esque. Nothing original, nor offensive. The second half of the record has something far removed from anything by Heldon or what was on side 1 - 'West Side' features vocals from a Dominique E. and has more in common with Human League than Prog. Not my favourite tune here, to be honest. It's back to Fripp/Eno territory for the lovely extended piece 'Beautiful May'. This track stars Patrick Gauthier on Polymoog and PPG Synth. 'The Whale Dance' is a short ambient track, and the album rounds off with 'Houston 69 Part 2' - featuring Heldon members again, but this time around sounding more up-tempo and faster paced than the first part. In conclusion, this is a good Prog Electronic album of 3 stars, but Pinhas has done much more exciting things previously. RICHARD PINHAS East West music reviews and MP3
Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Houston 69: "the crash landing" (5:41)
2. London: "sense of doubt" (2:48)
3. Kyoto: "Kyoto number 3" (2:55)
4. XXXXX: "la ville sans nom" (4:05)
5. Home: "Ruitor" (4:00)
6. New York: "West side" (3:39)
7. Paris: "beautiful May" (7:17)
8. Keflavik: "the whale dance" (3:04)
9. Houston 69: "Houston 69" (4:31)
Total Time: 38:00Line-up / Musicians- Richard Pinhas / guitars & electronics, Polymoog, Moog
- Georges Grunblatt / Polymoog
- François Auger / drums
- Didier Batard / e-bass
- Patrick Gauthier / Polymoog (1 & 7 & 9)
- Norman Spinrad / vocal & composition (1 & 9)
- Dominique E. / vocal (6)
- Steve Shehan / percussion (3)
Monday, 29 August 2011
Robert Schroeder - Cream (2010)
How should one describe a music such as CREAM ?
CREAM one must simply have heard and experience. The fact that on a CD with the title CREAM, nothing else should have to be expected then the absolute CREAM of Electronic Music, that even the artist himself in such a way designates his new and thus 21st solo work. Of course the 6 titles of the 68 minutes long CD are designated enough as CREAM de la CREAM of the EM, particularly because Robert concentrated contentwise here on traditionally long EM tracks, and this produced also in the style of the typical EM with strong influences of the so called Berlin School style.
Naturally, after over 30 years experience Robert knows the tools of the goose skin producing elements and Schroeder has used the trick box of his experiences. He has produced an album that offers very positive surprises by analogue sequences, sound surfaces, harmonies, melodies and emotions. Finally an album with long tracks between 8 and 17 minutes. The feeling of the good old genuine Electronic Music becomes fully effective here.
CREAM is truly EM, as we expect and like, well balanced first-class EM with varies passages, surprised atmospheres, traditional and modern electronic sounds and music with goose skin effect.
Sylvain Lupari of âgutsofdarkness.comâ has found the right words to describe the music of this wonderful album:
Hummmâ¦! Robert Schroeder's musical adventures are rich, both in tones and varied rhythms where the funky flirts with the groovy on heavy percussions surrounded of a universe full of synths with rich tones. A mixture of kinds, rich and smooth as the cream de la Cream; the 22nd solo album of the mythical German synthesist. An at once heavy and limpid album, so much notes and details are finely chiseled on sweet and stormy rhythms. Tempos broken, interrupted and wrapped by synths which separate their pads to mold choirs, mists and angelic breezes among voices, vocoders and murmurs of all genres. An album with mesmerizing intros and varied rhythms, hammered by heavy electronic percussions, as bongo and conga style. In brief a powerful album with ambivalent rhythms which cross periods and musical styles of Schroeder, and this since "Paradise" in 1983.
Arpeggios skip awkwardly on "Magnetics" opening. They espouse a delicate line of bass which molds a discreet funky rhythm on fine percussions, while beautiful mellotron pads float slightly above this atmosphere sieved by cosmic sound effects. A little as everywhere on Cream, Magnetics pours and moves in rich and unctuous sound cream where various instrumentations come to enrich its minimalist and hypnotic structures. Synths flow with abundance and nuance there, mixing skillfully the sweet vocalizes, melodious solos and ethereal pads which glance through a soft rhythm sometimes shaken by scattered percussion strikes and keyboard keys which gossip as a galactic duck.
"Groove Electronically" is a very beautiful track with its notes of piano which are spreading in a cosmic ambiance where whispers, very plaintive synths and sound effects hatch this strange ethereal intro. Hesitant pulsations light finely the tempo, trampling on the romantic series of these minimalist piano notes. Percussions tumble down and increase the rhythm of a notch. But Groove Electronically remains secretly delicious in spite of this full array of percussions and tones with colorful forms which break out on a constantly evolving tempo of which cadenced contrasts can be hear under strata of a shrillness and spectral synth, percussions rolls, hatched keyboard keys and a tempo which gallops under undulations of a wandering synth such as crystalline prisms which hoot between brief and delicious solos. A tempo rich in tone which dies away in the notes of this piano so delicious even if minimalist. The world of Schroeder is complex and harmonious. On each of Cream tracks, the German synthesist sprinkles quantity of instruments which kick away thick clouds of tones as intriguing as attractive.
So "The Zong" starts with heavy metallic sounds, as monsters robots of The War of Worlds. Percussions unfurl with strength, but remain indecisive, while others more nuanced forge a soft rhythm livened up by a fine bass pulsation and encircled by a synth with extraterrestrial waves which hoot at once pleasant and childish laments. The rhythm became heavier and more intense; The Zong evolves in an ambiance of the carnival with a mi funky and mi groovy tempo which zigzags on circular keyboards keys and among glaucous pulsations. A world of strongly diversified rhythm which is wrapped by a synth with foggy pads and wandering choirs.
"Funky Spacetrip" is very representative of its title; a big cosmic funk with vocoder, strong percussions and a tempo vaguely wavy accompanied by a magnificent synth whose lines are subdividing to create a rich atmosphere where solos go alongside ethereal pads. A very rich track which is near "Groove Electronically" structures.
Languishing and sensual, "Foaming Waves" is simply captivating with its soft rhythmic which flows as a graceful exotic dance under soft foggy pads. Suggestive and daring, Foaming Waves embraces almost the textures of an electronic and cosmic blues, on a cadence which increases gradually the pace with its subdivided chords beneath a synth with delicious laments. A great track from which the musical intensity keeps increasing, bringing us near "Paradise" and "Time Waves" era with smooth synth solos which flow under pulsations of an enticing bass line.
Hesitating piano notes, sensual murmurs and sensual pulsations open "Simply Cream". Bongo percussions unfurl on a languorous rhythm, between funk and groovy, coated by magnificent strata of a foggy mellotron. The synth there is suave, the rhythm suggestive and keyboards draw fine hatched lines, crowning a catchy synth melody and Simply Cream disentangles such a sensual hymn in a shape of musical retrospective of the first 5 tracks of Cream.
Rich, Cream is! Rich in sounds and tones of any kinds and in diversified rhythms, Robert Schroeder handles his synths with an incredible address and makes us discover a rich sound fauna where reliefs are as much feel as hear. A pure marvel where we are riveted to our loudspeakers so much the rhythms, atmospheres and ambiances are finely cut and returned to us with a surgical precision. A beautiful, rich and unctuous cream which dilutes very well in the universe of dreams where the music of the 80âs, with the technology and the sonorities of today, floods our ears with soft, suave and stormy rhythms unique to Robert Schroeder's world.
Written by Sylvain Lupari gutsofdarkness.com & synth&sequences.com MP3 Robert Schroeder - Cream - Download Music
Friday, 19 August 2011
Richard Pinhas - Chronolyse (1978)
Second solo album from the future ex-Heldon leader, Chronolyse is a surprisingly accessible album that was recorded in the summer of 76 (and therefore BEFORE this solo debut Rhizosphere) but not released until 78, around the demise of Heldon. Indeed Chronolyse sees the Heldon members of Didier Batard (bass) and François Auger on drums and percs: the result is a very Tangerine Dream-like soundscape and if it wasn't for Pinhas' typical guitar, you could almost believe that you were in Berlin. Coming with B&W televised artwork, this album was released on the Cobra label and has been reissued on CD in the early 90's on the excellent Cuneiform label.
Opening on the seven variations of the theme of Bene Gesserit, we are in a typical TD/Schulze mid-70's realm where the sequencers are now fully developed and provide some rhythm and the whole thing is much less brutal than the Heldon material. The seven pieces pass by fairly quickly, each providing a different ambiance, but all are the result of Pinhas alone on his Moog, as is the Duncan Idaho piece that fills the rest of the album's A-side, well in the .same sonic galaxy. This first side is well recommended to Rubicon, Blackdance and Stratosfear fans.
The flipside is taken up by the sidelong 30-mins Paul Atreides track, in which the other two Heldon members help out, and allow for Pinhas to pick up his guitar and play us some of his Fripp-inspired solos The live-recorded track starts out much like the other two, with lots of moog, but consistently crescendos to add bass, drums, guitars and loads of Mellotron. But what one has to listen to mostly is Pinhas' low and insidious guitar doing slow painful wailing throughout most of the length of the piece. Despites a few lengths, this is great stuff that should be discovered by all progheads, especially those fascinated with 70's electronic prog. RICHARD PINHAS Chronolyse music reviews and MP3 review from progarchives.com
Songs / Tracks Listing
Variations Sur Le Theme de Bene Gesserit
1. Variation I (2:22)
2. Variation II (2:15)
3. Variation III (1:36)
4. Variation IV (1:44)
5. Variation V (1:35)
6. Variation VI (2:05)
7. Variation VII (4:33)
8. Duncan Idaho (6:12)
9. Paul Atreides (30:23)
Total Time: 52:45Line-up / Musicians -Richard Pinhas / synthesizers, Mellotron, guitar
Guest musicians:
- Didier Batard / bass (9)
- Francois Auger / percussion (9)
Richard Pinhas "Paul Atreides" (1/2)
Richard Pinhas - L 'Ethique (1982)
I'm going to quote the Wayside Music site because they say it better than i can. "During a fairly incredible 7 year run that began in the mid 1970's,Richard Pinhas released a large string of influencial albums;7 by HELDON and 5 under his own name,all of which attempted in one way or another to meld(avant-garde) rock music with electronics. "L'Ethique" was his final release of that 12, recorded in 1981 and originally released in 1982.It was his final solo album before his musical retirement throughout the 1980's and it's one of his great "classic period" works.It also features the only studio recordings by the short lived Richard Pinhas Band.This group featured a great cast of musicians who had all previously played in MAGMA.Clement Bailly(drums),Patrick Gauthier (synthesizers) ( also of HELDON and WEIDORJE) ,Bernard Paganotti (bass) (also of WEIDORJE) and Richard on electronics,synthesizes and guitar." I also would mention J. Philippe Goude(minimmog,percussion) and Francois Auger(drums) just because i'm big fans of both.Yes it would be another 10 years until we'd get another album from Pinhas after this one.. "L'Ethique(Part 1) has this electronic beat with bass and percussion as synths join in.The guitar comes in soloing around 3 minutes.It settles right down after 4 1/2 minutes and we get spoken word samples and atmosphere taking over. "Dedication To KC" opens with guitar as drums and bass join in.It turns KING CRIMSON-like before a minute and those angular guitar excursions kick in before 2 1/2 minutes.This really reminds me of BI KYO RAN.Intense stuff.It changes after 4 minutes as the intensity levels off then it picks back up before 5 1/2 minutes. "Melodic Simple Transition" builds and we get an uptempo beat in an electronic soundscape.I like it ! "Belfast" has these different electronic sounds that come and go in a rhythmic pattern.Drums after a minute and bass too.This is so good as those electronics continue.The guitar after 2 minutes is lighting it up. "L'Ethique(Part 2)" sounds great with the guitar grinding away in the background. "The Western Wail(Part 1)" is minimoog crazy early on then the drums join in.This is uptempo with lots going on.Percussion too as the guitar joins in.It settles down before 5 minutes then the rhythm stops before 6 1/2 minutes as we get random drum patterns,guitar and more. "L'Ethique (Part 3)" has these sounds that echo along with samples and atmosphere.It's getting louder and drums join in.It settles down around 4 minutes to a spacey mode. "The Western Wail(Part 2)" is dominated by synths.Beautiful stuff right here. "L'Ethique(Part 4)" is a short elecrtronic piece. "Southbound" is my favourite because they just rock out like a Metal band.The drumming from Auger is relentless as is the guitar from Pinhas.Gauthier is on bass here adding depth.A powerful and intense track. An interesting album where those spacey soundscapes take a back seat as the guitar,drums and bass come to the fore. RICHARD PINHAS L'Ethique music reviews and MP3 Review from progarchives.com
Songs / Tracks Listing 1. L'Ethique Part 1 (6:21)
2. Dedicated to K.C. (6:57)
3. Melodic simple transition (4:14)
4. Belfast (5:00)
5. L'Ethique Part 2 (4:08)
6. The Western Wail Part 1 (7:46)
7. L'Ethique Part 3 (4:48)
8. The Western Wail Part 2 (4:31)
9. L'Ethique Part 4 (1:46)
10. Southbound (6:39)
Total Time: 52:10
Line-up / Musicians
- Richard Pinhas / guitars, synthesizers
- Georges Grunblatt / Minimoog
- François Auger / drums
- Clément Bailly / drums
- Bernard Paganotti / e-bass
- Patrick Gauthier / Minimoog
- Jean Philippe Goude / Minimoog, percussion
- Gilles Deleuze / voice
Richard Pinhas - Melodic Simple Transition
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Richard Pinhas - Rhizosphere ( 1977 )
Richard Pinhas actually recorded two albums while Heldon was still alive. But although closely related to the music developped in Heldon , the music available on those first two solo albums , it is clearly of a lesser interest than the group's. It is also much less aggressive as the guitars are very subdued, and the electronics layers of synths are a little too present, making his solo albums more experimental but also has an unfinished feel to it, compared to the group .
Among the tracks on the first side are some short themes but minimalisticly repeated and we are not far away from Eno or JM Jarre. Side 2 and its sidelong track is rather calm and constant but also unremarkable.
if the average proghead is really interested to further his Heldon-type of music searh , I would advise them to look at Ice Land or East-West, once Heldon had folded and Pinhas could tuirn all of his energies towards his solo work! Only the respect I have for the man will make give him the third star on this scale. RICHARD PINHAS Rhizosphère music reviews and MP3 ( Review from progarchives.com )
Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Rhizosphere Sequent (4:50)Line-up / Musicians - Richard Pinhas / synthesizer, guitar
2. A Piece For Duncan (5:41)
3. Claire P. (4:47)
4. Trapeze/Interference (6:48)
5. Rhizosphere (17:51)
Total Time: 39:57
- Francois Auger / drums (5)
Get Rhizosphere Sequent
Richard Pinhas "Rhizosphere Sequent" & "Toward Belfast"
Richard Pinhas Trapeze Interference
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)