Roedelius & Morgan Fisher - 2005 - Neverless

Review

Neverless is a collaboration between ambient composers and musicians Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Morgan Fisher.  Basic tracks were recorded at Roedelius Studio in Austria and The Handmade Studio in Tokyo. Tracks were overdubbed  and mixed by Morgan Fisher at The Handmade Studio between July, 2002 and August, 2003. All tracks were composed or  improvised by Roedelius and Fisher with the exceptions of "However" by Roedelius, Fisher, and Felix Jay, and  "Inparticular" by Roedelius, Fisher, and Fabio Capanni.

After an introduction by Walter Robotka of Klanggalerie, a label which had previously released works by both artists,  Roedelius sent Morgan Fisher a number of recordings including two collaborative pieces, one with guitarist Fabio  Capanni, whom Roedelius had worked with in his Aquarello project, and the other with guitarist Felix Jay. Fisher added  layers of music and sound to the material to complete the project. The two men never met until after the album was  completed. Roedelius and Fisher gave a joint concert in Vienna in October, 2005.Neverless was released on the  Klanggalerie label on November 21, 2005.

The Eurock review of the album says, in part: "Achim’s patented cerebral synthetic tapestries are complimented to  perfection here by Fisher’s delicate melodies and spatial treatments. There layers of wafting classical overtones, spatial  tone colors, and layers of shape shifting undulations, all which melt together forming a magical soundscape of dynamic,  warmly meditative electronics..."

Track Listing

1 - "Always" - 8:03

2 - "Whatelse" - 7:10

3 - "However" - 7:52

4 - "Inparticular" - 19:47

5 - "Wherefrom" - 15:14

Cluster - Berlim 07

Review

Berlin 07 it was recorded in 2007 at a Cluster concert in Berlin, their first there since 1969.

Recorded much in the style of the duo's previous two albums, both of which drew from Roedelius' Sinfonia Contempora sound, that he developed on his two solo albums Sinfonia Contempora No. 1: Von Zeit zu Zeit and Sinfonia Contempora No. 2: La Nordica (Salz Des Nordens). The album's style differs from the Sinfonia Contempora albums as it quite obviously contains elements of Moebius' style as well. It mixes avant-techno with sound clips and mocking synth growls.

Track Listing

Part 1 - 29:47 

Part 2 - 36:45 

Cluster - First Encounter Tour 96

Review

First Encounter Tour 1996 is the thirteenth full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster. It is also the third live album released, and the only double album released by Cluster.

First Encounter Tour 1996 was recorded at various concert venues around the United States in 1996 and was produced by noted keyboardist and ambient musician Tim Story at Zeta in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was released on February 25, 1997. First Encounter Tour 1996 was Cluster's only release for the Purple Pyramid label.

The music of First Encounter Tour 1997 flows from one music style to the next and reflects all the varieties of Cluster's music from the 1979 release Grosses Wasser onwards. Some sections of the longer tracks do seem to break new musical ground for Cluster, with deeply atmospheric ambient music leading into sections with a definite melody and beat. Each track is named for the city or cities in which the concerts took place, with the sole exception of the last track which is named for guest musicians Bond Bergland and The Brain (the duo of Paul Fox and Tommy Grenas), which was recorded in Anderson, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois. Much of the music is improvisational but some set pieces were included. For example, the track "Portland Oregon #2" is a live performance of "Emmental" from the 1991 release Apropos Cluster. A short section of "New York City", the nearly 33 minute piece which opens the album, is taken from the avant-garde middle section of the title track from Grosses Wasser. A number of sections of various pieces are very similar to sections of Japan 1996 Live.

Track Listing

1 - "New York City - 32:58

2 - "Phoenix Arizona #1 - 4:04

3 - "Portland Oregon #1 - 29:05

4 - "New Orleans Louisiana" - 4:42

5 - "Portalnd Oregon #2" - 3:36

6 - "Providence Rhode Island" - 7:01

7 - "Eugene Oregon" - 20:13

8 - "Asheville North Carolina" - 2:41

9 - "Chicago Illinois" - 5:31

10 - "Phoenix Arizona #2" - 13:30

11 - "Covington Kentucky" - 4:51

12 - "Minneapolis Minnesota" - 6:51

13 - "Bond Bergland / The Brain" - 15:56

http://www.megaupload.com/ru/?d=XZBNZTOH

http://www.megaupload.com/ru/?d=BWEOOYHF 

Cluster - 1980 - Cluster & Farnbauer - Live in Vienna

Review

Live in Vienna is the eighth full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster and their first and only album with Joshi Farnbauer. It is the first of four live albums recorded by Cluster.

On June 12, 1980 Cluster performed at the Wiener Festwochen Alternativ with Farnbauer. The performance was recorded and released as a limited edition cassette on the British York House Records (YHR) label. It was reissued in Germany on the Transmitter label of "Grüne Kraft" owner Werner Pieper.The style of much of the music is highly experimental and discordant and very reminiscent of Moebius and Rodelius' early work with Conrad Schnitzler in Kluster, albeit with updated electronic instrumentation. Two notable exceptions are "Piano and "Ausgang", which are melodic in style. "Piano" concludes with a live rendition on "Manchmal" which originally appeared on the album Grosses Wasser (1979).

Two sections of this album, each between 15 and 16 minutes long, were included as bonus tracks on the Hypnotic CD reissues of the first two Kluster albums, Klopfzeichen and Zwei-Osterei. On August 24, 2010 the album was reissued as a double CD by the American label Important Records. The CD version includes remastered audio and newly created artwork by Dieter Moebius.

Track Listing

1 - "Service" - 32:00

2 - "Kurz" - 4:30

3 - "Piano" - 5:30

4 - "Drums" - 13:30

5 - "Metalle" - 25:15

6 - "Ausgang" - 6:45

Roedelius - 2010 - Ex Animo

Review

Ex Animo is consistently calm, collected and dispensed with each rhythmic element. The focus is mostly impressionist or sometimes romanticized sounds of the piano, accompanied by subtle, ambient-like electronic sounds. It may sound a little to "Easy listening" and indeed, the music mostly a relaxing character; for it but then again varied. And even under a quiet surface, it can boil, as the wonderful Eo Ipso shows. In this extremely minimalist piece a short, repetitive sequence of notes is backed by strange noises, hisses, hums and creaks are constantly in the background. Bizarre! 

Track Listing

1 - Ex Animo - 6:57

2 - Eo Lpso - 13:05

3 - Alter Ego - 6:54

4 - Ad Infinitum - 10:35

5 - De Profundis - 20:31

Roedelius - 2007 - Snapshots/Sidesteps

In a career that spans more than 40 switched-on years,Hans-Joachim Roedelius has taken the opportunity to make many friends,and Snapshots/Sidesteps,from Dublin label Psychonavigation, is a testimony to some of them.Marking ten years of collaborations and remixes made between 1995-2005,this album's ten unreleased tracks are drawn from projects with artists including Seiichi Suzuki,David Bickley and the Orb's Alex Paterson and Thomas Fehlmann. 

In the history of post-war electronica,Roedelius is one of the great linking figures, joining Fluxus to Eno and the post-Acid House era.If this is a big territory to fill,possibly the best angle on Roedelius is as a musician most interested in process,and this is certainly demonstrated by the vignettes - some sketchy ideas,others more fully formed - released here."Ad Honerem" (2003) with Suzuki falls into the former category; a sparse drum track with uncertain elements unfolding into the ether; so too "Claire Obscura" (2005) with Patrick Pulsinger and Werner Dafeldecker.This isn't to denigrate the tracks as on "Juste Milieu",a 1995 offering made with Fabio Capanni,these are moments of imaginative observation,often inspired by organic sounds such as water,birdsong and air currents.As one might expect on a track with The Orb,2002's "Elektrum" takes on a more dynamic format,as does "Fait Accompli", a 2002 track made with Cluster comrade Werner Moebius and littered with tiny explosive electro-beats and skittery piano.But it is 2003's "Hoc Vola" that carries the album.Made with Timothy O'Keefe,the track sets up an accoustic folk riff with some Aeolian atmospherics to reiterate what it is that Roedelius does best.Lovely .

Track Listing

1 - ad honorem (go for) (seiichi Suzuki) - 8:01

2 - belvedere (go on) (George Taylor & Fratellis) - 4:06

3 - claire obscure (go across) (Patrick Pulsinger and Werner Dafeldecker - 11:35

4 - dynamo (go in with) (Haeyoung Kim and Nikos Arvanitis) - 11:15

5 - elektrum (go past) (Alex Paterson and Thomas Fehlmann) - 5:07

6 - fait accompli (go through) (Werner Moebius) - 3:03

7 - gusto (go around) (Alec Way and Eric Bonerz) - 3:29

8 - hoc volo (go up) (Timothy O’Keefe) - 8:16

9 - in natura (go along) (David Bickley) - 5:33

10 - juste milieu (go there) (Fabio Capanni) - 6:41

Roedelius - 1995 - Selbstportrait VI - The Diary of the Unforgotten

Selbstportrait VI contains compositions Roedelius did in addition to his work with Cluster, Harmonia and Brian Eno in the legendary Forst years. In the booklet Roedelius looks back on this personal and artistical important period of his life. He explains the magic of the idyllic place and its influence on his music.

Track Listing

1 - Remember Those Days - 5:57

2 - Frohgemut - 5:18

3 - Du - 3:13

4 - Schöner Abend - 4:48

5 - Ausgewahlt - 4:56

6 - Manono - 3:39

7 - Ampfer - 2:26

8 - The Diary Of The Unforgotten - 3:38

9 - Hommage Á Forst - 24:04

10 - Weg 2:35

Roedelius - 1993 - Tace!

Review

Tace is certainly on the edge and "sehr interrasant" (the liner notes are in German). Roedelius uses some eclectic styles and techniques on this recording. He uses dissonance and experimental effects to great advantage. The atmospheres have ambient textures. There are very few overt rhythms, so the album borders on minimalism as well. However, the eclectic and enigmatic overtones set this much closer to avant-garde and experimental electronica. 

Track Listing

01 Dann (Roedelius) 7:43 

02 Nackt (Alesini, Capanni, Roedelius) 6:12 

03 Mittendrin (Alesini, Capanni, Roedelius) 7:50 

04 Die Tür Stand Offen (Roedelius) 2:56 

05 Nah Genug (Roedelius) 5:11 

06 Aber Ja, Aber (Roedelius) 8:29 

07 Twilighttide (Roedelius) 6:38 

08 Was War? (Roedelius) 6:03 

09 Wie Gewonnen (Roedelius) 6:45 

10 Sei Stark Mein Herz (Roedelius) 5:15 

11 Asche (Alesini, Capanni, Roedelius) 4:03

Roedelius and Friends - 1994 - Theater Works

Review

Roedelius (who is one-half of the legendary German electronic band Cluster) has had a solo career for many many years. Alas, his solo work tends to be less electronic and more keyboard easy listening fare. "Theatre Works" is a departure from that trend, with modern classical overtones and a modulated sense of drama. But the real surprise here lies with two of the tracks which are unreleased performances by Harmonia and Brian Eno--truth! Astute audiophile historians will recall the two remarkable collaboration albums by Cluster & Eno ("Cluster & Eno" and "After the Heat") which heavily influenced the evolution and maturing of the ambient music of the 80s. It seems that the collaboration originally began with a jam session between Eno and Harmonia in 1975 (Harmonia was: Roedelius & Moebius from Cluster, and Michael Rother from Neu). Later Eno returned and worked with Roedelius and Moebius as Cluster, leaving this earlier session unreleased--until now! "Theatre Works" contains two tracks from this Harmonia & Eno lesion--a total of 20 minutes of cool synthetic sound atingle with' slowbuild and strangeness. Note: these two tracks do not appear on the HARMONIA '76 CD (on Rykodisc in USA) which featured the rest of these sessions.

Track Listing

1 - Minotaurus - 5:54

Arranged By – Roedelius*

Written-By – Moreira*, Gillis*, Lonberg-Holm*, Reyes*, Jorda*

2 - The Old And The Young - 4:08

Written-By – Roedelius*, Lintern-Harris*

3 - Captured By Letters - 5:29

Written-By – Eno*, Moebius*, Roedelius*, Rother*

4 - Quaint Man - 4:00

Written-By – Roedelius*

5 - The Blind - 3:16

Written-By – Capanni*, Rid*, de Bruco*, Alesini*

6 - Long Run - 13:12

Written-By – Eno*, Moebius*, Roedelius*, Rother*

7 - La Tour - 5:58

Written-By – Roedelius*

8 - Face Of A City - 4:47

Written-By – Roedelius*, Rid*, Michalak*

9 - A Fascinating Man - 13:42

Written-By – Roedelius*

10 - Dance - 4:31

Written-By – Roedelius*

Roedelius - 1991 - Piano Piano

Review

Piano = Pianissimo) is a dynamic indication of particularly soft music,  and "Piano Piano" is a very soft, quiet album. Roedelius assumes the role of a fairytale character with his piano music, transported to a strange, fantastical landscape where, filled with awe and amazement, he tries to get his bearings. Initial comparisons were drawn between the piano music of Roedelius and that of Eric Satie. This was no more accurate than the erroneous "ambient" label pinned to his material. Satie’s compositions were based on rigid formalism Roedelius strives to free himself from the restrictive corset of form, whilst "ambient" belies the careful listening which is required to appreciate his to the full. 

Track listing

1 -Verweht - 8:35

2 - Leicht Gemacht - 3:20

3 - Die Gunst Der Stunde - 7:21

4 - Frieden Für Adjan - 2:44

5 - Die Ernte Reift - 7:37

6 - Einfach - 1:57

7 - Gut So - 5:10

8 - Bonheur - 1:31

9 - Begegnung - 2:55

10 - Vergegenwürtigt - 4:29

11 - In Gedanken - 2:46

12 - In Der Dämmerung - 15:18

Roedelius - 1989 - Bastionen der Liebe

Track Listing

1 - Happy Birthday - 03:03

2 - Im Revier des Tigers - 06:18

3 - Five Stations - 04:29

4 - Harmonia - 05:49

5 - Ciao Maurice - 04:31

6 - An einer Quelle - 08:30

7 - Lokomotion - 04:00

8 - Smile - 04:10

9 - Life Is a Treasure of... - 05:38

10 - Allegra - 04:27

11 - Feu Doux - 04:31

12 - Ordre du coeur - 07:38

Roedelius - 1984 - Geschenk des Augenblicks

Geschenk des Augenblicks - Gift of the Moment is the eleventh solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius.

The piano music which is central to this album was recorded in Roedelius' home studio. Further instrumentation, transfer to multitrack and first mixing took place in late February, 1983 at Lux Mundi studio in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The pieces were completed at Roedelius' home with the Erpel Portable Studio the following May. The album was finished in October, 1983 at The Hit Box Studio, Vienna, Austria. It was released by Editions EG in 1984 and first reissued on by Editions EG on CD in 1991. It has subsequently been reissued jointly by E.G.Records and Virgin Records in 1997 and will be reissued again on both CD and 180 gram vinyl LP by the Bureau B label on January 17, 2011. It is Roedelius' best selling solo album to date.

All the music of Geschenk des Augenblicks - Gift of the Moment was composed or co-composed by Roedelius. "Adieu Quichotte", "Troubador", "Gefundene Zeit (Time Regained) " and "Das Sanfte (Mellowness)" were co-composed by Arjen Uittenbogaard, who plays cello on the album. "Wurzeln Des Glücks (Roots Of Joy)" was co-composed by violinist Tjitse Letterie.

Track Listing

1 -"Geschenk des Augenblicks (Gift of the Moment)" - 4:19

2 - "Adieu Quichotte" - 5:46

3 - "Troubadour" - 5:16

4 - "Kleine Blume Irgendwo (Little Flower Somewhere)" - 2:13

5 - "Ohn' Unterlaß (Continuously)" - 3:50

6 - "Gefundene Zeit (Time Regained)" - 2:00

7 - "Sehnsucht ich will dich Lassen (To be free of Yearning)" - 5:48

8 - "Das Sanfte (Mellowness)" - 3:43

9 - "Tag für Tag (Day by Day)" - 4:30

10 - "Zu Füßen der Berge am Ufer des Sees (At the foot of the mountain by the lakeside)" - 6:35

11 - "Wurzeln des Glücks (Roots of Joy)" - 3:25

Roedelius - 1982 - Flieg' Vogel fliege

Flieg' Vogel fliege (German for "Fly Bird Fly") is the ninth solo album by keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius.

According to Roedelius biographer Stephen Iliffe this album is also titled Selbstportrait IV, but that name does not appear on the album sleeve or label. Flieg' Vogel fliege was recorded at Roedelius' home studio and completed at Erpelstudio, Vienna, Austria. Flieg' Vogel fliege was released by Sky Records on vinyl in 1982. Flieg' Vogel fliege was the final album Roedelius recorded for Sky Records.

Two tracks, "Flieg Vogel fliege" and "Auf auf und davon" (retitled as "Auf und Davon") were included on the Sky Records compilation Auf leisen Sohlen - Das Beste Von H. J. Roedelius (1978 - 1982) which was first released on LP in 1984 and reissued on CD in 1994. This represented the first time any tracks from Flieg' Vogel fliege appeared on CD. The complete album has never been reissued.

Like the previous three Selbstportrait recordings, the music of Flieg' Vogel fliege is largely gentle and introspective ambient or New Age music.

Track Listing

1 - "Über Berg und Tal " - 4:15

2 - "Klares Wasser" - 2:25

3 - "Bär im Honig" - 2:50

4 - "Flieg Vogel fliege" - 4:00

5 - "Kleines Glück" - 1:40

6 - "Lange Weile" - 1:10

7 - "Oh, du grüne Neune" - 4:40

8 - "Meilensteine" - 3:50

9- "Salzpflaumen" - 1:45

10 - "Auf auf und davon" - 4:37

11 - "Wanderung" - 10:00

Roedelius - 1981 - Wenn Der Südwind Weht

Der Südwind Weht is the seventh solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius.

All the pieces on the album were composed by Roedelius. It was released by Sky Records in 1981 and has been reissued on CD by Sky Records in Germany by the Gyroscope label in the United States in 1996. The Bureau B label reissued Wenn Der Südwind Weht in the European Union on both CD and 180 gram vinyl LP in 2010.

The title is German for "When the South Wind Blows."

Track Listing

1 - "Wenn der Südwind weht" - 4:11

2 - "Veilchenwurzeln " - 5:01

3 - "Mein Freund Farouk " - 4:14

4 - "Mutee" - 4:11

5 - "Freudentanz" - 2:00

6 - "Goldregen" - 1:00

7 - "Auf leisen Sohlen " - 3:47

8 - "Saumpfad" - 8:30

9 - "Sonnengeflecht" - 3:25

10 - "Felix Austria" - 4:21

Roedelius - 1981 - Lustwandel

Lustwandel is the sixth solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius.

All the pieces on the album were composed by Roedelius with the sole exception of "Wilkommen", which was composed by Roedelius and Will Roper. It was released by Sky Records in 1981 and has been reissued on CD by Sky Records in Germany in 1992 and by the Gyroscope label in the United States in 1996.

Track Listing

1 - "Lustwandel" - 3:49

2 - "Legende" - 2:10

3 - "Ansinnen" - 1:04

4 - "Betrachtung" - 2:12

5 - "Draussen Vorbel" - 4:16

6 - "Harlekin" - 1:05

7 - "Von Ferne Her" - 3:28

8 - "Vom Fliegen" - 3:24

9 - "Wilkommen" - 1:56

10 - "Pirouette" - 1:33

11 - "Dein Antlitz" - 4:07

12 - "Langer Atem" - 7:15

13 - "Die Andere Blume" - 1:13

Roedelius - 1980 - Selbstportrait - Vol. III

Selbstportrait Vol. III "Reise durch Arcadien" is the fifth solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius.

It is the third of seven albums in Roedelius' Selbsportrait series of recordings. Selbstportrait Vol. III "Reise durch Arcadien" was recorded in Forst, Germany in 1978 and in Blumau, Austria between 1978 and February, 1980. The album was released by Sky Records in 1980.

Much like the previous volumes of the Selbstportrait series the music can be described as ambient or new age with gentle melodies.

Track Listing

1 - "Sonntags" - 3:45

2 - "Geburtstag" - 1:50

3 - "Fieber" - 6:06

4 - "Hockzeit" - 3:05

5 - "Geradewohl" - 3:50

6 - "Erinnerung" - 3:25

7 - "Zuversicht" - 11:05

8 - "Stimmung" - 9:05

Roedelius - 1980 - Selbstportrait - Vol. II

Selbstportrait - Vol. II is the fourth solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius.

The title is German for "Self Portrait - Vol. II", a title which clearly reflects the gentle, introspective nature of this album of ambient or New Age music. It is the second of seven albums in Roedelius' Selbsportrait series of recordings. The album is subtitled "Freundliche Musik", German for "Friendly Music".

Like Selbstportrait before it, Selbstportrait – Vol. II was recorded by Roedelius at his home in Forst, in the Weser Uplands of West Germany and in Austria between various Cluster sessions from 1973 until 1979, so much of the music actually predates Roedelius' first two solo albums: Durch Die Wüste and Jardin Au Fou. Selbstportrait – Vol. II was released by Sky Records in 1980.

Seven of the 11 tracks on Selbstportrait – Vol. II and the entire previous album, Selbstportrait were released as a single CD titled Selbstportrait I & II by Sky Records in 1996. The tracks omitted from the combined reissue are "Signal", "Schönheitsflecken", "Grundlsee", and "Regunwurm". The entire album was reissued separately on both 180 gram vinyl LP and CD by the Bureau B label on December 3, 2010.

Track Listing

1 - "Signal" – 0:10

2 - "Gewiß" – 4:46

3 - "Aufbruch" – 3:45

4 - "Schönheitsflecken" – 3:14

5 - "Alle Jahre wieder" – 4:43

6 - "Übern Fluß" – 3:45

7 - "Tee für die Geisha" – 5:25

8 - "Kichererbsen" – 2:30

9 - "Grundlsee" – 4:27

10 - "Regunwurm" – 4:04

11 - "Thronfloge" – 3:44

12 - "Signal" – 0:10

Roedelius - 1979 - Selbstportrait

Selbstportrait is the third solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius.

The title is German for "Self Portrait", a title which clearly reflects the gentle, introspective nature of this album of ambient or New Age music. The original Sky Records release was subtitled Teil 1 Sanfte Musik, German for "Part 1, Soft Music."

Selbstportrait was recorded by Roedelius at his home in Forst, in the Weser Uplands of West Germany between various Cluster sessions from 1973 until 1977 on his ReVox A77 reel to reel. The music actually predates the two previously released solo albums: Durch Die Wüste and Jardin Au Fou. The final mix was completed at Gorilla Studio in Vienna, Austria at the end of April, 1979, with the exception of "Prinzregent" which was edited in Conny's Studio (owned by Conny Plank) in 1976. Selbstportrait was originally released by Sky Records in 1979. Phillipe Blache, writing the review for Prog Archives, describes the album, in part: "The music in itself is another exploration in electronic, pre-ambient 'picture' music but really orientated to the most 'mainstream' side of it."

Track Listing

1 - "In Liebe Dein" - 3:43

2 - "Girlande" - 3:47

3 - "Inselmoos" - 5:40

4 - "Fabelwein" - 5:05

5 - "Prinzregent" - 5:53

6 - "Kamee" - 3:59

7 - "Herold" - 3:32

8 - "Halmharfe" - 3:24

9 - "Arcona" - 5:05

10 - "Staunen Im Fjord" - 3:33

11 - "Minne" - 2:09