HR104 - Music from a Divided Germany - C90 — 1989
SIDE A:
Yref & Nickola: Opiska Nostalgie Eternelle: Loop-Hole Die Rache: Mild U. Weich Siegmar Fricke: Metal-Working-Grabs Solanaceae Tau: Muzak Ritual Das Freie Orchester: Untitled #3 Berlin Diary: Indigo Stages (Part One) Das Synthetische Mischgewebe: If it is sure that man is able to do anything, is it also sure that he needs it? Tesendalo: Der Strahlenschutzbeauftragte Empfielt Context: Product 44 |
SIDE B:
PCR: Acteon.V Radiotron: Baby Came Back Kopfschmerztablette: Ruckkehr Unmoglich Doc Wor Mirran: Fastly Skitso M. Finnkrieg: Instant Replay (First Frame) Der Pilz: 3 Lpusen Jorg Thomasius: Die Verfolgung Henry Hektik: Kontemplation Unanitious Anonymous: News from the Shopping Bags L'Edarps a Moth: I Want Your Laughter |
REVIEW by Jerry Kranitz
The second in the Harsh Reality ‘Countries’ series, Music from a Divided Germany was released in the Spring of 1989, just months before the November 9th fall of the Berlin wall. It’s an outstanding array of 20 experimental artists. Join me on the tour…
Yref & Nickola open the set with a somberly orchestral scratchey, droney, atmospheric piece produced by what sounds like mostly strings but perhaps also electronics.
Nostalgie Eternelle contribute a wooden but danceably rhythmic blend of melodic Pop tune, spectral vibes, and sound textures.
Die Rache’s track consists of spacey, experimental soundscapes and noise patterns.
Siegmar Fricke offers a ‘beats sculpture’ that is rhythmically varied in style and pace. We’ve got abruptly shifting patterns, metallic clangs, radio static beats, and electronic beeps, hoots, and more.
Solanaceae Tau go deep into space with buzzing and howling effects, offset by pleasant soundscapes, and ghostly spoken/chanted vocals.
Das Freie Orchester are one of two contributors from the East. I have several of their tapes. Their track is a tribally rocking collage of rapidly skittish percussion, pulsating layered sound textures, angular guitar solos, sundry effects, and brief vocals singing the lyrics to ‘Feelings’. Berlin based hometaper and underground radio DJ Lord Litter tells me that as of late 2022 the band have reformed.
Berlin Diary’s entry is a fun freaky blend of feverishly hip-hoppy video game beats, cascading electronic effects, and intermittent rant vocals.
Das Synthetische Mischgewebe create a sound sculpture that feels like the soundtrack to an underwater dive expedition.
Tesendalo place the listener firmly between a competing helicopter and child’s whirlybird toy. They must be flying low because I hear someone mowing their lawn.
Context close Side A with a merrily melodic keyboard tune.
Opening Side B is PCR, with a quietly threatening atmospheric and sound exploratory piece. I like the blend of rolling beats, minimal soundscapes, noodling wind sounding melody, and phantasmal vocals.
Radiotron crank out an awesomely wackadoodle experimental punk/free-jazz jam.
Kopfschmerztablette shocked me with a blaring spacecraft RED ALERT signal which gets increasingly varied and psychedelically sci-fi as the track progresses.
Doc Wör Mirran sculpts an interesting tape manipulated collage of horn calls, vocal shouts and laughs, music, effects, and sound textures.
M. Finnkrieg (Ulrich Heinke) also ran the Deaf Eye label, and his Down The Poppy Stairs Of Heaven album (HR082) and duo with Thomas Winter recorded as Drive! He Said (HR095) appeared previously in the catalog. His entry is a cool and strange combination of ominous B-movie soundtrack vibes, toy instrument melody, robotic beats, and effects.
Der Pilz open their track with flying saucer oscillations, acid jamming guitar that takes on jaw harp qualities, and loopy backwards effects. Fans of Chrome’s Alien Soundtracks would dig this.
Jörg Thomasius is the only other East German contributor. His track sounds like the plinking of electronic piano strings. It starts off simple, adding interesting parallel layers as it goes.
Henry Hektik contributes a very cool tune that fuses avant-synth-pop and freaky atmospherics. I love the contrasting grooves and Industrial and Geisha vibes the song conjures up.
Unanitious Anonymous concoct an intriguing collage of repetitive and somewhat jarring synth pattern, whirring engines, spacey soundscapes, and effects. The dominant synth pattern was really annoying. Good job folks!
L'Edarps a Moth is the solo project of Thomas Pradel, who also published the Independent Kontakter contact list. His track closes the set with a party time tune that feels like a blend of Ska, Japanese avant-punk, and East European ethnic influences.
The second in the Harsh Reality ‘Countries’ series, Music from a Divided Germany was released in the Spring of 1989, just months before the November 9th fall of the Berlin wall. It’s an outstanding array of 20 experimental artists. Join me on the tour…
Yref & Nickola open the set with a somberly orchestral scratchey, droney, atmospheric piece produced by what sounds like mostly strings but perhaps also electronics.
Nostalgie Eternelle contribute a wooden but danceably rhythmic blend of melodic Pop tune, spectral vibes, and sound textures.
Die Rache’s track consists of spacey, experimental soundscapes and noise patterns.
Siegmar Fricke offers a ‘beats sculpture’ that is rhythmically varied in style and pace. We’ve got abruptly shifting patterns, metallic clangs, radio static beats, and electronic beeps, hoots, and more.
Solanaceae Tau go deep into space with buzzing and howling effects, offset by pleasant soundscapes, and ghostly spoken/chanted vocals.
Das Freie Orchester are one of two contributors from the East. I have several of their tapes. Their track is a tribally rocking collage of rapidly skittish percussion, pulsating layered sound textures, angular guitar solos, sundry effects, and brief vocals singing the lyrics to ‘Feelings’. Berlin based hometaper and underground radio DJ Lord Litter tells me that as of late 2022 the band have reformed.
Berlin Diary’s entry is a fun freaky blend of feverishly hip-hoppy video game beats, cascading electronic effects, and intermittent rant vocals.
Das Synthetische Mischgewebe create a sound sculpture that feels like the soundtrack to an underwater dive expedition.
Tesendalo place the listener firmly between a competing helicopter and child’s whirlybird toy. They must be flying low because I hear someone mowing their lawn.
Context close Side A with a merrily melodic keyboard tune.
Opening Side B is PCR, with a quietly threatening atmospheric and sound exploratory piece. I like the blend of rolling beats, minimal soundscapes, noodling wind sounding melody, and phantasmal vocals.
Radiotron crank out an awesomely wackadoodle experimental punk/free-jazz jam.
Kopfschmerztablette shocked me with a blaring spacecraft RED ALERT signal which gets increasingly varied and psychedelically sci-fi as the track progresses.
Doc Wör Mirran sculpts an interesting tape manipulated collage of horn calls, vocal shouts and laughs, music, effects, and sound textures.
M. Finnkrieg (Ulrich Heinke) also ran the Deaf Eye label, and his Down The Poppy Stairs Of Heaven album (HR082) and duo with Thomas Winter recorded as Drive! He Said (HR095) appeared previously in the catalog. His entry is a cool and strange combination of ominous B-movie soundtrack vibes, toy instrument melody, robotic beats, and effects.
Der Pilz open their track with flying saucer oscillations, acid jamming guitar that takes on jaw harp qualities, and loopy backwards effects. Fans of Chrome’s Alien Soundtracks would dig this.
Jörg Thomasius is the only other East German contributor. His track sounds like the plinking of electronic piano strings. It starts off simple, adding interesting parallel layers as it goes.
Henry Hektik contributes a very cool tune that fuses avant-synth-pop and freaky atmospherics. I love the contrasting grooves and Industrial and Geisha vibes the song conjures up.
Unanitious Anonymous concoct an intriguing collage of repetitive and somewhat jarring synth pattern, whirring engines, spacey soundscapes, and effects. The dominant synth pattern was really annoying. Good job folks!
L'Edarps a Moth is the solo project of Thomas Pradel, who also published the Independent Kontakter contact list. His track closes the set with a party time tune that feels like a blend of Ska, Japanese avant-punk, and East European ethnic influences.