On their last trip to Silberland, Bureau B hurtled along the chrome highways and
glass skyways of the kosmische landscape, powered ever onwards in perpetual
motorik motion. This time, however, the Hamburg imprint opt for an unhurried
itinerary, coasting far beyond the familiar rhythmic terrain to explore crystal
caverns and emerald pastures, immersing listeners in the ambient side of this
alternative Allemagne. Building on the tape loops, tone poems, and minimalist
compositions of the 60’s avant-garde, these musicians utilised the sweeping
scope of the synthesiser to create expansive meditations on outer-planetary
escapism, human connection, and the natural world. This compilation offers
a survey of this singular era, blending pioneering voices with lesser-known
artists for an immersive sonic experience.
Taken from Cluster & Eno’s self-titled 1977 album, “Ho Renomo” opens the set
with a profound minimalism. The track’s swaying bassline and textural guitar
carry listeners through a tranquil and meditative space, capturing a spirit of
collaboration and simplicity that became a hallmark of the era. Roedelius
“Veilchenwurzeln” follows, evoking pastoral scenes in a multi-layered and
undulating composition, where synths flow gently, conjuring images of open
fields and embodying an organic warmth. Der Plan’s ” Wuste” delves into
darker territories, translating the visual world of Rainer Kirberg’s cult film into a
stark soundscape, while Rolf Trostel’s “Hope Is The Answer” sees a steady
sequence rise and fall beneath the filter, mutating a recurring refrain from his
‘Two Faces’ LP into a melancholic torch song from the stars. The koto-like
plucks and piercing drones of Vono’s “Hitze” create a mysterious and hypnotic
experience which draws on both ancient and futuristic tones before giving way to
“E-Night”, a recording from the sessions of You’s 1980 LP ‘Electric Days’, which
only emerged via later expanded-editions. Reverb-laden synths and delicate
pulses evoke vast open spaces in this arpeggiated journey through the stars. As
the album progresses, Serge Blenner’s “Phrase IV” beguiles with minimalist
yet celestial synth lines, while Moebius’s “Falsche Ruhe” offers a quiet, haunting
meditation on solitude. From there, Harald Grosskopf’s “Oceanheart” envelops
listeners in aquatic ambient textures that suggest serene, moonlit waters – a
perfect surface to reflect the starry sky portrayed by Lapre’s acoustic guitar and
wistful synths The glimmering, crystalline, landscape of Riechmann’s “Abend-
licht” finds a heartbeat amongst the tranquility, leading seamlessly into the un-
hurried progression of shimmering chords and chiming synths which make up
Adalbert von Deyen’s “Per Aspera Ad Astra”. Unreleased until Bureau B’s recent
retrospective set, Faust’s “Lampe An, Tur Zu, Leute Rein” channels a darker,
introspective, energy, marked by drones and field recordings while Conrad
Schnitzler’s “Electric Garden” creates an electronic biosphee buzzing with
synthetic life. Moebius & Plank’s “Nordostliches Gefuhl” pairs calm percussion
and rhythm guitar with pastoral, swirling electronics, resulting in a lush, stately
piece that captures the spirit of a vast, open landscape.Blurring fast-paced
sequences into a shimmering haze, Deutsche Wertabeit delivers hypnotic
minimalism reminiscent of Philip Glass at his mesmeric best, before Asmus
Tietchens “¤uschlinge” pulls the listener into an eerie atmosphere of deep
disquiet. Pyrolator’s “Minimal Tape 1/8″ offers an immersive wall of sound,
a dense electronic tapestry that feels tactile and sculptural. The wintry “South-
land” by Rudiger Lorenz evokes the isolation of frozen landscapes, a fitting
prologue for “Alleewalzer” by Thomas Dinger, an icy yet delicate waltz, which
rounds out this collection with a haunting, fragile beauty.
This collection is a testament to the evocative power of early electronic music.
Each track serves as a portal, guiding us into a realm where sound becomes
landscape, emotion, and narrative. This compilation invites you to explore the
quiet revolutions, serene spaces, and deep introspection at the heart of German
electronic music’s formative years.
