Airsculpture

Artist: Air Sculpture, Asana, Under the Dome,
Paul Nagle
P: 1999
'Harmonized' contains an otherwise unavailable track each by Airsculpture, Under The Dome and Asana plus the title track from 'Lore' by Paul Nagle plus another track each by Airsculpture, Under The Dome and Asana which are already available.
I.o.w. there are seven tracks in total on the CD. Total running time 69.52 minutes. The sampler comes in a jewelcase with really nice artwork.
This sampler is a solid showcase of the talented artists assembled on the Neu Harmony label, including Asana, Airsculpture, Paul Nagle, and Under the Dome. There are two tracks by each artist, with the exception of Nagle, whose 16-minute title track from Lore is featured.
Asana's "Re-Embodiment" is a fine starter, establishing the label's trademark modern electronic sound. Things then really kick into high gear with "Launch," a previously unreleased track from Under the Dome. High energy sequencers galore, this song will strongly appeal to Jean-Michel Jarre and Tangerine Dream fans. Next comes "Pogofish," one of my favorite tracks from Airsculpture's "Thunderhead" CD.
Asana's second featured track on the CD, "Gold," starts with some surprisingly straightforward guitars. Though this song plays more like an instrumental rock song than the others, it is very good, and not at all out of place.
To my knowledge, Airsculpture's "Translucent Edge" is only available on this CD, so their fans will want to check out this thoroughly enjoyable 11-minute ride through their trademark display of energetic sequencers.
As near as I can tell, the songs that appear elsewhere are in their original versions here. It would have been nice to have alternative versions or remixing to make this more of a standalone compilation. If you already own Neu Harmony releases, you are probably going to already have several of these songs. Still, it is a solid overview of the material the label offers.

1999. © Phil Derby / Wind and Wire

Artists: Various Artists
P: 2003
Project Inter.com is effectively Keller & Schonwalder and friends. They start this wonderful double CD set with 'Come and Taste the Band'. Fizzing drones travel through the ether as subtle percussion and faint guitar give a rather moody atmosphere. It's only in the last third that any rhythmic content is added but even then it is subdued so as not to disturb the lovely serene feel.
Tom van Draft is really Thomas Fanger (from Fanger & Schonwalder, Mind Flux etc). His track 'Blue Halo' starts with a nice melodic sequence augmented by gentle electric piano touches. A rhythm enters in the third minute developing a nice relaxed groove.
Arcanum & Otarion team up for 'Homo Novus'. Various sequences and loops emerge through rather orchestral sounding pads as we start a slow but very effective build up which hits the spot perfectly. Very subtle rhythm and percussion are added around which a beautiful melody, rather low in the mix, weaves its spell.
Fanger & Schonwalder are responsible for the hugely popular 'Analog Overdose' series. Here we have a new track called 'Abgetaucht'. If you liked Volumes 1 and 3 of that series you should also go for this. A sequence can be heard which starts low in the mix but rapidly rises to the surface and is joined by high hat percussion. More pulsations are added in the form of a slow bass sequence / loop. The sequences seep into the consciousness wonderfully taking over the mind. I am sure a lovely little melody had already been there a couple of minutes before I noticed it as it fitted in so perfectly with everything else that was going on. More lovely 70s sounding lead lines come and go- boy do they hit the spot! Virtual guitar can momentarily be heard in the twelfth minute. It adds that little extra excitement without dominating. What a wonderful track- mesmerizing but never boring.
The first disc concludes with 'Salzbad' by Electric Orange. Initially the main feature is a fine splashing sequence but as the track progresses it reminded me of some early Sky label recordings by the likes of Tyndall or even Adelbert Von Deyen.

It is probably the second disc which will excite many however, even before listening to the music, as it contains tracks (all at fifteen minutes or over) by Spyra (with Chris Lang), Rainbow Serpent and AirSculpture. This is the first new material from the last two of these acts in ages.
'Nenikekamen' by Spyra & Lang starts us off. Straight away it's Klaus Schulze who comes to mind. We float on tranquil soft pads then an excellent slow sequence emerges backed by a cello / flute combination (I think!) which weaves a lovely haunting melody. The sequence mutates this way and that increasing in speed considerably in the fifth minute. Subtle rhythm in added low in the mix accompanied by yet another lovely lead.
Fanger & Kersten provide one of the most contemporary offerings on the album with 'Waterproof Guitar'. Infectious rhythmic loops and sampled (or vocoded) utterances of the title develop into quite a relaxed but also extremely 'cool' groove.
'Deep Dive' by Rainbow Serpent makes use of rather metallic sounding eerie wind blown effects over which a shuffling rhythm keeps being heard then disappears like tumbleweed momentarily being seen before being blown into the distance. Just before the five-minute mark some very faint NASA type samples can just be heard. This is extremely atmospheric stuff but also rather vivid picture music. A slow flutey melodic lead floats over the top heightening the haunting qualities still further.
At about the half way mark a slow rhythm is added giving a little structure but never intruding too much or destroying the delicate atmosphere so painstakingly created.
By it's title 'Not Raving, Floating' by AirSculpture might also be expected to be something of an ambient affair but this is not the case. Sure we get a drifting, though sonically powerful, introduction but it isn't long before a typical Sculpture lead can be heard and then a sequence with their signature all over it. It becomes louder and louder, more leads are added then another cracking sequence falls into formation- then another! Simply awesome. Welcome back AirSculpture! (Now when the hell are you going to get your 2003 National Space Centre gig ready for release?!).
We finish with 'Liquid Dawn' by Keller & Schonwalder. For the most part this is an ethereal melancholy masterpiece darker than anything on 'Noir'. A sequence is added in the ninth minute which does drive things forward a little but thankfully the mood stays wonderfully morose. Beware the false ending by the way, just when you think it is all over there is a bonus five minutes of music! Lovely stuff too. Sorry to spoil the surprise guys.

Artist: Airsculpture & Free System Projekt
P: 2010
LTD 300
The live music tracks played with a lot of sequenzers at the Ricochet Gathering 2001 in the USA. With unreleased tracks of Airsculpture and Free System Projekt.
 

Artist: Airsculpture & Star Sounds Orchestra
P: 2002
This release contains the demo tracks selected from the third Ricochet Gathering recordings. This release is not intended for wide distribution, but mainly for the musicians and fans of the Ricochet Gathering.
Recorded live at the Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia USA from April 19-23, 2002.
Limited edition promo release.
The AirSculpture line-up was comprised of John Christian and Peter Ruczynski.

Here the last copy!

Artists: Wolfram Spyra, Free System Projekt, Airsculpture,Star Sounds Orchestra, Paul Lawler,  Dave Brewer, Bill Fox
P: 2004
All the Artists played live within the Mojave desert in California.
Most of the tracks use sequenzer and are played in Berlin school style.
 

Artist: Airsculpture & Star Sounds Orchestra
P: 2007   
LTD 300
Live performances of the 2002 Gathering with two Sets of the two groups.

Artist: Various Artists
P: 1997 / 2010
Part 3 of the "Truth" CD-series is digging even deeper into mysterious sound world inspired by The X-Files. Several different couples of musicians were put together in the studio, and again the outcomes have turned out both unexpectedly & fantastic. Newcomers on this CD are the guys from Airsculpture and the talented Amsterdam-based musician James J. Clent. This amazing collection of electronic music takes us deeper into the mysteries and nuances of Scully's adventures. It also takes us into the quirky soundworlds of some of Europe's finest synthesists! The fun and playful sequences and atmospheres are here. The experimental and avante garde textures surrounds those qualities. The journeys are beyond the sci-fi. Deep listening extends the tendrils of this music into my heart and my soul. Not only is this great music, it is also a meditative and contemplative listening experience.