Emmens + Heij

Artists: Free System Projekt + Gert Emmens
P: 2011
It contains tracks from their live performances in Oirschot and Berlin, 2010.

Artist: Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij
P: 2005 / 2010   
"Blind Watchers of A Vanishing Night" is an album consisting of live tracks recorded during various gigs in 2004.
The title track wastes no time with the lovely sequences appearing almost instantly - and what sequences they are - lovely pulsations straight out of the "Ricochet" school. Great Mellotron choir sounds add to the picture, as well as subtle synth soloing. Pure cosmic bliss! Stylistically this continues what started on "Return To the Origin", which means Berlin School music of the highest order. If upbeat sequencers with a melancholic flair (courtesy of Gert, I think) are your thing - this is the album for you.
"A Journey Through Time" is a long suite (44:01) with multiple parts.
The first part, "Solaris" is known from Gert & Ruud's previous effort as well as Gert's solo performances. Floating pads, melodic sequences, Mellotron flutes and a no-nonsense CS-80-like "harmonica" solo are the key elements here.
The second part, "Red Clouds Over A Misty Swamp" is all-atmospheric, with subtle synth soundscapes and distant Mellotron choirs. This is some real moody stuff!
"The Rise And Fall of Atlantis" takes things back to sequencer territory, with insistent string slabs and supporting pads.
"Waiting For the Day To Come" calms things down once again, but this time the atmosphere of suspense and fear prevails.
"Crystal Tears" has sequences that are slower but have more oomph to them - bass pulsations that remind on Klaus Schulze circa 1976 - 1977. Some lovely use of Mellotron flute sound on this one as well.
"The Day the Moon Will Leave Us" closes the suite on an atmospheric and a tad dramatic note.
"Moments of Unexpected Sadness" starts with excellent soundscapes but after a few seconds in comes an excellent melodic sequence which is then joined by yet another one and we are propelled forward on top of floating waves of sound. Excellent sounds, melodies, atmospheres and of course, sequencing. The whistling synth lead line is pretty tasty as well. Any fan of sequencer EM will swallow this track in no time! A lot of Mellotron strings are heard towards the end as well as some EMS chirping.
"Conspiracy of Two Forces"... Wow! This is simply the strongest bass sequencing I've heard from these guys so far. The pulsations are so punchy, they'll have your head spinning and your heart racing at full speed. On top of that we can hear Gert churning out a reflective solo. This is the best track on the entire album. The ultimate Berlin School number? The essence of Berlin-styled electronics? Perhaps.
"Driving Home On A Rainy Night" sounds like a continuation of the previous number with added electronic drums and Mellotron strings.
Excellent and somewhat cheerful / reflective finish to this great album laden with sequences, solos and atmospheres.

Artist: Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij
P: 2015
This is their most retro sounding CD to date. Drums and drumcomputers are gone, retro sequencers and Mellotrons are back.

Artists: Gert Emmens + Ruud Heij
P: 2020
LTD 300
13 of the 16 tracks are previously unreleased. However, the three previously released tracks, of which one is released on Gert Emmens solo CD Outlands, one on the Analogy 2 sampler, and one on the Schallplatte XVI sampler, have a different mix, and are also longer versions of the original tracks.
 

Artist: Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij
P: 2012
Excellent sequences and soloing.
The title track gets things going with strange effects that are soon replaced by a classic sequence, joined by another one and yet another one after a few seconds. Mellotron choir plays a chord typical of Gert - somewhat melancholic, emotional and a bit "romantic". A piercing analog solo then joins the flow. Great Berlin School track in typical Emmens & Heij style.
 

Artists: Gert Emmens + Ruud Heij
P: 2022
6 CDs full of new tracks!

Artist: Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij
P: 2004/ 2007   
Each of the album's progression of tightly composed episodes are centered upon the traveling, cyclical repetitions of splintered rhythms created by Heij's pattern generating sequencers. Gliding above, Emmens' melodic narrative relates a tale told through a wandering ribbon of warm synth lines - rising, falling and bending in time with the tapestry of interlocking electronic pulses and beats. Unrolling expectantly, the thread is thrilling but the weave leaves us spellbound. The duo augment each other well on this poetic meditation into the vastness of human spirit as explored through music technology. They are well versed in the vocabulary of this genre's early masterworks.
For the listener, Return to the Origin is a means to cover great distances while lost in our own imaginations. For Emmens and Heij, it is part of their quest to locate themselves in the world of their musical ancestors.

Artist: Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij
P: 2014
The music on this album is inspired by those large radio telescopes, that patiently search the universe for signs. Signs that could mean something. Signs that might contain a message, coming from an intelligent lifeform, far away, maye sent ages ago.
So this is more ambient music than the usual sequencer style from these musicians.
 

Artist: Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij
P: 2008 
Emmens & Heij team up for a fourth time on Silent Witnesses of Industrial Landscapes, and they just keep the Berlin train rolling right along. Let’s just cut to the chase and say that if you have and like their prior albums, don’t hesitate to add this one to your collection. Fans of retro EM should once again be in analog heaven. As usual, this is improv-based synthesizer music with an equipment list a mile long.

Artist: Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij
P: 2011   
The basic sequencer tracks were played by both together in the studio of Heij and afterwards, Gert Emmens played his melodies on top of it.
One more brilliant excursion in the world of Berlin School sequencer music.
On June 21st 2008, we visited the Kroller Moller museum in the National Park Hoge Veluwen Netherlands. Somewhat hidden in the forests, one of the parts of this museum is a large sculpture garden. We were so impressed by the different sculptures and other artforms that we decided to do an entire album inspired on this subject.

Artist: Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij
P: 2016
After their concert at the E-live festival in October 2012, Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij spent a month or two on completing the basic musical ideas of their concert. The result was the completion of 6 new tracks. Right after finishing this new music, they decided to switch to making ambient music for some time. This resulted in the ambient album "Signs", released in April 2014. The next musical step was going back to a very retro style of Berlin School music for a next album. Realising that there still were this 6 tracks waiting for release... They decided to offer the tracks as a complete download album only. BUT Now also as a CD release!!

Artist: Gert Emmens
P: 2003
Recorded during the concert of Gert Emmens at the E-live festival on the 27th September 2003 at the Auditorium of the University in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Through the use of a lot of sequences of the Modular system together with Ruud Heij, you really get a vintage feeling of Berlin School music.
Track 1,3 & 5 composed by Gert Emmens
Track 2 & 4 composed by Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij

Artist: Kubusschnitt
P: 2010
After 9 years, here it is. The same style, new combinations. This time with Gert Emmens as additional musician. Fast sequences with Moog-sololine melodies. The combination with Gert Emmens really gets Kubusschnitt into a new dimension and class of Berlin-school style.

Artist:
P: 2006
This release from 2006 offers 80 minutes of analog electronics.
Featured here are exclusive tracks by:
Rogue Element: watery and pensive with dreamy textures laced with chirping birds.
Francois-pol Cornec: energetic melody with bouncy keys and sweeping tonalities. 4m33s: a moody approximation of a sunrise streaming across an alien landscape.
Gert Emmens & Ruud Heij: surging chords flavored with celestial atmospherics that accretes notable vigor of high appeal.
Russell Storey: part one of a spacey excursion with dramatic disposition.
James J. Clent: mounting electronic cycles spiced with astral guitar.
Craig Padilla: an ambient intro plunges into high energy terrain with hyperactive loops and twinkling quasi-rhythms.
Kees Aerts: a determined electronic riff is enlivened with sinuous e-perc and fanciful effects.
Zen Paradox: eastern influences tweak an environment of erratic beats and a rising surf of lush textures.
Stephen Parsick (from 'Ramp): a spooky dose of ricocheting effects amid a nebulous fog of haunting demeanor that escalates into a dense tapestry of rewarding sonics.
Create: a heavenly excursion into moody layers and growling electronics.
Altres: acoustic guitar accompanied by congenial synth riffs and mirthful embellishments.
Russell Storey: part two of the prior piece, in which things take a darker turn with eerie results.
Remotion: lavish keys swim in a sparkling pool agitated by churning non-impact rhythms.
Remy: portentous textures ascend with majesty and are seasoned with pulsing tones and glistening effects.
EM2: carefree cycles become dominated by more resonant riffs with gentle e-perc nibbling at the edges.
Ron Boots: a monumental finale as dense tones fuse with masterful riffs of growing vigor, rising to a coda of shrill eruptions.
Again, the musicians demonstrate inventive applications of analog technology coupled with diversity and satisfying acumen. Standout contributions from Parsick and Boots.