Jiannis - Plugged

Artist: Jiannis 
P: 1998
‘Apocalypsis ll’ and most of this CD in fact is very much Tangerine Dream in ‘Encore’ and ‘Sorcerer’ mode. Spooky atmospherics and strange alien animal noises lurch from the speakers. Calm descends and electricity arcs across the atmosphere to be joined by sonic booms then a beefy sequence jerks into life. The lead lines could have been taken from ‘Encore’, ‘Force Majeure’ or even ‘Romance 76’ by Peter Baumann. Graham Getty once said about RMI’s ‘Republic’ “if it gets any better than this, tell us”. Well Graham I put this up as a contender. As the sleeve notes mention, the sound quality occasionally leaves a little to be desired but really this music is so brilliant I am sure most people will be only too happy that these gems have been released. Just wait until the distorted synth guitar blisters over the top, lasting less than a minute but devastating in its impact never the less. After about ten minutes there is a welcome return to the spookyness so that we can get our breath back though the heart keeps pounding. The atmospherics sound a little like Edgar Froese’s ‘Epsilon In Malaysian Pale’ but with a bit more bite. More booms like vast metallic doors being slammed in subterranean hell add to the tension but even these fade away into the foggy wastes. At around the twenty minute mark another sequence tentatively emerges and takes us close to the end until more atmospherics and a beautiful piano melody bring us to the close. Oh My.
The next track ‘Zoomland l’ is a real shorty at almost quarter of an hour. It begins with metallic shimmers then we are treated to some very ‘Sorcerer’ type eerie bits but it isn’t too long before a tinkling sequence breaks through. A chopping static laden sequence joins it and a flutey synth lead line plays over the top. A third more robust sequence is also added but somehow Jiannis manages to avoid overload. Things mutate and shift throughout the piece in a most magical way, I just wish it had gone on for longer.
‘Zoomland ll’ initially takes us back to the alien jungle of the first track but then all is change with the ominous tones of an organ droning over the top. Just before the ten minute mark the sequence decides to make an appearance but it is not on its own for long before a slow snapping rhythm is added.

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: Kubusschnitt
P: 2001
We begin with a chaotic collage of sounds and effects out of which emerges an ominous drone and slow pulses. In complete contrast we then get a plucked string type lead line to which is added an absolutely fantastic melodic sequence - one of the best if not the best Kubusschnitt have come up with so far. Not to be outdone in the lead line department in enters a real cracker - again one of their very best. This is such a fantastic track - so full of excitement it just makes you feel like punching the air in pure pleasure. What's more it just gets better, faster and more intense as we progress into the second part with yet more fantastic lead lines. If you want sequencer mayhem with strong melodies you will have it by the avalanche full here. I really can't stress too much just how good this is. We float into the next section on the back of dark atmospherics but in no time at all another sequence emerges - again fast and furious. It is accompanied by a second and we enter Klaus Schulze territory. Nearer the end a subtle electric guitar lead line starts up adding colour to the pulsating brew underneath rather than dominating. Its all change as we move into part four which is basically a short dark cosmic atmospheric piece, a sonar blip being particularly effective. Initially part five takes us out to even deeper space with electronic effects and wooshes of sound making one think of mysterious other worldly phenomena. Out of all this come gorgeous melodic pads. It's as if we are entering a spellbindingly beautiful and yet awesome region of the cosmos. Just close your eyes and let the music take you where it will. For the second half of this part we are brought back to reality with a bump as two more sequences come to life and we now start to move at great speed again. Some lovely floating space guitar plays with the sequences and synth lead. This is both delicate and powerful music, sounds being combined expertly complimenting the sea of pulsations on which they float. The electric guitar does get a little more strident just before we enter the sixth part but not overly so. This section is really a gentle introduction to the even more cosmic part seven. The sound of solar flares fly over some deep pads. In the third minute a rhythm / sequencer combination slowly make their way through a cloud of stellar gasses becoming more strident all the time but never destroying the delicate atmos. Again its all rather Schulzian. To start off with Part eight is another cosmic extravaganza with some lovely floating guitar work. The pulse starts to quicken however as an absolutely brilliant sequence enters around the three minute mark. The guitar disappears and is replaced by synth leads. Things become very 'Sorceror'ish around the eleven minute mark. The sequence mutates just enough to hold the interest, the atmospherics and use of space around it being simply masterful. The sequences are again fantastic on the final part. As they get into full swing some sympathetic guitar work soars into the ether. The sequences get beefier and beefier as the track progresses - synth leads now replacing the guitar and things work themselves up into quite a frenzy up until the end - but is it? Keep the CD running for a little while and you get atmospheric noises and all sorts of other effects then a really nice mid 70's floating melodic passage and that really is the end - honest! Kubusschnitt go from strength to strength proving here that they are one of the very best retro bands around today.