RARITIES

Artist:Glyn Lloyd-Jones
P: 1994
This album was created 4 years after 'Icesteps' and was rightly hailed by many as his most inspired work to date. Considering the quality of his previous albums, the fact that he seems to "raise the ante" with each release is amazing.Glyn's previous works displayed his uncanny ability to harmonise sequences with breathtaking melodies. 'Ocean of Serenity' continues this approach and the title track, like so much of Glyn's work, is based around a stunningly beautiful yet simple theme which manifests itself in many guises. The opening refrains build to a climax then relax to a solitude which initially hints at, then leads into, the sequenced section. Here a rhythm is woven around a trademark synth lead which embellishes the main theme. A quality opening.'An Alternative Reality' is again based around a superb chord sequence which Glyn seems to reel off at will. The way the sequence interacts with the main theme is a revelation. Initially the sequence is fired off in harmonic packets, to great effect, before being let loose. The whole thing works magnificently and is probably the highlight of the album ... along with the next track. If 'Return Flite' was described in its constituent parts one would not believe that such a concoction could work. Laid back synth themes combine with complex sequences, a cuckoo-like call sits alongside a guitar axe, choral voices mingle with bass rhythms. Pipey synth, flutey synth, reedy synth, synthy synth! It's all here bar the proverbial... and it all sounds fantastic.'Xiological Sky' is very much a follow on from his previous album 'Icesteps'. The glassy synth leads combine superbly with the sequences which increase in complexity as the track draws to a close. 'Hymn' again has all the GLJ ingredients and the choral voices which open are magnificent producing a poignant end to the album. A good friend of mine recently heard 'Ocean of Serenity' for the first time. His experience of EM is substantial to say the least. The fact that he was so bowled over, as I was and still am, by this album says it all. Quite simply work of the very highest calibre, and a must-have for any EM collector. (GG)

Here the last copy!

Artist: Guardner
P: 2002
Elektrolux e1101111cd
Guardner aka Marcus Schmahl is back with his longawaited full length release „Someday (In My Life)“. The man who also received amazing support for his Rauschfaktor outfit with Frank Rückert now graces Elektrolux with his first complete solo album under his Guardner guise. And he has definitely excelled himself with this beautiful collection of electronic shortstories! These twelve astonishing little gems showcase Guardner’s deep love for intense downtempo excursions as well as his sense for epic arrangements. As with his well received recent 12“, Guardner once again delivers incredible emotional landscapes, melodic electro pop and freestyle grooves that are sure to get under your skin. Beautiful melancholic motifs team up with great vocal pieces on top of some serious beat business, combining a rough downbeat and streetstyle flavour with heartwarming strings and mellow pianoparts. Guardner fuses old and new, and uses a wide and colourful spectrum of finest ingredients to create something really unique. „Someday (In my Life)“ is destined to go down by storm with all lovers of modern eclectic electronic music. A landmark release within the german history of electronic listening. Marcus Schmahls winning combination of rich musicality and deep chilling grooves never felt so good!

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Artist: Guido Meyer
P: 1996 / 2006
This album contains music that was recorded in 1996 for various installations. It is the first time this material gets released to the public.
The first track called "The Seed" is a "Berlin School" number, with melodic sequencing and atmospheres. It's a bit untypical for Guido Meyer and pretty good. If you like Tangerine Dream's output from early 80's or even some of their sequencer-based material from the 90's, you will enjoy this one! "Confused Hunchback" is a short reflective piece that sounds like a musical sketch rather than a full-blown composition. "Useless Toys" relies on a rhythm / sequence combination and is much more representative of Guido Meyer's output. The track reminds on the material heard on "Episodes 1".  "A Pair of Shoes" is once again a reflective electric piano piece similar to "Confused Hunchback". "Ramon" is a cheerful rhythmic piece but rather generic. The melodies are good but the sound pallette is rather lackluster.
"Way Home" contains GREAT (and I mean it) melodic sequencing and a bit harder rhythms than what I'm used to hear on Guido Meyer's records. Overall, this composition has some slight techno leanings that, however, do not alter the general impression I get from this track. Nice one! Who said accessible music can't be good? This may be not the most serious composition on Earth but who cares if it makes you move?! The desire is strong to press the "repeat" button, but I have to go on with my review. "Gazah Stripe" starts with well-crafted rhythms but after a while a growling synth enters that is joined by mysterious melodic theme. This track is strongly reminiscent of Tangerine Dream's strongest moments from late 80's. The synth solos on this track are simply excellent! This is complex, expressive, melodic EM of the highest order. On "Your Fields" electronic marimbas are introduced along with synthesized saxes that together make up for some exotic brew of sounds. Things get even more intriguing as more sounds are introduced and Guido improvises on top of the track's rhythmic base. Mournful strings are introduced and the mood changes from exotic to melancholic nostalgia. There is a romantic flair about this track that is so slight it's hardly perceivable but it does add a lot of charm to this unusual composition. The mood then swings back to exotic lounge as brighter chords replace the nostalgic ones.

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Artist: Guido Negraszus
P: 1990
Guido Negraszus exciting debut album from 1990.
He was described as the german Jarre, because he uses the same style of rhythms and melodies.

Here the last copy of the original CD pressing.

Artist: Guido Negraszus
P: 1992
This is a melodic Ambient & New Age CD. The typical Negraszus style, but this time, with a little Klaus Schulze and Vangelis touch. Nice, gentle, melodic and very good synthesizersounds.

Here the last copy!

Artist: Guido Negraszus
P: 2004
14 tracks, that gets your mood higher. If you want music for driving around, just put this CD in the car-stereo. Fast rhythms and gentle melodies, most of the time played with piano, leed to the synthesizer world of Guido Negraszus. The melodies still remind to Jarre sometimes, but why not, this is his own style.

Hier das letzte Exemplar!

Artist: Guido Negraszus
P: 1991
Ambient & New Age CD. Includes OPENING SUN, AFRICAN SUN and TWO LOVERS.
This was the second CD by Guido Negraszus and was a step further in the electronic style, he is known for. Catchy melodies and wonderful arrangements.

Here the last copy!

Artist: Harald Grosskopf & Steve Baltes
P: 1997
This is very fast music by the two Ashra members.

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Artist: Harald Nies
P: 2005
This sounds like 70is spacemusic with guitar and everything they used back then. Elements like elektronic, ambient, psychedelic, artrock and melodicrock can be found on this second release of Harald.

Here the last copy of the Syngate version!

Artist: Heimann
P: 1993
The original version of melodic, sequencerbased electronicmusic.

Here the last copy of the CD factory pressed version released at the Musique Intemporelle Label from Kistenmacher.