Keller & Schonwalder The Two Piece Box

The first track is completely outstanding. All those who loved ‘Concerts’ should go for this big style. Again Klaus Schulze very much comes to mind, in every department, sequences, underlying effects, lead lines etc. I suppose I am thinking mainly of his ‘Body Love’ period. This isn’t quite as relentless however. The attention is grabbed at all times. Please notice that the album is credited to Keller / Schonwalder not Keller and Schonwalder. This is because the two pieces here are solos. The first ‘Another Temptation’ is by Detlef Keller, the second ‘The Quiet Room’ is by Mario Schonwalder. It does rather blow my theory out of the water however that these two can only be at their best when creating music together. ‘Another Temptation’ sounds just as if it could have come off their last collaboration album, it is at least of that quality and yet Detlef did it all on his tod. Shows what a talented and versatile artist he is. Just let yourself flow with his latest creation. The lead that comes in at eleven minutes is pure Schulze though I can’t remember which album (a little from ‘Timewind’ and a little from ‘X’?). At thirteen minutes you will reach even greater heights and it keeps drawing you in getting better and better. A bass rhythm (not dance) comes in at twenty minutes and along with laser sounds it increases the tension still further. A minute and a half later there starts a series of changes with the sequences and the new lead line is just blistering- stonkingly stonking! This track is absolutely essential for any fans of the Berlin School. If you don’t get it your collection will have a crucial element missing.

It is very difficult to think how it would be possible to follow this but Mario gives it his best shot with ‘The Quiet Room’. Now this is the sort of atmospheric start that wouldn’t have been out of place on TD’s ‘Sorcerer or ‘Stratosfear’. The slow bass sequence joins it two and a half minutes in. A couple of minutes later things start to become more complex and the mood keeps intensifying every few minutes from here. Schulze returns as the obvious inspiration though the flute lead sound used at the half way mark hints at mid 70s TD again. (DL)

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