Keller & Schonwalder & Friends Eintrittskarte Play: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi   Download: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi (Excerpt from track 'Bad Sulza Rehearsal')

A rapid metallic sequence gets the opening track 'Loondermolen #21' by Keller, Schonwalder & Broekhuis underway. Another more bass laden one joins it along with subtle rhythms and percussion. A superb slow lead line and yet another sequence, this time quite melodic, come in as the rhythm becomes more insistent.

By now my feet are moving and I'm drumming on the table like a crazy thing. Then another lead arrives and I just know I have heard it somewhere before. As it goes along it suddenly becomes more obvious, 'Ludwig II. von Bayern' from Klaus Schulze's 'X'! Next up is 'Live in Vienna' by Fanger and immediately we are into an infectious groove with lovely analogue sounding lead line floating over the top. Mellotron is added contrasting wonderfully with the insistent beats. More gorgeous lead lines come in adding the final finishing touches to a track which is already of the highest quality.

Bas Broekhuis donates 'The Beauty of the Beast'. A delicate melodic loop echoes in the air, fading into the distance. Around this a slow rhythm forms. It is a nice enough track but maybe a little too subtle for my tastes. 'Killing Dreams' by Arcanum begins with a high hat / snare type loop through which more rhythms form. Things gradually develop with the addition of some excellent staccato melodies as well as lovely tuneful slow pads. And it just gets better and better with the introduction of a sequence then fantastic lead line. More and more elements are brought in, each taking things to a new level of brilliance. What a truly magnificent track! Detlef Keller gives us the rather laid back 'Nomina Sunt Odiosa'. Slightly mystical sounding pads and flutey Schulzian melodies are joined by a tinkling sequence. It is very relaxing and rather beautiful stuff, calming us down nicely from the previous number.

Fanger & Schonwalder team up again for 'The Trees Turn Tangerine' and with a title like that it is hardly surprising that a sequencer is deployed almost right from the off, quickly followed by another and a superb rhythm full of menace and attitude. Add to this lovely mellotron sounds, both choir and flute, and I am in retro heaven but with a slight contemporary twist- yet another simply awesome track! Cosmic Hoffmann is represented by 'Timeshift (Live in UK!)'. Soft swirling pads form a carpet around which delicate little guitar licks play then just before the second minute a sequence starts up then blasts forward. This is a track with many a change in melody and rhythm, keeping the interest throughout. At around the half way mark it takes a decidedly Eastern turn and if anything the pace is increased still further. With two minutes to go however all rhythm departs and we float in the Cosmos until the end.

We then get a welcome return from Rainbow Serpent man Gerd Wienekamp aka Der Laborant. 'Speed Dreams' is initially all rather ethereal, delicate little string melodies hanging in the air. The sequence then arrives, a lovely thick squelchy one reminding me very much of Tim Blake's 'Crystal Machine'. Things then become more contemporary with the introduction of a bass beat which gradually increases in pace. The different styles on display here all work very well together. It's a very inventive but also extremely accessible piece.