Manikin Records



First Decade 1992 - 2002
(2002, Manikin Records MRCD 7062)
sold out

Previously unreleased tracks by Klaus Schulze, Spyra. Rainbow Serpent, Ramp and Fanger & Schonwalder as well as a host of other artists, nearly all of them previously appearing on the Manikin label have donated tracks to this CD designed to celebrate Manikin's tenth birthday. The packaging is seriously classy and it is a limited edition of just 777 copies.

We have a laid back rhythmic track 'Post Train to Bayreuth' by Spyra to kick things off. The lead line and overall melodic quality of the piece are beautiful without being pretty. It's good to chill out to. 'Nostalgia 76' by Harald Grosskopf hardly surprisingly comes from that year but what is a real eye opener is how good it is. How this could have remained unreleased for so long baffles me! Dark reverberating drones hang in the air but then a driving rhythm starts up. The lead line is excellent, backed by electronic effects. Swelling pads give it even more oomph. We then get a mix of Fanger & Schonwalder's 'Echo Gods' by Tom van Draft. The loops sound very Ashra but rhythmically its given a rather dance feel. The relaxed guitar licks are particularly impressive. Klaus Schulze donates 'Manikin Jubilee'. Lovely organ chords are looped giving a slow rhythmic quality which is added to by yet more syncopation ranging from the bass variety to shuffling percussives. Even though the piece is highly rhythmic it remains cool and not at all in yer face. Fanger & Kersten's 'Terraforming' begins with a rapid sequence which gets even faster as more and more rhythms and sequences are piled on top. We then we get a brief pause for vocoded vocals before the rhythms return- rather infectious but with a mean edge. Just before the five minute mark they get into an even better groove- one for Kraftwerk fans.

Otarion teams up with Arcanum for 'The Overdub'. From a melancholy start a sequence comes swirling and constantly mutating to the surface. We then get a bass beat and exciting lead lines flashing over the top. The general feel is initially nothing like what I would have expected from the artists involved but its great rip roaring stuff never the less. Later on some familiar stylings do become apparent, sounding perfect in the new setting. Next up is 'Lightyears Before' by Mario Schonwalder. A looped eight note motif provides structure around which a lonesome lead line winds but really it needed a longer duration to develop. Alas time is a precious commodity on such an album as this. Nightcrawlers give 'Broken Symmetry' to the project. The sound of clanking chains acts as a backing for a simple two note looped plucked string melody. There is a lead line but its not too intrusive. Very atmospheric stuff oozing attitude.

'Scaling the Moon' by Beatboys is the first non Manikin artist track to be featured and we are straight into probably the best sequence on the album so far. More sequences are added, indeed this is something of a sequencer fest, each one of a lovely thick variety. Its a wonderful pulsating brew overflowing with energy and about as subtle as a brick. In other words, for me, pure heaven! The second non Manikin act Digital Mechanics follow on with 'Triduum'. This is a very different kettle of fish initially featuring rather fast acoustic guitar playing which disappears suddenly and is replaced by high hat before becoming rhythmically more complex. It keeps developing and is OK but didn't really light my candle though the last couple of minutes did get into a pleasing groove. The first disc is finished off with a new fourteen minute piece from Fanger & Schonwalder entitled 'Electronic Mirrors Chapter Seven' A nice thick steady pulse develops into a stonking sequence ,a little colour being provided by some lovely tron (?) sounds. We luxuriate in this exquisite combination of sounds and pulsations until a beat which really kicks adds to the delirious trippy state still further. As for the lead lines- they're simply devastating. I would love to hear this accompanied by Jodrell Bank's full barrage of visual effects! Its at least as good as anything found on 'Analog Overdose'. In short absolutely brilliant and the old cliché 'worth the price for this track alone' is rather apt. If you thought this was good however- just wait till you hear disc two!

For the main part it is much more Berlin School than the first CD. Distorted radio chatter, a countdown and some vocoded vocals sounds like a very cliched start to 'Radiotrips' by Rainbow Serpent but it works surprisingly well and actually turns out to be a fairly awesome track. Keller & Schonwalder give us 'Devil's Run'. A lonesome cello lead emerges out of cosmic effects. Its extremely peaceful but with a Schulzian edge. In the fifth minute a high register sequence begins to seep into your mind. Bas Broekhuis adds drums and the track sounds more like Klaus Schulze as we progress. Very gradually the drums become more prominent and an excellently placed high hat sequence falls into line with them. Its one of the best instances of live drumming in EM I have heard in a while, certainly on par with Steve's drumming for RMI on the Hampshire Jam disc but here the overall feel stays much closer to traditional Electronic Music. Speaking of RMI, the next track 'What's the Point of eating Concrete' by Ramp does give a rather humorous twist in one of their titles. A superb sequence blasts its way through dark drones and tron choir chords. Another sequence is added and the first is beefed up even more. A lead line placed just right in the mix does its heroics without taking anything away from the exciting pulsating brew. 'Dances of the Nymphes' by Steve Hug sets a sedate pace. Quirky bell chimes come and go as do other percussives. I suppose it does bring up appropriate images for the title but even though I did quite like some of his 'Organics' CD this track wasn't particularly to my taste and felt a bit out of place here.

Rolf Trostel next. Welcome back! 'Kyrie 777' uses expertly deployed Gregorian type chants. They are rather subtle and actually sound as though they were composed especially for the piece rather than just taken from a sample disc (though I could be wrong). A very pleasing rhythm starts up, changing often as it comes and goes and the underlying pads are just perfect being delicate and rather beautiful. Loads is happening, every twist and turn perfectly crafted. I wish it could have gone on three times as long but as mentioned earlier, that wouldn't have given us enough time to cover the whole Manikin story. Apparently a new album from him is due shortly, on the strength of this it will be an essential purchase. 'Different Faces Rehearsal' makes use of some exquisite melodic sequences. Every note and run of notes is crafted into a track of haunting beauty. Yes this is retro but the melodies are much stronger than is usual for this style and there is such a twist of sadness to it all that I couldn't help be moved. Its yet another jewel on a disc already encrusted with them. Electric Orange finish things off with a track entitled 'Dedicated to M.K.' by which I assume they mean Michael Karoli who died at the end of last year. It has a rather improvised feel to it. The beginning is fairly atmospheric with some lovely thick organ sounds. Slow rhythms give some structure but it is the organ which hit the spot most with me. The pace quickens near the end and the organ playing really goes for it. Thus finishes an excellent double CD from a wonderful label. Here's hoping they will still be around in another ten years.

David Law, Synth Music Direct, 2002
Buy 'The First Decade' at: www.synthmusicdirect.com

Various Artists
O Schrittmachert - Tasty Tracks Vol.1
O Eintrittskarte 24.09.2004
O liquid sound volume 2
O First Decade 1992 - 2002

label:
O Manikin Records

website:
O www.manikin.de