When looking for something relaxed and soothing for the ear to listen to, the Electrolux (*) section of my shelves is one of the first places I check. And despite several mediocre and rather boring releases and their million thematic compilations that more or less recycle their catalog ad infinitum, I have to admit I have a soft spot for them and their glossy brand of electronics.
This is one of my favorite Electrolux albums, coming from the Aural Float project - aka label constants Alex Azary and Gabriel Le Mar with the participation of Pascal F.E.O.S.; hosts of the SpaceNight TV show and a focal project for Electrolux, which defined its style and aesthetics in a big way. Besides the typical downtempo relaxed electronics with occasional dubby effects, they also go uptempo with trancey edges and use vocals snippets from various artists, more notably Anthony Rother (*) in electro highlight "New Frontiers"; while vocoder-candy "Switching The Wave Of Thought" should be Electrolux' official theme track.
Aural Float - 2001 Freefloat
Info here.
Freefloat
Kanzleramt Five
Why would someone call his label's first showcase album 'Five' is beyond me.
Besides that, what we have here is an excellent all-stars compilation of late '90s Berlin techno, showing off all those elements that made us love Kanzleramt before they were assimilated in a defined style - deep and hard techno, pure electro, funky minimalism, druggy beats and cavernous echoes. Techno fans, don't pass it by.
VA - 1999 Kanzleramt Five
Info here.
Live is Life is Love
Another Rother post (*), a live set from 2003 plus three studio tracks. Robo electro played live, with drum machines and effects and vocoder vox and live played synths, rough and tough and raw. The studio tracks are typical if rather weak material of the era, signifying his move from the Kraftwerk and Miami bass influences to the pop/club tendencies of the present.
We may consider this album the swan song of the first Rother era (it was also the last Psi49Net full length release).
Anthony Rother - 2003 Live is Life is Love
Info here.
Elektro Codes. Trilogy
Electrolux likes projects, 'Space Night' being the most famous and longest running. But this one is in my opinion the most interesting.
These CDs compile tracks from previous releases on Electrolux, from almost everybody in the label's roster; included are some early Anthony Rother classics (and a Karl Bartos remix on them). Robotic, ambient, funky, deep, minimal, in short all forms of late '90s electro are represented (except the dirty retro style of Clone and Gigolo), though once more a bit on the glossy tip. I'd say it was the success of those compilations that motivated the birth of specialized Mikrolux label, with some excellent results (*).
Vol.1 stays on the chill side of things. In Vol.2, CD1 samples some modern electro classics, while CD2 goes smooth again and at times a bit experimental, mostly downtempo stuff. The same norm was followed through Vol. 3.
Possibly not groundbreaking, yet essential compilations, especially for those who are interested in the electro scene before the electroclash and (later) the electro-house fads.
VA - Elektro Codes. One 1997
Here.
Info here.
VA - Elektro Codes. Two 1999
CD1 - CD2
Info here.
VA - Elektro Codes. Three 1999
CD1 - CD2
Info here.
Rother on Fax
Two more works of Anthony Rother, this time on Peter Khulmann's FAX +49-69/450464 label.
In touch with most of the label's releases, it's ambient-ish stuff with a lot of references to '70s kraut electronics (without the acid-induced mood changes). Two great electronic albums, less concept-driven and monochromatic than his other listening releases. Not just for Rother fans.
Anthony Rother - 2003 Elixir Of Life
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Anthony Rother - 2003 Magic Diner
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Art Is A Division Of Pain
Psi Performer is an ambient project of Anthony Rother. The original work out on Kanzleramt (all track titles are years) was quickly followed by two more compilations of remixes by more or less everyone, both out in k2O sublabel. Check the info links for artists listings.
My favor goes to 'Remixed 1' CD, still it's interesting to listen to these three as a trilogy of sorts. I wanted to post these for a long time but I didn't have and couldn't find 'Remixed 2', until some weeks ago thanks to the Magesy guys.
Incredible cover art, by the way.
Psi Performer - 2001 Art Is A Division Of Pain
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Psi Performer - 2001 Art Is A Division Of Pain - Remixed 1
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Psi Performer - 2001 Art Is A Division Of Pain - Remixed 2
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Hacker
A typical Rother release, the 'Hacker' album went out on Psi49Net. Even more brooding, mechanical and fat than previous records, signifies more or less the peak of his dark electrofunk mannerisms. 'Die Macht' was like a hit, almost, and in a strange way paved the way for the first moves of Datapunk or his later releases in Cocoon.
I think Rother pays a small homage to Clock DVA here, using the obvious track name as a title. And maybe I'm seeing too much there, but another thing he borrowed is the idea of a concept through every track in the album (a thing he did from day one in 'Sex With The Machines'), something which Clock DVA were not the first to do but surely did it good.
Antony Rother - 2002, Hacker
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Sex With The Machines
The beginning of it all. The first album that brought the message of Anthony Rother to the world as he really meant it. Cold funk mixed with brooding melancholy and apocalyptic robotic slogans, in a time where eurotrance and disco house ruled. Only ones I can remember since then are UR and the Clone/Bunker guys. Short but effective. Released on the great Kanzleramt, still active, still banging. Respect.
Anthony Rother - 1997, Sex With The Machines
Link here.
Info here.
Art and Technology
Βack to Anthony Rother, this is an ambient album he released on his own Stahl Industries. Almost typical '70s Berlin School electronics, without any drums or guitars though. Heavy basslines and ethereal pads create synthetic psychedelic landscapes that manage to sometimes retain the cold, almost gothic feeling of the rest of the Rother releases.
For me, the most balanced album of his 'quiet' ones, representing in the best way the listening side of Rother's work.
Anthony Rother - 2005, Art Is A Technology
Part 1 - Part 2
Info here.
Welcome to Psicity
Something new(er).
After the Kanzleramt years and aided by the impact of 'Sex With The Machines' album in the electro world, Antony Rother made a new home for his puristic electronics, the Psi49net label. Participating in almost every release as musician or producer, he slowly built a new school electro sound.
With total respect to Kraftwerk and the Miami/Detroit masters, with seemingly simple but totally effective programming and bass heavy but still clear analog production, focusing on the funkiness of the robotic beats and on spacious melancholic ambiences, he paved a road lots were soon going to follow. Similar only to the electro side of The Advent and the more Detroit oriented of the Clone/Bunker guys, totally oblivious of the 'electroclash' crap fad of the time, he played his robofunk around the world, collaborated with Karl Bartos and a hundred more, published the magnificent 'Little Computer People' project and ruled. Even Electrolux records decided at this time to have a more electro output and gave us Microlux, on which Rother had the first release. Sometimes the bass is so full and the breaks so groovy and shuffled that it's hard to mix Rother with other tracks without them sounding weak.
Then he abandonded the Psi49net projects, created Datapunk and changed his style a little to fit the emerging electro techno current, still with quality results. Nowdays Datapunk is well known with releases by Sven Vaeth and Kiko (respect!) and all the younger & emerging new heroes of the 'scene', etc., etc., and stands beside Great Stuff, Craft and all these great commercial german labels.
But PsiCity is different. For me only 'Bad To The Bone' had the same drive thereafter. Truly underground stuff, with totally special sound, it will always have a place in my heart. This 2CD compilation packs some of Rother's 'hits' ('Don't Stop The Beat', 'Simulationszeitalter', etc.) along with lots of unreleased tracks by all artists of PsiCity, all interesting and some just excellent. Downtown CD dives deep into dancefloor electro funk Afrogermanic style, while the Uptown CD variates through electro pop, IDM, electro techno bangers and melancholic vocoder ballads.
I dont' really remember where I got the Piano mix of 'God of the Gods'... but it's nice.
Anthony Rother presents Electro Commando 1 -
2002 Welcome To PsiCity
Part 1 - Part 2 Downtown CD.
Part 1 - Part 2 Uptown CD.
God Of the Gods (Piano Mix)
Info here
