German Spheric Music recording label creator Lambert Ringlage is a dedicated executive producer and musician who's been devoted to certain types of space music for a long time. His interest, passion and business is not only about other people's music, in fact he also plays under the moniker of Lambert and has been around for ages. "Essential" seems to be a collection of old "essential" material by him (I wish he'd send some additional info/bio when he mails promos!) spanning between 1991 and 2000, but I don't know much more... Two previously unreleased tracks are also included. When listening initially (before reading the booklet's notes) I thought the music was quite "retro'" at times... I thought I was getting sick of too many old fashioned bands still playing the same kind of music after decades. But then fortunately I realized that this was indeed older material and I started listening under a different light, from a different perspective. Respect for pioneers like Lambert who have been making space-music is always great. While ordered chronologically, I must also admit that not all the stuff sounds old, actually some older things sound more modern than younger tracks, but it might be just an impression. Synthetic soundscapes with melodies, sweeps and sweeping analog sounds, bit textures and rhythmical patterns often based more on digital sounds rather than drum(beat) sounds. All this building up and holding suspense in the background of long chords that give it that particular floating, calm and wave-like vibe. The front cover is a picture of a night-sky with stars and a really huge ball reflecting a green daylight environment. It's a nice contrast between day and night and it fits with the label's name and the whole attitude. Good choice (looks like Bruxelles' museum or some other Disney World-like tourist attraction glass sphere).

German Sounds of Delight (branch of KM Sounds) continue with their tradition to release goth music, and this time its mixed with fast industrial/ebm beats with nice bass drums, bombastic goth sounds and sharp electric guitar playing power-chords with a cheap distortion pedal. Violins (traditional playing and pizzicato) are also to be found. The particular thing about this record I think are the male vocals, that range from low gothic and theatrical vocals to distorted ebm-style parts to almost black-metal screams that remind of Funeral Oration's vocalist Nick Curri. Obviously there are a lot of choruses, both male and female playing nice harmonies together. Lyrics are in german and english.
If you ask me this band has potential but should renew their sound library and detach from certain schemes...

This review is part of a bunch of reviews of older material that we haven't had time to review before but which is still available at the label's mailorder. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Muslimgauze is probably the most prolific artist I have ever known. Even after his sad death some years ago his music keeps coming out, mainly on Staalplaat, who I think owns his rights and even created a special subdivision called Muslimlim for his many releases. "Kashmiri Queens" is a more mass-friendly release, as it is faster and has less overtones than previously. The backbone of the music is mainly drone/raga samples with ethnic percussions.
The art work is truly special (lots of printed material inside and the name and title is like fire-branded on the jewel case plastic and reflects the same rainbow shades that you would see on a drop of car gas on the street, if you know what I mean) and is limited to 1000 copies so get your own if you are a fan.

This review is part of a bunch of reviews of older material that we haven't had time to review before but which is still available at the label's mailorder. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Before I start to write about this specific release it is my duty to introduce you to Staalplaat's "material series", a new series of radical experimental music CDs with no printwork but rather special and unique packaging, consisting of a transparent colored jewel cases with different types of material in place of the cover and the inlay card. All information is directly etched on the box's plastic and the CD itself is a so-called AB CD, or a fully transparent normal sized CD with a small 3"-size ring of the silverish material we all know that actually contains the music.
This is the 10th release in the "material series" and in this case the material used is a green (like the jewel case's plastic) fabric wallpaper with a texture.
One of the three members of Iceland act Stilluppsteypa, his experimentalism is an attempt to merge the discrete digital world with the natural sounds of field recordings, even though it would be hard to say if you didn't know.
Guest appearance by American John Hudak.

This review is part of a bunch of reviews of older material that we haven't had time to review before but which is still available at the label's mailorder. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Part of the Staalplaat and Extrapol project called BronBron (read elsewhere on these pages too), "Heroin" is fruit of the collaboration between the laptop artists Stephan Mthieu (Full Swing, previously Stol) and Ekkehard Ehlers (Auch, previously Autopoieses). This album has a more traditional set of instruments and might even appeal to open minded rock listeners, as it actually contains bits and microwaves of popmusic trademarkes (hence the name "Heroin"). If the set of instruments is taditional the packaging ain't (you can't expect too much from the leaders of non-traditional releases, can you? ;-)) and is an ecological no-glue no-plastic specially folded carton sleeve.