HOLGER CZUKAY Vinyl & CDs

Review: Recorded in October 1997, but lost and rediscovered two decades later by digital artist Gvoon Arthur Schmidt, GVoon: Brennung 1 is one of countless gems nestling in the sound archives of the late, great Holger Czukay. Described as a "futuristic sound meditation" by remastering engineer Dirk Dresselhaus (better known as experimental electronica producer Scheider TM), the single, expansive piece was created by Czukay at a point in time when he was happily working with German techno and electronica producers (Westbam included) while exploring the potential of digital music-making and production technology. The results are typically immersive, enveloping and off-kilter, sounding as far-sighted and ahead-of-their-time as they no doubt did when the piece was originally recorded in 1997.

Review: After a period of roughly three decades, German soundtrack artist and onetime Karlheinz Stockhausen apprentice Holger Czukay shares a surprise trove of lost tapes, which are said to have been once recorded by the artist for "free disposal" and which were presumably forgotten about at the time. Now available, all of said material is said to date back to at least the 1990s, and marks the forward thinking and "ahead of its time" (as remarked by fellow producer Schneider TM) approach to cold Kraut and experimental wave that informed Czukay as he experimented freewheelingly with beatmaking while in the company of further fellows Dr. Walker and Air Liquide. Also evolving in temporal conjunction with an experimental live show involving body tracking tech, fashioned by mixed media artist Arthur Schmidt, there are implicit themes of virtual reality and haptic sound control here. Way ahead of its time indeed.

Review: Holger Czukay's late career works for Claremont 56 are celebrated in a new compilation, showcasing the former Can bassist's unique musical legacy. Released between 2009 and 2012, these tracks highlight his inventive and freewheeling approach to composition and recording. Claremont 56 founder Paul Murphy, inspired by Czukay's legendary 2009 Roundhouse performance, curated this collection with a deep appreciation for the artist's creativity. Key tracks include 'Ode To Perfume' and 'Photosong,' both reimagined from the Roundhouse gig. 'A Perfect World (Remix)' features former Can bandmates Jaki Leibezeit and Michael Karoli, while 'Fragrance' offers picturesque Balearic Kraut-dub. The bright 'Let's Get Cool' revisits Czukay's 1979 classic, and 'My Persian Love (Remix)' revives an early solo recording. The compilation also features two potent tracks with Czukay's wife, Ursa Major: the ambient 'In Space' and the mind-mangling 'Music To Be Murdered By.' This collection is a fitting tribute to Czukay's endlessly inventive career, highlighting his unparalleled contributions to experimental music.

Review: Now here's a rarity for you. Not even many of the most committed megafans know that Brian Eno, Holger Czukay and J.Peter Schwalm, accompanied by Raoul Walton and Jern Atai, performed a secret live music show, outside the esteemed Kunst-und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany, situated in the city of Bonn, in August 1998. Forming a part of the opening party of Eno's Future Light-Lounge Proposal multimedia installation, this furtively-recorded album hears an exclusive slice of incidental "high-altitude food music", of course made during Brian Eno's airborne ambient era. Now reissued via Gronland, this five-piece cut of sophisti-ambi-krauttronica makes for a welcome surprise.