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Reviews

Roedelius — Selbsportrait 6: Diary of the Unforgotten
(Curious Music CURIO 4, 1978/1995, CD)

by Mike Ezzo, Published 1996-03-01

Selbsportrait 6: Diary of the Unforgotten Cover art Roedelius has been quietly producing his unmistakingly original music for a long time now. And it's high time that he be given the kudos lauded upon his parent group. Yes, I am aware that Cluster was "innovative," "groundbreaking," etc. So was John Cage! Does that necessarily engender a pleasant listening experience? Between 1973 and 1978 Roedelius lived in a forest village in Germany. Here, when not busy with Harmonia's second, he produced five works of reflective, impressionistic material utilizing only the most primitive technology: Farfisa organ, tone generator, tape-delay system, and sheer imagination. The result, the Selbsportrait series, was his most idiosyncratic work. Now, thanks to Curious Music, we are treated to a sixth, collected from the same period. You won't be bludgeoned or dazzled by this music. It may do little for you unless you sit down and let the cascading soundscapes insinuate. Serene, yet odd and quirky; unassuming yet unpredictable, his compositions embrace contrast and irony in a way that is organic, and chillingly unforced. Roedelius' music is always changing and always the same. What more representative a work from his busy career than Selbsportrait 6? This could have been recorded yesterday. Timeless. Classic.

Filed under: New releases, Archives, Reissues, Issue 9, 1995 releases, 1978 recordings

Related artist(s): Hans-Joachim Roedelius

 

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