Ein Rückblick auf ETHEREAL

"Dieses Opus wird eine immersive und emotionale Erlebnis, eine Hommage an den legendären Moog Modular.
ETHEREAL ist ein Album voller Emotionen, die durch die Sequenzen und die klangliche Textur präsent sind.
Der Moog Modular bringt eine besondere Farbe in die Klangpalette dieses neuen Werks. Ich wollte ein Ergebnis erzielen, das mit meiner Vision der Berliner Schule übereinstimmt:
eine Erweiterung dieser musikalischen Bewegung."
Laurent Schieber (Sequentia Legenda)

Tom Schakel mit dem Album ETHEREAL von Sequentia Legenda

ETHEREAL
Der beste Weg, um dem Alltag zu entfliehen

Tom Schakel: "ETHEREAL ist für mich das kompletteste und spannendste aus einer Reihe von hochklassigen Alben von Sequentia Legenda.
Ich höre es nach wie vor sehr oft und kann dabei bestens dem Alltag entfliehen. Immer wieder stoße ich dabei gefühlt auf Feinheiten, die mir vorher nicht aufgefallen sind.

Während mich die ersten beiden Tracks mit ihrer Leichtigkeit und ihren hypnotischen Drums langsam aber sicher hinfort ziehen, ist der dritte Track für mich das pure Schweben im Raum. „Elevation“ klingt ein wenig anders, aber gerade das macht dieses Album für mich so außergewöhnlich.

Die knapp 70 Minuten Spielzeit von Ethereal sind für mich eine komplette Reise und halten einem Vergleich mit der Alten Berliner Schule locker stand.  5 Sterne *****"

Etwas mehr über Tom Schakel :
"Begonnen hat mein Interesse für die alte Berliner Schule gegen 2007, als ich bei einem Freund war und er Timewind von Klaus Schulze auflegte. Ich war sofort gefangen und bin in dieser Form vorher noch nie so „weggezogen“ worden. Da ich musikalisch sehr offen bin und neben klassischer Musik auch Jazz, Blues, Independent, Heavy Metal, Kraut und Psychedellicrock höre, habe ich mich daraufhin auch mit elektronischer Musik befasst und auseinandergesetzt. Ich bin bis heute ein großer Fan von diesem Sound und höre sie fast ausschließlich am Abend zum Entspannen oder beim Einschlafen, da dieser Sound für mich fast schon meditativ ist."

ETHEREAL unter den Top 10 bei den Schallwelle Awards

 

ETHEREAL
Meine Hommage an Robert Moog, an den Moog Modular

Tom Schakel: "Welchen Platz nimmt ETHEREAL für Dich in Deiner Discography ein?"
Sequentia Legenda: "Dieses Album ist letztlich meine Hommage an Robert Moog, genauer gesagt an seine imposante Klangmaschine : Der berühmte Moog Modular. Dieses Instrument nimmt einen strategischen Platz im Herzen der Atmosphäre von ETHEREAL ein und spielt eine wesentliche Rolle: die des Rückgrats des globalen Soundtracks. Es hat mir großen Spaß gemacht, die enormen Möglichkeiten der Arturia-Emulation auszuschöpfen, um das warme und satte Klangkorn des Moogs zu extrahieren. Die subtilen harmonischen Variationen, die einigen Effekten hinzugefügt werden, verleihen der einzigartigen Klangfarbe des Modulars Leben. Der Sequenzer mit seinen bemerkenswerten Möglichkeiten erlaubte mir, Linien von Noten zu formen, die sich mit Präzision und Reichtum zum Ganzen überlagern. Wie ich gerne sage, ist der Sequenzer nach wie vor mein Lieblingswerkzeug, und mit dem Moog Modular ist es ein wahrer Genuss!

Dies ist auch eine neue Zusammenarbeit mit dem Schlagzeuger Tommy Betzler. Im zweiten Track "Around the Second Moon" konnte Tommy seinen ganzen Schwung und Impuls für ein Ergebnis einbringen, das ich als "Kosmisch Rock" bezeichnen möchte. Tommy und ich waren bei der Preisverleihung der Schallwelle Awards in der Rhur dabei. Am Ende schaffte es ETHEREAL in die Top 10 der besten Alben neben solchen Größen wie Tangerine Dream, Johannes Schmoelling und Mike Oldfield. Es war eine große Leistung."

Tom Schakel: "Du hast mir einmal geschrieben, dass der dritte Track auf ETHEREAL von den anderen beiden Tracks abweicht und für Dich eine Art Experiment war. Was hat Dich dazu bewogen, diesen Schritt zu gehen?"
Sequentia Legenda: "Mit diesem dritten Track "Elevation" wollte ich eine neue Erfahrung machen, indem ich mir eine noch kosmischere Atmosphäre als sonst vorstellte. Ich habe mich am Klangraum orientiert, um eine möglichst breite, dichte Wiedergabe zu erhalten. Der mystische und sich entwickelnde Verlauf wird mit einem Mix aus atmosphärischen Schichten realisiert, die flüchtigen Klänge kommen aus den beiden Sequenzern mit einem Duo von modularen Moog, das Ganze wird durch einen sehr langen Hall transportiert. In diesem sich ständig verändernden Klangbild laden ätherische Pads und Chöre, unterstützt von sonischer Perkussion, den Zuhörer zu einem Aufstieg zu den Sternen ein."

Tom Schakel: "Wie gehst Du an Deine Aufnahmen heran, Hast Du den Track das Konzept eines Albums von Beginn an im Kopf, oder entwickelt sich das Ganze beim Komponieren und Produzieren?"
Sequentia Legenda: "Ich habe zwischen zwei Alben einige Zeit verstreichen lassen. Ich warte auf Inspiration, die mich zu den Tastaturen führt. Es ist ein besonderer Moment, ein neuer Start für ein neues musikalisches Abenteuer. Ich habe ein paar Ideen, ein paar Inspirationen, die sich während der Entstehungsphase nach und nach aufbauen. Das Ganze wird sich weiterentwickeln, wird verfeinert, um einem neuen Titel Leben einzuhauchen, dann einem neuen Opus. Ich lade Sie ein, einen weiteren Artikel zum Thema Inspiration hier zu lesen." 

 

Sequentia Legenda in Arbeit

ETHEREAL
Aus Sicht der Rezensenten

Sylvain Lupari: "A true lover of Klaus Schulze music, Sequentia Legenda goes beyond in his quest to reproduce the essence of retro Berlin School with this exquisite Ethereal. A must!"
Sylvain Lupari (August 10th, 2017)
Read the review

Richard Gürtler: "70 minutes long "ETHEREAL" is another highly accomplished album by Sequentia Legenda and especially its third chapter showcases the more distinguishing approach in carving profoundly enigmatic, yet insistently sequencer-driven vintage-futuristic electronica. Laurent, keep on excelling!!"
Richard Gürtler (Dec 29, 2017, Bratislava, Slovakia)
Read the review

Drew Fisher: "Laurent Schieber has done it again! Just when you think the Berlin School sound has been played out, Laurent releases something new that just keeps upping the ante! The second of these three epics of progressive electronic music may be my favorite Berlin School song ever made!  "
Drew Fisher (Progarchives) Jan 23, 2018
Read the review

ETHEREAL von Sequentia Legenda - Übersicht Teaser 3 Titel 70 min Musik der reinsten Berliner Schule

Dieses Opus wird ein immersives und emotionales Erlebnis sein, eine Hommage an den legendären Moog Modular, drei Titel werden für eine Gesamtdauer von 70 Minuten zu hören sein.

 

 

            

A return to ETHEREAL

"This opus will be an immersive and emotional experience, a tribute to the legendary Moog modular.
ETHEREAL is an album full of emotions, which are present through the sequences and the sonic texture.
The Moog Modular brings a particular color to the sound palette of this new opus. I wanted to achieve a result in harmony with my vision of the Berlin school:
an extension of this musical movement."
Laurent Schieber (Sequentia Legenda)

Tom Schakel with the album ETHEREAL by Sequentia Legenda

ETHEREAL
Best way to escape from everyday life

Tom Schakel: "ETHEREAL is for me the most complete and exciting of a series of high class albums by Sequentia Legenda. I still listen to it very often and it is the best way to escape from everyday life. Again and again I come across subtleties that I hadn't noticed before.

While the first two tracks slowly but surely draw me away with their lightness and hypnotic drums, the third track is pure floating in space for me. "Elevation" sounds a little different, but that's what makes this album so exceptional for me.

The almost 70 minutes of playing time of ETHEREAL are a complete journey for me and easily stand up to a comparison with the Old Berlin School. 5 stars *****"

A little more about Tom Schakel :
"My interest in the old Berlin School started around 2007 when I was at a friend's house and he put on Timewind by Klaus Schulze. I was immediately caught and have never been so "drawn away" in this way before. Since I am musically very open-minded and listen to jazz, blues, independent, heavy metal, kraut and psychedelic rock as well as classical music, I then also got involved with electronic music and got to grips with it. I am still a big fan of this sound and listen to it almost exclusively in the evening to relax or when falling asleep, as this sound is almost meditative for me."

ETHEREAL in the Top 10 at the Schallwelle Awards

 

ETHEREAL
My tribute to Robert Moog, to the Moog Modular

Tom Schakel: "What place does ETHEREAL hold for you in your discography?"
Sequentia Legenda: "This album is ultimately my tribute to Robert Moog, more precisely to his imposing sound machine: The famous Moog Modular. This instrument occupies a strategic place in the very heart of ETHEREAL's atmosphere, playing an essential role: that of the backbone of the overall soundtrack. I was delighted to exploit the vast possibilities of the Arturia emulation in order to extract the warm and ample grain of the Moog. The subtle harmonic variations added to some effects give life to the unique timbre of the modular. The sequencer with its remarkable possibilities allowed me to sculpt lines of notes that were superimposed with precision and richness on the whole. As I like to say, the sequencer remains my favourite tool and with the Moog Modular, it's a real treat!

This is also a new collaboration with drummer Tommy Betzler. In the second track "Around the Second Moon" Tommy was able to add all his verve and impulse for a result that I would like to call "Planing Rock". Tommy and I were present at the award ceremony of the Schallwelle Awards in the Rhur. In the end, ETHEREAL made it into the Top 10 of the best albums alongside such greats as Tangerine Dream, Johannes Schmoelling and Mike Oldfield. It was a great achievement."

Tom Schakel: "You once wrote me that the third track on ETHEREAL was different from the other two tracks and was a kind of experiment for you. What made you take this step?"
Sequentia Legenda: "With this third track "Elevation", I wanted to try a new experience by imagining an atmosphere even more cosmic than usual. I oriented my research on the sound space, in order to obtain a wide, dense rendering, a result which is the most spatial possible. The mystical and evolving progression is realized with a mixture of atmospheric pads, the fleeting sounds are issued from the two sequencers with a duo of modular Moog, the whole transported by a very long reverberation. In this ever-changing sonic canvas, ethereal pads and choirs, supported by sonic percussion, invite the listener to an ascent to the stars."

Tom Schakel: "How do you approach your recordings, do you have the track the concept of an album in mind from the beginning, or does it all develop during composing and producing?"
Sequentia Legenda: "I let some time pass between two albums. I wait for the inspiration to guide me to the keyboards. It is a particular moment, a new start for a new musical adventure. I have some ideas, some tracks of inspirations, which are built little by little during the phase of creation. The whole will evolve, will be refined to give life to a new title, then to a new opus. I invite you to read another article related to inspiration here." 

 

Sequentia Legenda being composed

ETHEREAL
As seen by the reviewers

Sylvain Lupari: "A true lover of Klaus Schulze music, Sequentia Legenda goes beyond in his quest to reproduce the essence of retro Berlin School with this exquisite Ethereal. A must!"
Sylvain Lupari (August 10th, 2017)
Read the review

Richard Gürtler: "70 minutes long "ETHEREAL" is another highly accomplished album by Sequentia Legenda and especially its third chapter showcases the more distinguishing approach in carving profoundly enigmatic, yet insistently sequencer-driven vintage-futuristic electronica. Laurent, keep on excelling!!"
Richard Gürtler (Dec 29, 2017, Bratislava, Slovakia)
Read the review

Drew Fisher: "Laurent Schieber has done it again! Just when you think the Berlin School sound has been played out, Laurent releases something new that just keeps upping the ante! The second of these three epics of progressive electronic music may be my favorite Berlin School song ever made!  "
Drew Fisher (Progarchives) Jan 23, 2018
Read the review

ETHEREAL by Sequentia Legenda - Overview Teaser 3 Titles 70 min of pure Berlin School music

This opus will be an immersive and emotional experience, a tribute to the legendary Moog modular, three titles will be present for a total duration of 70 minutes.

 

 

            

Retrospective of the concert in Tübingen

HAPPY KEYS 2019

"IT HAPPENED HERE RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES, LIVE"

How did you hear about the concert?

Till Kopper: "By Laurent himself when he agreed to come here in Tübingen on the synthesizer weekend Happy-Keys organized by the Synthesizer Stammtisch Stuttgart not only as a guest but also to play on the small stage together with Tommy Betzler. I was very happy about this promise, because I really like Laurent's music for a long time. It was immediately clear to me that together with Tommy he will be the highlight of the Saturday evening."

What motivated you to come?

Till Kopper: "As a co-organizer I was there the whole time anyway, so the question doesn't fit exactly to the circumstances. But the concert was for me the one hour in which I could really let myself go this weekend and just enjoy the music. I had been looking forward to meeting Laurent and Tommy in person long before and then to see them play live for the first time."

How did you feel during this performance?

Till Kopper: "Très bien! The anticipation was great, but the performance was even better than I had dared to dream. I had got goose bumps several times because of this for me so emotional music. I felt as if I had been there live at a lost, extremely well done Klaus Schulze Trancefer Tour concert in 1981. Everything was perfect. It was the concert that I would have loved to hear even then (1981). Of course it was not an attempt of a copy. It is the mood contained in Laurent's music that makes me think of 1981 works.

Tommy played on the e-drums wonderfully to the sequences and gave the necessary "pressure". The choir and string surfaces were the acoustic pads on which the solos played by Laurent on the virtual Minimoog then floated. These long solos were exactly what I love and know from the best time of the Berlin School, both in terms of sound and playing technique. And it happened here right in front of my eyes, live. For me it was a journey through time into an otherwise no longer existing special kind of music which is only partly described and sorted correctly with "Berlin School". Even today, a few months later, I still feel a joy to think back on this really very successful concert."

Till Kopper kindly asked Sequentia Legenda a few questions 🎤

Till Kopper: "When recording the first tracks of a new title, do you think rationally as a composer in structures and pre-planned sequences, or do you make your music above all from the emotion of the moment?"

Sequentia Legenda: "Between two titles, I let a little time go by. Then, when I feel this impulse that's going to lead me towards my keyboards, this desire to create, then the experimentation and research phase begins. I let myself go according to my feelings, by improvising, emotions take precedence at this stage of sound creation. Then, it's the real trigger, so I know that it's the real work of composition that begins, with the progressive implementation of a harmonic and rhythmic structure. Once again, I am pleased to say that my music is the result of my emotional language that I share with sincerity and passion."

Till Kopper: "When was the last time you got goose bumps listening to music? And what kind of piece was it?"

Sequentia Legenda: "I'm a sensitive person, and the album "Spirit of Eden" by the band Talk Talk remains for me a special listening moment. I think back to my army year when I was listening to this music on the train. Today I find that this fantastic opus hasn't taken a single wrinkle! I still get as much pleasure and emotion from listening to this unique sound atmosphere with the passage of the choirs which still gives me goose bumps.
And finally, very recently, it's a title suggested directly by Youtube while I'm going through a difficult period in my life, with obstacles thrown in an inconsiderate way to undermine the union that binds me to Valentin, my youngest son who suffers from autism. It was a magnificent discovery with the title "Hallelujah" majestically interpreted by Mumi with his handpans. The emotions of the moment and this music gave me shivers."

"YOU LIVE THE MUSIC YOU MAKE WITH ALL YOUR HEART"

How did you hear about the concert?

Michael Kukat: "The event Happy Keys was organized by the Synthesizer Stammtisch Stuttgart, in which I regularly participate, so I was involved from the beginning and of course very excited about the acts we had planned."

What motivated you to come?

Michael Kukat: "To meet good friends, to meet some acquaintances I know from the net for a while, to meet them for the first time in real life, to meet new people, to have a nice chat and of course to enjoy the acts, to enjoy and be inspired by them. Distraction from everyday life with like-minded people."

How did you feel during this performance?

Michael Kukat: "I was absolutely thrilled. The music was great to immerse yourself in and dream along with and the emotions you put into this performance were stirring. One could feel that you don't just make music, but that you live the music you make with all your heart, that you are fully absorbed in it. Also the interaction with Tommy was a wonderful match. I could have continued to enjoy it for hours. What a power in our little private event! Keep it up, I'm already looking forward to the next time!"

Michael Kukat kindly asked Sequentia Legenda a few questions 🎤

Michael Kukat: "You mostly use software synthesizers on stage. Do you also have some hardware synths, maybe in a home studio? If so, which ones?"

Sequentia Legenda: "When I was 17, I had set up my first home studio in my parents' basement. Little by little, I surrounded myself with analog synthesizers such as the modular polyphonic PS 3200 from Korg, the MS20 with the SQ10 sequencer, the Oberheim duophonic, the ARP Odyssey to name the most important ones. With the advent of the MIDI standard, I separated analog instruments from digital machines. Currently, I work with carefully selected virtual instruments to meet my requirements. Indeed, I wish to get closer to the typical sound grain of the analog era. I imagine that the knowledge acquired during my youth about subtractive synthesis helps me to achieve this goal. It is not excluded that some hardware machines will be added to my current home studio. The little Moog Wekstatt already has its place ;)"

Michael Kukat: "Vinyl has a big comeback since several years, do you plan a Vinyl release in the near future?"

Sequentia Legenda: "This is indeed a recurring request. I will therefore have to look into this matter. I admit that I am tempted by the idea of a vinyl, but the production costs are still high. The idea of a participatory project remains an option. A project to follow."

Michael Kukat: "How do you prepare for your performances? Any special rituals or do you just let your flow take over?"

Sequentia Legenda: "I am a person who needs a minimum of security and a few days before a concert, I rehearse the songs that will be presented. I prepare my sessions, with a base and tracks defined in the perspective of Live. Playing on stage is different than in a home studio, each stage experience is unique. It's not possible to plan for everything, there's bound to be a bit of improvisation. The imponderables are part of this challenge, that's precisely what makes a concert so charming."

"I LIKED YOUR CONCERT IN TÜBINGEN"

How did you hear about the concert?

Hajo Liese: "Till Kopper and I (Hajo) have been making music together for a long time under the project name EL-KA (a pun (EL for Liese and KA for Kopper. Till had invited me to the concert."

What motivated you to come?

Hajo Liese: "Till and I live 650 KM away from each other. Concerts together are usually the result of spontaneous dates. So it was a great opportunity to make music with people of the same interest. We took the opportunity to rehearse three days before and to record a new projection."

How did you feel during this performance?

Hajo Liese: "Very good, a nice and also interested audience was present. Furthermore many old friends from Germany and Switzerland as well as from France came."

Hajo Liese kindly asked Sequentia Legenda a few questions 🎤

Hajo Liese: "I liked your concert in Tübingen very much and it was also very well received by the selected audience. Did you also feel comfortable with the quite manageable "Special Interest" audience or do you rather love a larger audience?"

Sequentia Legenda: "I was delighted to be able to play in front of an audience of connoisseurs, and the welcome I received allowed me to surpass myself. Every stage performance is a new experience in itself and it's good to live it. I don't really have a preference for answering your question, for me it is important to be able to feel at ease, to be able to soak up the atmosphere of the moment and to be able to answer it by giving the best of myself and thus to be able to share my passion with fervour and authenticity. The direct contact with the public is something unique and it is a chance to be able to live these privileged moments."

Hajo Liese: "In my opinion your music is very much based on Klaus Schulze, is that your intention?"

Sequentia Legenda: "I can't refute the influence of Klaus Schulze, his album Mirage was my real musical trigger. However, I have my own vision of the Berlin School which I share with passion and authenticity. Through my sound worlds, it is my heart, my soul that expresses itself. I have a deep respect for the founding members, the late Edgar Froese and my mentor Klaus Schulze, who gave the Berlin School its credentials. And, if I, in turn, can make my contribution to this beautiful musical movement, then my dream will be fulfilled."

Hajo Liese: "I would be very happy to hear you again at an upcoming event, is there something planned here?"

Sequentia Legenda: "Who knows, we'll see what the future holds for me. It would be a great pleasure. At the moment, a concert in the Netherlands is planned. My personal situation has unfortunately changed drastically and I will save some time and energy for my two sons."

  

Sequentia Legenda LIVE (Tübingen 2019 +HD Trailer)

  

The first track is "THE APPROACH" presented during this concert is from the double album "EXTENDED"

from EXTENDED, released September 20, 2016

Keyboards: Laurent Schieber (Sequentia Legenda)

Drums: Tommy Betzler
«The integration of Tommy’s rhythm part brings a new dimension to this title. His drums support Laurent’s sequences in a ramp-up leading to a climax of sound. This then leaves space for a floating conclusion where only a few gongs disturb the atmospheric serenity of the final reverie.» 

            

www.sequentia-legenda.com

A small gift for the Christmas season 🎁

Enjoy a little musical gift for the holidays

 An unreleased and Collector's title "THE RETURN"

For the Christmas holidays, I am pleased to offer you this experimental version

I found in my archives this version dating from the creation of BLUE DREAM. It is not excluded that the elaboration of this extract is not going to continue, so just take it as a small collector's gift.

The evolutionary sequences, the atmospheric pads are here in their development phases. The sound of this extract is oriented towards the warm grain of the analogical era. I leave you to take full advantage of this sound rough draft and wish you a beautiful immersion.

TESTIMONIAL 
Till Kopper (Facebook 24.12.2017): "Although rather minimalistic track without bells and whistles (literally). But with a wonderful quite certain ambient mood mixed with Berlin School sequencing. AIt is not a remake or some cover of some well known artist, this is a unique Sequentia Legenda track. Laurent Schieber once again proves his great skills of doing new tracks in the Berlin School style without repeating music recorded 45-35 years ago. And without using the vintage techniques. This way the sound scapes are clear and well defined. But not sounding like cold digital at all. Rather organic and analog (without covering exact typical analog sounds). Well done! Very recommended for all listeners of Klaus Schulze and other more calm Berlin School music."

THE RETURN: a return to the sources of the Berlin School music

Enjoy your gift!

I am pleased to announce my new album „RENAISSANCE“ for 2018

My next opus "RENAISSANCE" will finally see the light of day in 2018, more precisely on May 17, a small wink to my wife.

RENAISSANCE, in the purest tradition of the analogue era.

This new album is a continuation of my musical vision: an extension of the Berlin School movement.

„Explore the Sound Universe“

More Info

My wishes

I wish you a pleasant time with my music
and a happy holiday season for you and your family.

Musically,
Laurent Schieber (Sequentia Legenda)

            

Carte Blanche à Sequentia Legenda

Un retour sur l'émission "Le BunKer" de Guy Devilla,
"Carte Blanche Sequentia Legenda"

 

Le Bunker par Guy Devilla

C'est le Vendredi 12 Février 2016 qu'eu lieu l'émission de Guy Devilla "Le BunKer", une émission spéciale puisque les 2 heures d'antenne furent allouées à Sequentia Legenda.

Présentation de l'émission : Retrou­vez un Bun­ker par­ti­cu­lier puisque Guy Devilla, qui pro­pose chaque ven­dredi soir sa sélec­tion de musiques élec­tro­niques alternatives laisse cette semaine carte blanche à Sequen­tia Legenda qui pro­pose sa musique atmo­sphé­rique, qua­si­ment pla­nante ins­pi­rée de la Ber­lin School.

Pen­dant deux heures retrou­vez cet artiste à l’actualité très riche : plu­sieurs pro­gram­ma­tions sur cou­leur 3 dans l’émission Yves Blanc « La Pla­nète Bleue », élu Album de la semaine par la radio ber­li­noise Modul303 et en liste pour une double nomi­na­tion au Schall­welle Awards 2016 en tant qu’Artiste inter­na­tio­nal 2015 et pour l’Album inter­na­tio­nal 2015. Il est éga­le­ment en lice pour les Mur­mures d’or 2015 sur la radio qué­bé­coise Mur­mures du son !

 

Guy Devilla "Le BunKer" Carte Blanche à Sequentia Legenda

Comment l'idée d'une Carte Blanche à vue le jour ?

Explication de Guy Devilla (Animateur Radio) : "C’est en écoutant mon émission radio préférée « La Planète Bleue » d’Yves Blanc, que je découvre avec un grand étonnement la programmation d’un artiste mulhousien ! Sequentia Legenda, de la berliner school ! Une première et une aubaine !

Étant moi même Dj - animateur d’une émission de musiques électroniques, ce fût une évidence pour moi de chercher à rencontrer ce musicien .

Nous avons fait connaissance autour d’un verre dans un bar de la ville et tout naturellement, une idée d’une carte blanche dans mon émission s’est imposée.

Mon objectif était de faire découvrir le talent de notre artiste local !!

Mission accomplie !"

Laurent Schieber (Sequentia Legenda) dans les studios de Radio MNE en 2016

  

            

www.sequentia-legenda.com

 

 

Mirage : My musical « love at first sight »!

1980 – A real crush

It was in 1980 at the age of 15 that I discovered a new music coming from elsewhere, 

a new tone, an unknown world was going to open to me and somewhat by chance.

Among all the 33-rpm vinyl collection of my parents, a particular album got my attention. 

The particular look of the cover intrigued me. A distinctive style, a refined cover, a face, a name: Klaus Schulze, a title Mirage!

At this time, I did not know yet that by taking out the long-playing off its sleeve and that by putting it delicately on the record player the listening of it was going
to change my musical vision.

It was indeed a crush as from the first minutes!

Unknown sounds, a captivating atmosphere, a journey, a revelation. 

Yes, this record was a revelation to me.

On that day, I began to listen to face A then face B in a continuous loop. I analysed the musical structure, the length of the tracks, the tones, the sleeve, the editorial content. Everything went through.

Few days later, I went to the nearby record shop to find Klaus Schulze’s other albums.

Around me I only talked about my musical discovery.

My vision of Mirage

« Mirages are optical phenomena that are for real and that occur in specific circumstances »

The subtitle « eine elektronische winterlandschaft », an element of the cover that I overlooked at the time, and that can be translated to « an electronic winter landscape », remains a mystery to me.

Here is how I understand and see this album.

Side A: Velvet Voyage

With my very first listen, and despite this subtitle, it was on the contrary desert landscapes that sprang to my mind. I imagined sand dunes, heat, sun, with bright reverberations in the distance, mirages. 

I thought actually that the album title was a reference to the mirages one can see in the deserts. It’s the Sahara that in my eyes, matched the best the sonic space of this album.

In my opinion, in Velvet Voyage, the echoes we hear (it’s Klaus Schulze’s voice if I am not wrong) bring to mind a broad area, space, and little by little (6:20) the track moves towards an eastern atmosphere, where the shape of a caravan in the orange lights of a sunset appears to me in the far distance. I feel a dry and overwhelming heat.

I would like to point out that in this track, which is the most atmospheric in the album, one of the most subtle sequences in Klaus’ body of work can be heard, but it’s just my own opinion of course. This sequence is slowly building at 11:00 before growing and being more present from 13:00 on. I think this sequence is filled with « eastern » colours and is an introduction to side B. Even the first notes of the solos (from 15:55 on) sound to me in an eastern way. There are more and more optical phenomena in this torrid heat. I am all surrounded by this hot feeling and dazed by the smell of the sand. Strange.

« ... ottoman music, arabic music, developed their own modal systems with different features and rules, that include elements of cosmology (time, season or place where to play), morality (angry, sad, happy, etc.) and aesthetics (ascending pentatonic and descending heptatonic scales)» (Source : wikipedia)

« The most frequent type is the hot mirage, or inferior mirage, which develops when the temperature of the ground is very high (desert, asphalted road…) and looks like a lake of water » (Source : intra-science.com)

Side B: Crystal Lake

The sole title made me right about my idea of mirages we see when it’s very hot. I could easily see through this fantastic sequence the light refractions growing as the lines of the sequence were becoming larger.

The heat is also growing, reaching its highest point when the first deep notes appear. I see again the shapes in the saharian back light, and I hear again eastern flavoured sounds when the solo starts (8:00), transporting me above the desert. It’s a truly eastern dance that starts. It’s good, it’s nice, and it’s almost « erotic »…
I share my feeling because I really like this passage (12:00), 
it’s right there that I literally fell in love with this music we call Berlin School !

The heat decreases little by little (14:00), it is even more languid, mirages slowly disappear, the sun bathes the dunes with its last rays. Caravans move slowly towards the oasis. A little wind (16:00) lifts up a soft and thin red dust. Night falls slowly and stars shine. The crimson colour appears. Notes (19:00) bring to mind arabic instruments. Towards (23:00), the sunrise is the sign of a new day in the desert. At (25:00) it’s the East in all its splendour! 

It’s simply NICE !

This is how I see Mirage, it’s far from the winter landscapes, but close to the desert dunes, a Klaus Schulze album that I love with passion,

Sequentia Legenda

Let’s celebrate the 40 years
of Klaus Schulze’s album Mirage

Klaus Schulze Mirage review in French

Klaus Schulze Mirage review in English

Klaus Schulze Mirage Wiki

            

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