Music : Kontinuum

Rating: - Different feel than Moonlake, feels more ambient than electronica/world beat
I got this disk via Amazon download. I had previously acquired Moonlake as well, and had really grooved out on Moonlake--digging its more beat-oriented electronica feel overlaid with the distinctive "world music" vocalizations going on in several of the Moonlake pieces.

Kontinuum, however, has a very different feel. No electronica beat vibe; not as much reliance on world music-esque vocalizations. In a way, I think it harkens back to earlier motifs in Schulze's 80's work, where there are recurring riffs onto which other layers are added--maybe a bit more "flowing" rather than "driving", if I can use these adjectives to separate the type of music on these two disks.

There's not any underlying drum beat, and no reliance on emphasized vocalizations--as is the case with Moonlake. There are some vocal elements in the piece titled "Euro Caravan", and a short swatch on "Thor", but they are really in the background, unlike the placement of vocalizations in pieces from Moonlake. It has a totally different feel, IMHO.

The pieces flow along, without reliance on a beat to drive them forward. I would classify this as more ambient in feel, not so much in the same sense as Steve Roach ambient, but I would say that its flowing character reminds me more of something from the 80s ambient genre than, say, beat-driven electronica of Tangerine Dream (as does Moonlake, Schulze's previous release). There are recurring melodies on the pieces, albeit sequenced or sustained, and not simply random ambience. There are long swatches of soundscape, reminiscient of some of Steve Roach's late 1980's work.

I really like the disk and enjoy the sensations that it evokes. I also really like the disk's cover design as well (although I bought the download version--which comes with no cover art...so I have to suffice with the image off of the Amazon product page.) Looking at the cover while listening to the disk (particularly the first piece, titled "Sequencer") added to my experience of the music. The cover is very 'deep' and evokes a certain mood in my mind that reinforces that of the music, IMHO. It appears to me to represent something of an encounter with an "other", an artifact of an alien civilization perhaps--something dark, slightly foreboding (particularly viewing the image while listening to "Sequencer (70 to 07)").

For someone just getting started with Klaus Schulze, I'd highly recommend this disk. It is very accessible and really evokes a certain reflective mood in the three extended pieces on this release.

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Rating: - Absolutely a return-to-form for Klaus!!!
After wading through all of KS's nearly unlistenable work of the 80s, 90s and early 00s, it is a joy to hear "Kontinuum" in all its retrospective glory! Fans of "Moondawn," "Picture Music," "Mirage" and "Timewind" will find themselves with an involuntary ear-to-ear smile in the first few seconds of "Kontinuum." The remaining 75+ minutes is equally smile-inducing. It's as if Klaus distilled all the best aspects of his first ten albums and "Kontinuum" is the result. Gone are the harsh, obnoxious computerized synth sounds found on "Miditerranean Pads," and there are no funky techno beats to be found either as on "Moonlake" and the albums preceding, thanks be to god. Rather, KS has gone back to his strengths as a master composer on sequencers and layers of expansive ambience. The 3rd track "Thor," for example, is very reminiscient of the "Mirage"-era material, creating a rich musical landscape much like said album. Not conveyable in words, just listen. I honestly didn't think Klaus still had it in him to make such amazing music. I was dead wrong.

Be assured, the spark of genius is still alive and well inside this master. Nice to have you back, Klaus!

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Rating: - excellent release
there was a disparaging review that was taken off this page on klaus. it didn't address this release at all. if it was still here, my response to it would have been "big deal". i don't care about klaus' beliefs or views. i buy his cds for the music and how tremendously good and influencial the stuff is. this cd is his best in years. it brings me back to the days of "mirage" and "moondawn". some of the pictures of klaus from the booklet were from those releases too. if you are a bigger fan of his older material, you'll be very pleased with this release. buy it and enjoy your journey!

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Rating: - Klaus Schulze Continues with "Kontinuum"
2007 is a milestone year for German electronic music pioneer Klaus Schulze. He recently celebrated his 60th birthday on August 4th and has also released an excellent new solo album entitled "Kontinuum".
"Kontinuum" is 76 minutes of continuous music consisting of three long tracks that form one long piece of music. Musically, the album is journey into Klaus Schulze's past, present and future as a musician. Fans of his classic 70's style will definitely feel at home listening to this disc. There are also elements that will appeal to fans today's techno and trance music as well.
The entire "Kontiuum" journey begins with the appropriately title "Sequenzer (70 to 07)" with consists of the hynotic sequencer rhythms that harken back to the days of Schulze's classic "Mirage" album (notably the track "Crystal Lake"). Over the course of the track's 25-minutes, Schulze slowly adds different musical layers to the mix building the piece into a dynamic orchestral climax that only he can bring. As the main sequencer slowly fades out, we are left with nearly seven minutes of classic Schulze minor-key orchestrations that are once again reminiscent of his work in the mid-70s.
"Sequenzer" goes directly into the 20-minute "Euro Caravan" which begins with a dark low-key ambient note progression. As the music progresses, Schulze adds more chordal layers as well as a sample of woman's voice heard in the background. At around the nine minute mark, a dramatic sequencer rhythm slowly begins to fade in adding further depth to the music. Finally a techno-dance-like rhythm enters in and carries the piece the rest of the way.
As "Euro Carvan" fades out, the sound of thunder ushers in the third and final track, the nearly 32-minute "Thor (Thunder)". Echoes of Schulze's debut album "Irrlicht" are definitely apparent in the intro with long-held drones and strange ambient sounds. Once again, after several minutes, Schulze brings in the sequencers which this time, have more prominence and drive. The drum rhythms are also more agressive as well. At around the 23-minute mark, the rhythms fade into another trademark Schulze overture similar to the one that closed the "Sequenzer" piece alongside more thunder sounds and a brief ambient coda heard during the final minute of the piece.
Without a doubt, Klaus Schulze has definitely proven that he can still work magic through his electronics on "Kontinuum". This is an even more consistant effort than his previous disc "Moonlake" and is an excellent overview of the many styles he has done over the last 35 years displayed with modern technology. Besides the excellent music, the packaging of the album is also excellent with many photos of Klaus at work in his studio alongside two insightful liner-note essays by musician Georg Boskamp and Schulze's business manager Klaus Mueller respectfully. There are also a few photos of Schulze onstage during his classic 70s period as well.
With all this said, "Kontinuum" is highly recommended and is definitely a modern day classic from one of the legendary musicians who put electronic music on the map - the pioneering genius of Klaus Schulze.