Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Mittelwinternacht -71,LP,1971,Germany

Shit, man? Whats kosmische for "illusion". Klang! Hammond organ and guitar apocalypse. It just carries on phasing.disappearing.phasing.disappearing.furry-freakin. Ahhhhhhhh. takes me back to my mate Wolfgang, us stoned on the floor of his caravan in Torquay when we were 14 year old Heads. Still, who were "Edward Fraser and Christopher French"? Was this really recorded way back in "21-22 Dec 1971"? Is the man with the midiverb having us all on? Put it like this, the kids who believed in Santa were the coolest in the school, right?. Right! And for those of us still feel obliged to space? Yeah!!Its a fucking riot that our Zweistein tribute band back in Tamworth never even got close to" - Uncle Florian, "Schlagwerk Heritage Gazette." - Betley.
Limited to 50 copies.
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"Here's a mysterious CD. The only credits on Mittelwinternacht '71 say, "played and produced by Edward Fraser and Christopher French, 21-22 Dec 1971". Hmmmmm.... is this some lost kosmiche classic or someone's idea of a joke? Well there's no joke about the music itself, which pays homage to pioneers like Tangerine Dream. And I mean the earliest stuff.
The album includes 4 tracks, 3 of which stretch out and explore for well over the 10 minute mark, of screaming noise-space textures that sail across an otherworldly landscape, pushed to high levels of intensity by pulsating drones, and haunting waves of cosmic sound. This isn't just mere floating electronica either... no sir. This is busy stuff that is developing continually and with a clear but freeform sense of direction. At least that's the sense I had as I chilled out under the headphones. There's lots of interesting mood changes too, as we transition from high volume atmospherics that sound like Walpurgis Night in space to calmer sections that would be almost meditative if they weren't so damn intense. For example, much of the track "Die Pulsar Kommt" consists of peaceful drifting waves. But the rapidly warbling patterns and heart thumping drones keep the listener at bug eyed attention throughout. Yup, there's lots of treasures to be mined here that stand up to repeated listens. So if you pine away for the old days of ultra kosmiche space excursions that let you know exactly how astronauts feel looking out into heavens... then this is a must have."
http://aural-innovations.com/2004/january/mitnacht.html
Here's an excellent so called kommiche/kraut lost gem in Kluster/very early Tangerine Dream /Seesselberg vein.There are some rumours that this LP is a joke and behind it Mr. Ashtray Navigations is hidden.Only he can give the answer.But in case that this is true:BRAVO!EXCELLENT WORK Mr.Phil!

get this gem here

6 comments:

Tom said...

A great one-two-three punch to begin the day, gents. Superb, as always...

TS

Anonymous said...

It seems likely that this is a "Kraut-hoax," along the lines of Damenbart and the myterious Krautrock Archive CDs. Still, it does sound pretty decent (and very reminiscent of early TD.)

armeur H said...

anyone have some stuff from the experimental-industrial- french label "sordide sentimental" ?

Anonymous said...

Odd - I thought the guy behind this was Cloughy from PRP Group, not Mr. Ashtray Navigations?

Oops, I guess I've just blown the mystique ;)

twee4one said...

I think there is no doubt, that this is a fake - only by looking to the names. As a German native speaker it is too obvious that Edward Fraser points to Edgar Fröse and Christopher French to Christopher Franke - the time and the type of music fits too.

Or maybe let's call this a kind of tribute to early TD ??

Anonymous said...

This album was made by Rancid Poultry incognito - and yes, definitely much more recent than 1971!