Search - Eno / Moebius / Roedelius / Plank :: Begegnungen II

Good compilation

Sean M. Kelly | Portland, Oregon United States | 09/23/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The 2nd of a 2 part cd series, this cd is a Sky records (German label) compilation cd of which Eno is featured, with Cluster (Moebius, Roedelius) on 2 tracks only. The rest of the tracks are focusing on Moebius, Roedelius, Conny Plank, and Mani Neumeier (the former drummer for the great German power trio Guru Guru), in various combinations (as Cluster, Moebius and Plank from their lp, Roedelius' solo efforts, and Mani, Moubius, and Plank, from Mani's lost treasure of an lp "Zero Set")Eno fans can get the 2 tracks he's part of (tracks 4 & 8) on the "Cluster and Eno" lp, and would otherwise be advised to stay away from this lp, unless you are a fan of any of the combinations I just apoke of. I think it's a terrific introduction to German synth music, and well worth a listen"

Begegnungen II (Meetings II)

Michael A. Keach | Tampa, Florida | 01/31/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The second of two albums named Begegnungen featuring loops extracted from six 70s and 80s classics by Eno, Moebius, Roedelius and Plank. Interesting music to either really listen to and absorb or to just have on in the background to 'paint your space' with vibrant colors of pure sound. These tracks are difficult to label with one particular genre. Once termed Krautrock, now they seem prescient in terms of what we know today to be "the new music", "New Age", "Ambient" or "Alternative". It certainly isn't Rock, nor could it be called Jazz. It certainly is classically interesting and foretells the work of such modern composers as John Adams.



From the Album Notes:

"On the surface, there often seems to be little going on in these minimal tracks, other than Plank's characteristic sequenced rythms - minus the songs that propelled some of his later clients (Devo, Ultravox, Joy Division and Eurhythmics) to the top of the singles charts. Play it to a friend and the response is predictable: "Take it off . . . it's so repetitive . . . take it off!" Well, that's natural. After all not a lot happens in Begegnungenland. Yet the two albums are oddly compelling - partly from a desire to findout if there really is nothing going on and partly due to the subtle inner logic and motion they end up displaying. Once you immerse yourself in these addictive loops, you'll find something else is going on. Random chords waft into the mix, stutter and melt out again. Instruments float, sulk, explore spaces they don't usually touch. Quirky electronic life-forms emerge from the circular rhythms - like amoebic shapes or surreal fireworks . . . Here is rock music pared back to its most vital elements - minus the adolescent fluff that gets on your nerves. Relentlessly taking you to the edge and then pulling back, releasing the tension only to wind it repeatedly back over the duration of two, four, six or whatever minutes it takes.""