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It's some time since I've had the pleasure of hearing anything
from Allerseelen, but Gerhard - the artist formerly
known as Kadmon - kindly sent me a batch of the releases
which have appeared since our earlier reviews.
I remember Allerseelen as a rather harsh ritual-industrial project,
and exciting enough when that sort of music was a novelty to me.
I am glad to report, however, that parallel to the development of
my own musical tastes, Allerseelen has also matured and developed
and, I suppose, mellowed, although the new material recognisably
retains Gerhard’s unique and distinctive signature.
Neuschwabenland (2000) is a sophisticated and polished
electronic soundscape with good melodies and insistent military
beats. Its title refers to the alleged historical ambition to claim
Antarctica for Germany. Recorded in 1999, the songs are conceived
as "fin de siècle military pop songs". The impressive filmic
intro leads into an album of suspense, mystery and dreaminess -
particularly on ‘Blonder Wein’ - and maintains its momentum
throughout.
Venezia (2001) was inspired by a trip to Venice in 2000,
in the spiritual footsteps no doubt of Ezra Pound, whose poetry
is quoted. Other sources include Rainer Maria Rilke and Friedrich
Nietzsche. The styles vary more here with prog jazz on ‘Cuore
Avventuroso’, an hypnotic qualilty to ‘Venedig’,
and ‘Riflessioni’ which reminds us of Allerseelen’s
grand and expansive conceptions. When you’ve heard an Allerseelen
album you’re left in no doubt that you’ve been taken on
a journey.
Nornar Nagli/Panzergarten features two tracks from Neuschwabenland.
The CD versions sound more vivid, but perhaps that’s just
my imagination. Canço De Somni/Marqués De Púbol
is the product of Allerseelen’s collaboration with the Catalonian
projects Circe and Dakshineswar and features soft
and understated ambient folk with female vocals by Rosa Solé.
The next CD, Abenteuerliches Herz (Adventurous Heart), should
be out next spring. There will also be another 7" with the Catalan
singer, Rosa Solé. We look forward to them.
Rik - 27 November 2001
DISCOGRAPHY
CD
Cruor (1994)
Gotos=Kalanda (1995)
Sturmlieder (1997)
Stirb und Werde (1999)
Neuschwabenland (2000)
Venezia (2001)
Abenteuerliches Herz (March 2002)
7"
Alle Lust Will Ewigkeit/Traumlied (1998)
Nornar Nagli/Panzergarten (2000)
Canco de Somni/Marques de Pubol (2001)
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