All roads lead to Conrad Schnitzler, he was an exceptional electronic music pioneer and has become a big influence on me. His immense influence can be heard in Coil, Throbbing Gristle, DAF, Brian Eno and David Bowie, Drexciya, NEU!, all quality techno, house, ambient, industrial – he is one of the great sources from which electronic music flows.
Conrad was born in the mecca of musical invention Duckeldorf (aka Düsseldorf, Germany), home to Kraftwerk, and of course the consummate artist Kloudworks.
He sadly passed away in 2011, leaving a rich legacy of remarkable work. As a young man in post-war Germany studying under Joseph Beuys, Schnitzler understood the importance of freedom and the vital role of the artist. In 1967 he and Hans-Joachim Roedelius set up the radical Zodiak Free Arts Lab in West Berlin, which became the centre for the nascent kosmische sound.
As a founder of Kluster and early member of Tangerine Dream, Schnitzler's experimental, industrial soundscapes defined the early releases of these seminal groups. Always moving forward, he embarked on a solo career that spanned five decades of invention.
My music project 4-Con is dedicated to Conrad, and heavily inspired by his early albums ‘rot’ (red), ‘blau’ (blue), and compilations ‘silber’ (silver) and gold. Each track is essentially analog, and named in homage to those great ‘Con’ works.
UK percussionist and producer Tom Buford contrasts minimalist electronic experiments with vast soundscapes shaped by classical and jazz. Bandcamp New & Notable May 2, 2024
The excellent Barcelona label House of (S)PUNK is back with a five-song comp showcasing the local hardgroove scene. Bandcamp New & Notable May 1, 2024
The sharp & engaging electronic pop on the latest from Maria Chiara Argirò shapeshifts beautifully from moment to moment. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 29, 2024