Conrad Schnitzler-Borngraber & Struver — Con-Struct

The name Conrad Schnitzler should be familiar to anyone who is a lover of electronic music.  For the uninitiated, Conrad Schnitzler was a German musician and composer.  He began as a member of Tangerine Dream, and then went on to found bands Kluster and Eruption.  He also released his own solo works, many on cdr through his website.  Sadly Schnitzler passed away August 2011.   His prolific work and back catalog live on though.

Con-Struct began before Schnitzlers death.  All the music and compositions are his.  Borngraber & Struver (m=minimal founders) arranged these compositions, using the same equipment and mindset that Schnitzler would have.  What we have is essentially new music by Conrad Schnitzler supplied by his vast sound library.

Each song is labeled Con-Struct 1-8, almost a deviation in sound slightly of all tracks, and yes there is a familiarity between those songs.  Encompassing tracks 1-8 there is a pulsating, rhythmic, echoing sound.  Sometimes it is punctuated by a spacey and disconnected tone.   The atmosphere they all create feels isolated and lonely, with a touch of indifference.  It’s not an easy cd to give attention to; while each piece is well thought out there is a feeling of all middle and no beginning or end.  Yet that only adds to the space-like sound and feeling of infiniteness. 

While Con-Struct is a fine release in its own right for anyone already familiar with Schnitzler; anyone else may feel it sounds a bit tedious.  For fans and admirers of Conrad Schnitzler they will be well consoled with Con-Struct.  For the uninitiated, there time may be better spent with Schnitzlers more well recognized releases.