Special Interest

GENERAL SOUND DISCUSSION => GENERAL SOUND DISCUSSION => Topic started by: NaturalOrthodoxy on November 10, 2017, 12:38:42 PM

Title: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: NaturalOrthodoxy on November 10, 2017, 12:38:42 PM
Can't see a thread specifically about this project but I'm curious about people's thoughts.

One of my favourite projects for variation- most stuff revolving around simplistic drum machine patterns distorted beyond belief with minimal synth and GO-style processed vocals but then some less rhythmic P.E. stuff too as well as atmospheric death industrial stuff.

In my opinion he pulls it all off pretty well and it never sounds inconsistent, i.e., all the different styles do indeed sound like they are being done by the same artist. From what I can tell from liner notes of other artists he seems to be a sound engineer and multi instrumentalist too?

Any other fans/thoughts?
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: totalblack on November 10, 2017, 01:11:25 PM
Haven't heard any release from him that I didn't enjoy to this date. 'Nato-Uniformen' \ 'Turned Back' \ 'Fall Where They Would' being personal favorites.

The set that he did at the Hospital productions 20 years event at Berghain in October was one of the most blistering sets I've ever seen. Hearing that material on a Funktion One at 110db cutting through confused crowds expecting techno was priceless.

Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: NaturalOrthodoxy on November 10, 2017, 01:29:12 PM
Quote from: totalblack on November 10, 2017, 01:11:25 PM

The set that he did at the Hospital productions 20 years event at Berghain in October was one of the most blistering sets I've ever seen. Hearing that material on a Funktion One at 110db cutting through confused crowds expecting techno was priceless.


Mate, so jealous you saw that! I was lucky enough to see Pharmakon at Berghain in January with Vomir which sounded incredible (and as a dirty British tourist I enjoyed being within the hallowed Berghain walls hahaha)

But yeah, NATO Uniformen is fucking incredible!
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: BTR on November 10, 2017, 08:02:47 PM
Everything is great, I have been spending a lot of time revisiting his synthesizer work on Prurient's Annihilationist these days. Very slow moving stuff that is so satisfying in the ways that it shifts when it does.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Zeno Marx on November 14, 2017, 11:51:14 PM
New to me, so thank you for bringing him forward.  Some of my favorite tracks so far would have been perfectly at home in the early stages of the Hands label and next to Winterkalte releases.  Smart industrial repetition.  eg "Rumbala"

https://www.discogs.com/label/1877-Hands-Productions
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: collapsedhole on November 15, 2017, 01:51:35 AM
you're right zeno - very much a Winterkalte/Hands vibe.... but soooo much better. i'm amused at the fact i got into noise through music like Ant-Zen/Hands and in past few years it seems to have come full-circle back to synths/rythms...

"nato-uniformen" is amazing... so many good tracks.

have been fortunate enough to see him live a few times. variations in the noise but the rhythm tracks remained the same. totally killer coming out of a loud system and very welcome inbetween straight-up noise sets.

amazing sound engineer as well. his credits are a long list when it comes to studio work - he knows what he's doing to "professionally" master abrasive music for sure.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: SiClark on November 15, 2017, 02:53:33 AM
Had to miss his gig in Europe which was a shame, I am hoping he will play again soon over here. So many good releases from this artist. One of my favourite is 'The Cave Allegory' on the Vampire 6xtape box. Probably online somewhere. Really slow build up but so amazing.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: absurdexposition on November 15, 2017, 04:09:23 AM
Quote from: collapsedhole on November 15, 2017, 01:51:35 AM
variations in the noise but the rhythm tracks remained the same. totally killer coming out of a loud system and very welcome inbetween straight-up noise sets.

Last year's set in Montreal was actually the opposite. A welcome respite of straight-up noise from a night of underwhelming "power electronics" aka techno.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: NaturalOrthodoxy on November 15, 2017, 11:39:32 AM
I'm glad he's as well regarded as I'd hope- acts that revolve around beats are understandably problematic because it can so easily veer into lazy "techno masquerading as P.E." territory. Whereas Alberich uses beats without mitigating any of the atmosphere or general noisiness of it.

Even tracks like "Magnesium" (a 4/4 kick with delay on it with nothing but a reverby oscillation and occasional drops of distortion) absolutely bang.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Zeno Marx on November 15, 2017, 09:32:56 PM
Quote from: collapsedhole on November 15, 2017, 01:51:35 AM
you're right zeno - very much a Winterkalte/Hands vibe.... but soooo much better.
I want to argue with this statement, but you might be right...because when I originally heard the Winterkalte 10", it was a very big deal in my world and for many who scoured the Malignant catalogue for the new since Mr.Mantis was so keyed into emerging labels and ideas...and because I'm hesitant, and cautious, to allow today's enthusiasm to cloud the past.  If nothing else, Alberich seems to be more consistent than Winterkalte ever was.  I could be wrong about this, but I believe the Winterkalte 10" was one of Malignant's all-time best sellers.  Took us all by storm.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Zeno Marx on November 29, 2017, 09:14:16 PM
His tracks like "Field Radar" would be perfect soundtracks for road trips across the long expanses of southern Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and the Southwest.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Zeno Marx on December 07, 2017, 10:39:18 PM
Apologies for again hitting this thread.  You know what it is like when you get bit by a new artist or group.  He continues to impress and blow me away.  I wasn't expecting such a fantastically done krautrock synth track to close NATO-Uniformen.  "Immortality Is No Consolation For Death" is very likely the best vintage synth mimicry by a non-old krautrocker I've heard.  This thing could pass for a Klaus Schulze track from a late-70's concert.  I feel it could fool most.  He clearly has a great ear, which often separates the special from the very good and competent.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: NaturalOrthodoxy on December 08, 2017, 11:11:18 AM
Quote from: Zeno Marx on December 07, 2017, 10:39:18 PM
Apologies for again hitting this thread.  You know what it is like when you get bit by a new artist or group.  He continues to impress and blow me away.  I wasn't expecting such a fantastically done krautrock synth track to close NATO-Uniformen.  "Immortality Is No Consolation For Death" is very likely the best vintage synth mimicry by a non-old krautrocker I've heard.  This thing could pass for a Klaus Schulze track from a late-70's concert.  I feel it could fool most.  He clearly has a great ear, which often separates the special from the very good and competent.

Glad the thread could help! He's a sound engineer as well, he's worked on most of the really quality Prurient material as well as recording albums by Shallow Waters and other Hospital affiliates, and does a lot of mastering. I saw he even has a tracking credit on the first Cold Cave album, on a track where synths were played by Glassjaw's Daryl Palumbo of all people!

What similar Klaus Schulze stuff would you recommend?
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: online prowler on December 08, 2017, 04:19:22 PM
Quote from: NaturalOrthodoxy on December 08, 2017, 11:11:18 AM
Quote from: Zeno Marx on December 07, 2017, 10:39:18 PM
Apologies for again hitting this thread.  You know what it is like when you get bit by a new artist or group.  He continues to impress and blow me away.  I wasn't expecting such a fantastically done krautrock synth track to close NATO-Uniformen.  "Immortality Is No Consolation For Death" is very likely the best vintage synth mimicry by a non-old krautrocker I've heard.  This thing could pass for a Klaus Schulze track from a late-70's concert.  I feel it could fool most.  He clearly has a great ear, which often separates the special from the very good and competent.

Glad the thread could help! He's a sound engineer as well, he's worked on most of the really quality Prurient material as well as recording albums by Shallow Waters and other Hospital affiliates, and does a lot of mastering. I saw he even has a tracking credit on the first Cold Cave album, on a track where synths were played by Glassjaw's Daryl Palumbo of all people!

What similar Klaus Schulze stuff would you recommend?

Klaus Schulze - not similar, but his porn score of Lasse Braun's BODY LOVE is great.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Zeno Marx on December 08, 2017, 07:26:41 PM
NaturalOrthodoxy and Silvum, thanks for the posts.

I had to hit my listening notes and dig.  For this first bunch, I'd recommend you registering at the Dime a Dozen tracker.  It's where I found most of these, if not all of these, live recordings.  I wouldn't know where else to go, but I'm sure there are other resources.

75-09-26 sbd - 1 track; 42+ minutes; A- recording - with Gunther Schickert - a true treat to have a recording with GS (GAM; Samtvogel album) in the mix -  absolutely blissed out music with moments of heady, kinetic feel and windriding sweep.

76-04-03 FM Paris - "C+"-"B-" sound quality - 1 hour 50 minutes - 3 tracks - very easy listen.

76-11-04 FM BRT-Studio4 - one 47-minute track - "B" sound - solid material ala Timewind.

77-09-23 aud - REALLY nice show - I believe this is the show I used to recommend to everyone who asked.

78-11-16 aud Paris - very good "B+" to "A-" recording - great show - lots of movement - lots of good ideas that grow into solid tracks and improvisations - HIGHLY recommended.

78-11-18 aud Erathostene - 4 tracks; 2 hours 23 minutes; B to B+ recording; from the "X" tour - the first track is 30+ minutes of Schulze beautifully coaxing a cobra from a basket - there's a spot in the performance where it sounds like his tape machine is malfunctioning and speeding 3Xs too fast, but he pulls it in and makes the next transition feel seamless - good performance and recommended.

if live recordings aren't your thing, as a second option, I'd recommend digging around the La Vie Electronique series.  As of today, there are 16 multi-CD sets.  These are the couple I'd try first.

Klaus Schulze - La Vie Electronique I 1968-1972 - GREAT sound - "Electric Dream" will jettison you into a nether galaxy - "Gesang Zur Dammerung" is another track beyond wor(l)ds - could never have enough Schulze on organ - once you start, you don't want to walk away from these 3CDs - highly addictive and RECOMMENDED.

Klaus Schulze - La Vie Electronique II 1972-1975 - first disc has a couple tracks riddled with clicking rhythms that are digital in nature, and I find they distract, and detract, from everything else; "Study for Philip K.Dick" is incredibly fierce nonetheless - disc 2 is gorgeous, as well as most is of disc 3 - disc 2 and most of disc 3 are from 1973; great year for Schulze.

and this one is not to be missed.  Schulze is in the studio.

Far East Family Band - Parallel World 1976 - flat-out amazing psychedelic space reminiscent of a Klaus Schulze involvement with early Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra Tempel, and The Cosmic Jokers; might even have a little Sergius Golowin in it - Japanese fellas doing the Teutonic cosmic dance better than most of the Germans of the golden era - I live to find albums like this.

I'd second Silvum's recommendation to try anything and everything through 1979 or 1980, but I continue to give everything he does a try.  He did some recordings with Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance) around 2008 (?), and while the official album was so-so, the supporting tour had moments of brilliance.  I think it was 2007 when he did an album called Kontinuum, and there is some nice material there as well.  Like Moebius and Roedelius, Schulze still has the touch.  It might only be a track or two per album, but generally, it's there.  While he is a tool master, I feel it would be more often if he wasn't such a tech nut.  His ideas can be muddled by screwing with inappropriate tools.

Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: SiClark on February 25, 2019, 12:29:45 PM
Alberich new album is available to pre-order now on LP and CD if anyone is interested -
https://hospitalproductions.net/collections/music
Digital  here - https://hospitalproductions.bandcamp.com/album/quantized-angel
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Soloman Tump on February 25, 2019, 03:30:31 PM
Thanks, been waiting for this to arrive.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: DSOL on February 25, 2019, 05:07:50 PM
just placed my order - really looking forward to the new album
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Eigen Bast on February 25, 2019, 05:39:12 PM
Glad to finally see this out. New track has an Esplendor Geometrico vibe, dig it.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Soloman Tump on February 25, 2019, 10:18:18 PM
Presuming the vinyl will makes its way to europe, carriage is a killer From the USA, effectively doubles the cost of the album
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: totalblack on February 25, 2019, 10:19:41 PM
Quote from: Soloman Tump on February 25, 2019, 10:18:18 PM
Presuming the vinyl will makes its way to europe, carriage is a killer From the USA, effectively doubles the cost of the album

I will be getting plenty of copies of the record in for EU distribution
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: SiClark on February 25, 2019, 11:08:33 PM
Quote from: Soloman Tump on February 25, 2019, 10:18:18 PM
Presuming the vinyl will makes its way to europe, carriage is a killer From the USA, effectively doubles the cost of the album
Postage to UK is about $12 which is less than ordering LPs from some European countries. Depends where you are in Europe I guess.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Eigen Bast on March 27, 2019, 02:53:37 AM
The new record is fantastic, anyone else listening to this?
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: yosef666 on March 27, 2019, 04:09:37 AM
Quote from: Eigen Bast on March 27, 2019, 02:53:37 AM
The new record is fantastic, anyone else listening to this?
Great stuff! Need to spin again soon.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: DSOL on March 27, 2019, 04:01:32 PM
Quote from: Eigen Bast on March 27, 2019, 02:53:37 AM
The new record is fantastic, anyone else listening to this?

received my copy last week, but haven't listen to it yet
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: holy ghost on April 09, 2019, 06:59:43 PM
Did I completely miss this new album on pre-order? I see a CD pre-order on the Hospital site but you know how it is - I'd like to get the LP.

I have the NATO-Uniformen DLP and the split LP with Lussuria but aside from that I'm not familiar with any of his material. I'll have to keep digging.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: SiClark on April 09, 2019, 08:40:45 PM
Quote from: holy ghost on April 09, 2019, 06:59:43 PM
Did I completely miss this new album on pre-order? I see a CD pre-order on the Hospital site but you know how it is - I'd like to get the LP.

I have the NATO-Uniformen DLP and the split LP with Lussuria but aside from that I'm not familiar with any of his material. I'll have to keep digging.
Where are you based? Forced Exposure have the LP in the US and Boomkat will have the Lp this week I think, maybe Thursday or Friday.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: impulse manslaughter on April 09, 2019, 10:48:39 PM
Thanks, will check the Boomkat site later this week..
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: holy ghost on April 10, 2019, 04:40:50 PM
Quote from: Si Clark on April 09, 2019, 08:40:45 PM
Quote from: holy ghost on April 09, 2019, 06:59:43 PM
Did I completely miss this new album on pre-order? I see a CD pre-order on the Hospital site but you know how it is - I'd like to get the LP.

I have the NATO-Uniformen DLP and the split LP with Lussuria but aside from that I'm not familiar with any of his material. I'll have to keep digging.
Where are you based? Forced Exposure have the LP in the US and Boomkat will have the Lp this week I think, maybe Thursday or Friday.

I've managed to secure a copy thanks to the international network of friends, but thank you!!
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: SiClark on April 10, 2019, 05:00:27 PM
LP available now from Boomkat if anyone is interested -

https://boomkat.com/products/quantized-angel
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: impulse manslaughter on April 11, 2019, 12:47:25 AM
Huh, all gone within a few hours.. 3rd time I'm missing out.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: holy ghost on April 25, 2019, 03:39:18 PM
Hospital update says there's an Alberich/Linekraft 10" in the works. Sounds like a gruesome pairing.

I've secured a copy of the latest LP but won't be able to grab it until mid May but I'm streaming it on my wife's Spotify account and really enjoying it so far.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Soloman Tump on April 25, 2019, 07:53:13 PM
Decided not to stream it until my vinyl arrives, had a despatch email from Total Black so won't be long now. Not even heard the preview track.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: impulse manslaughter on April 27, 2019, 04:35:39 PM
Just pre-ordered the Alberich/Linekraft 10" & new Old Tower 7" from Hospital..
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: burdizzo on April 28, 2019, 06:42:53 PM
Slightly underwhelmed by the new Alberich, I must confess.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Euro Trash Bazooka on April 28, 2019, 09:52:26 PM
Quote from: burdizzo on April 28, 2019, 06:42:53 PM
Slightly underwhelmed by the new Alberich, I must confess.

Likewise. It sounds great but the tracks are boring.
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: vegasfountain on April 29, 2019, 09:38:57 PM
Quote from: burdizzo on April 28, 2019, 06:42:53 PM
Slightly underwhelmed by the new Alberich, I must confess.

Yeah same. Sounds are great and it's really well produced but as a whole it doesn't really grab me. I do enjoy some of those songs on their own quite a bit though. Maybe it'll continue to grow on me.

Been spending a lot more time with Psychology Of Love lately. Incredible album. Also jamming those two cassette compilation albums Hospital uploaded to bandcamp recently, Fortification and Guard Tower. Love how harsh and intense some of these older works can get.

Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Soloman Tump on April 29, 2019, 11:43:51 PM
Quote from: vegasfountain on April 29, 2019, 09:38:57 PM
Quote from: burdizzo on April 28, 2019, 06:42:53 PM
Slightly underwhelmed by the new Alberich, I must confess.

Yeah same. Sounds are great and it's really well produced but as a whole it doesn't really grab me. I do enjoy some of those songs on their own quite a bit though. Maybe it'll continue to grow on me.

Been spending a lot more time with Psychology Of Love lately. Incredible album. Also jamming those two cassette compilation albums Hospital uploaded to bandcamp recently, Fortification and Guard Tower. Love how harsh and intense some of these older works can get.



There is also a third compilation called Machine Gun Nest 
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: xdementia on June 17, 2019, 08:11:40 AM
Surprised by how dancey Quantized Angel is. Just getting around to listening to it for the first time now. Guess I have to temper my expectations and see this not so much as an industrial power electronics release. Seems like it would be a good fit for my industrial techno thread though!
Title: Re: Alberich/Kris Lapke
Post by: Soloman Tump on June 17, 2019, 01:57:18 PM
Yes, this is definitely more on the techno side of things, which I happen to enjoy so its OK.