2.5

Release data:

Broekhuis, Keller & Schönwälder – Blue
CD, Manikin Records, 2009

As the trio explains on the cd-cover, Blue marks the second part of their “Theory of Colours” series (the first was “Orange” in 2007), of which the music is taken from concerts given in 2007 and 2008.

The cd contains three lengthy chill-out tracks. The 23-minute “Blue One” remains quiet and rather minimal with its repetitive percussion and warm soundscapes, overall ending up as a vintage/modern “Schulzian-affair”.
Both percussion and synthscapes become more pronounced as the track flows uninterrupted into ” Blue Two”, both circuling and floating around each other in the first 10 minutes.
Thereafter, drums set things into motion, soon followed by smooth mellotron sounds/choirs, occasional piano and a consistent, minimal sequencer pattern. For me, things here drag on too long considering its length of 27 minutes and knowing there are three musicians at work.

“Blue & Red” is the most “alive” and melodic piece on the album, a slowly curling affair of airy solo voices (with quite some use of pitch control) piano and electronic cello/flute sound over an ongoing minimalist sequence, of which the percussion gets louder as the piece evolves.

For me, the highly improvised music of “Blue” isn’t convincing, varied and spicy enough, although Berliner School fans will sure find something of their liking here.

Website: www.manikin.de

You can see what reviews I have done of these artists on the Bas Broekhuis, Detlef Keller and Mario Schönwälder artist pages