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When it comes to tribal, lucid, and world music-infused electronic music with minimalist hooks, the German band Solitaire always had something special to offer. Their last full-length release dates from 1997. After that, a long silence set in with Elmar Schulte solely at the helm. At the end of 2022, word came Elmar unfortunately passed away who gave his friend and colleague Rüdiger Gleisberg recordings of unfinished pieces of music for further processing close before leaving the earth. After some contemplation, Mr. Gleisberg completed these pieces of music and put them together into a new production in consultation with Elmar’s widow, which ended up as “Trance Halcyon Connection”. Rüdiger recalls: “Elmar and I always had a certain way of working with a division of labour that developed throughout our collaborations. In the beginning in 1989, we lived together for a while and that’s how we got to know each other very well. Elmar’s focus was on the sounds and mixing, I took over playing the keyboard. Because of his illness, near the end it became increasingly difficult for him to work on music; he lacked the strength. When I completed his rough drafts after his death it was an emotional moment for me that brought back many memories. With every new track I recorded, I thought about whether he would have liked it. I tried to make the music the way he would have wanted it. Sometimes I had the feeling he was sitting next to me and commenting on what I was playing. I am happy to have made this project and I think it was completed in the way he would have wanted.” Well, the 56-minute outcome with various minimalist passages creates a great, hypnotic vibe from the start while gradually building its own gentle evolving realms. Tibetan flavours and a sense of harmony and balance make up the core of “My Inner Tibet” while gracious, warm textures lift up both mind and soul on the quite sensual “Comes from the North”. The title piece ventures into hallucinogenic spheres, a fascinating realm where elements swirl effortlessly before evaporating. “Evening Mist at Loch Lomond” appears to me to be a bit older piece, spreading a nice touching sense of melancholy while it floats in the air. The album rounds out with “Wide Sky”, a dreamy outing in the outdoors where gamelan-like percussion melts with fluid, gentle haunting soundscapes. “Trance Halcyon Connection” is available as a name-your-price download. |
| Website: projektrecords.bandcamp.com
Website: www.gleisberg.com You can see what reviews I have done of this artist on the Solitaire artist page.
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