#baldruin

[mellamame]

[quindirecords]

Baldruin - Mosaike Der Imagination [QUI015]

Turning their gaze to the buoyant culture of wyrd, modernist German folk music, Quindi welcome a spectacularly idiosyncratic offering from Johannes Schebler, aka Baldruin. Bewildering narrative twists, high drama and intricate delicacy make Mosaike der Imagination an engrossing listen from the outset, as baroque atmospheres and tumbledown drums intertwine with tactile string plucks and needlepoint synthesis in an authoritative bridging of ancient and hypermodern sonic sensibilities.

Schebler's catalogue as Baldruin is extensive, reaching back to the late 00s and covering a lot of ground through cassette albums on respected underground labels like SicSic, A Giant Fern and Lullabies For Insomniacs. Meanwhile, his work has been recognised as part of a broader movement of experimental electronic music in Germany taking inspiration from folk traditions, as documented on last year's essential Bureau B compilation, Gespensterland. Beyond his solo work, Schebler also works with Jani Hirvonen as Grykë Pyje (mappa), and both collaborate with Paul Wilson as Yayoba (Not Not Fun). Christian Schoppik of leading dark folk project Brannten Schnüre joins him as Freundliche Kreisel (STROOM). It's a tangled, fascinating and evocative sound world which Mosaike der Imagination offers a compelling window into.

No two tracks on the album follow the same pattern or palette, whether gliding through the Giallo synth undulations and post rock tonal arcs of 'Stimme des Wegelagerers' or spelling out miasmic incantations through flickering flames on 'Aus dem Feuer, aus dem Licht'. 'Hinein, hinaus, hinüber' revolves around meditative drum mantras and cascading melodic phrasing, densely layered and evolving with purpose. 'Gemeinsam hindurch' flicks between swooping strings and pizzicato plucks in a purely romantic expression of orchestration, 'Mit verbundenen Augen' is a bewildering choral voice study and 'Im Sternstrom' revels in ecstatic synth arpeggios. Nothing can be predicted except the vibrancy and clarity of Schebler's vision.

It's a vision which extends to the front cover artwork for Mosaike der Imagination — a glorious tapestry created by Finnish artist Jan Anderzén, with a responding design and layout from Schebler adorning the rear sleeve.

Stepping to the side of the cosy daydream reveries that inhabit much of the Quindi output, Mosaike der Imagination indulges the label's penchant for sophistication in a freakily fascinating new framework from the heart of an exciting movement in experimental folk music. 

Recorded in Wiesbaden, Germany by Johannes Schebler

Mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi

Cover Artwork "Rauniot" by Jan Anderzén

Layout by Johannes Schebler

[thenewobjective]

Baldruin ~ Kleine Freuden

Baldruin ~ Kleine Freuden

What are the odds that three albums of one-minute songs would all be released in a three-week stretch?  Perhaps inspired by Minute Papillon and One Minute Older, which both appeared in our Best Compilations feature, Ever Given, Ümlaut and Baldruin have each unveiled new collections of miniatures. Power Nap is the most experimental, and holds 23 pieces; Musique de Film II is the most cinematic,…

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[restwaerme]

Collision and Coalescence, by Grykë Pyje

12 track album

[thenewobjective]

Baldruin ~ Vergessene Träume

Baldruin ~ Vergessene Träume

After the vocal excursion of his last album, Baldruin (Johannes Schebler) returns to the instrumental world. Vergessene Träume (Forgotten Dreams) imitates its title by creating a unique sonic environment decorated with nooks and crannies.  With titles such as “The Enigma of the Chalk Cliffs” and “Encounter in the Maze,” one may begin to make all manner of associations.  Only “In the Emerald City”…

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[specialistmorgenj]

[fdadadad]

(https://soundcloud.com/baldruin/wustensturm?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=tumblrから)

[thenewobjective]

Baldruin ~ Portal

Baldruin (Johannes Schebler) has just completed a hat trick.  Miniaturen, a collection of foreboding yet tiny tracks, arrived in January on A Giant Fern.  This was followed in August by the mysterious, synth-drenched tape Klaue on SPAM.  These tapes have now been joined by the clear vinyl Portal.  The first of these albums was dark ambient, the second drone; the third combines the best of both…

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