#mapstation

[radiophd]

mapstation -- montalboddo

[synthesizerbook]

There is nothing like feeling loved. The one constant in my life is knowing that I am loved. Grateful for my history receiving it from those closest to me. 2 great records this early AM... #mapstation with My Frequency, When We. And... #michaelrother -Dreaming Yes, I love my #germanelectronicmusic Always have always will! #electronicmusic #electronicgoodness #vinylcollection #vinylrecords #vinylcommunity #morningtunes https://www.instagram.com/p/CPdx3hTBeLV/?utm_medium=tumblr

[burlveneer-music]

Mapstation - The Africa Chamber - Fourth World album from 2009, but new to Bandcamp (and to me)

This is the third album by Mapstation. Since 2001, Stefan Schneider has been working under this moniker. Nevertheless, this new release marks a premiere for the Dusseldorf-based artist: it is the first album produced by Schneider himself. Delving deeper into the sounds and subjects already explored on his previous outings, Map Of Africa (2002) and Loin D'Afrique (2006), this record expands on Mapstation's tentative love and study of the African continent. Like his earlier aural collages, The Africa Chamber treats this region not only as a geographic location, but also as a symbol of unknown terrain, of distant shores awaiting our exploration. Unfettered by the fetish of authenticity, but rather bolstered by various encounters on neutral, diasporic grounds like European Internet cafes ("Unitel"), African beauty parlors ("The Protector") or folkloristic kitsch figurines ("Return Of The Hunter"), Schneider prefers an associative approach to music. His Africa Chamber becomes a fanciful wunderkammer of would-be African sounds. In this spirit, the album retraces the subconscious cultural amalgamations that shape our contemporary mainstream culture and reciprocal influences, from the digital replication and recreation of jungle ambience for the Antwerp Zoo ("Nocturama") to the illustrated Swedish porcelain gracing the cover, heavily influenced by African art. In a fitting twist, Schneider's inimitable Mapstation sound, conjuring up broad and expansive soundscapes from a bare minimum of synthesizer arpeggiator, has started to incorporate more and more analog percussion for a coarser, less predictably-textured sound. Amplifiers are miked up. Distortion, overamplification and feedback claim their rightful space. Besides a plethora of percussive hollow-ware like vases or pitchers and prepared piano passages -- recorded in the studio of Dusseldorf-based pianist and composer Volker Bertelmann aka Hauschka -- the album relies mainly on digital synths, reawakened and injected with new warmth. Continuing his tradition of collaboration, Schneider also invited an eclectic range of master musicians to join him on this sonic journey. Annie Whitehead, on-stage staple of Robert Wyatt, Afrika Express/Damon Albarn or James Blood Ulmer and a welcome addition to Schneider's previous album, fleshed out two tracks with her spellbinding trombone. Nicholas Addo-Nettey also contributes percussion (he played alongside Tony Allen for the seminal Fela Kuti Band in the 1970s). Drummer Thomas Klein (Kreidler) completes Mapstation's trio of collaborators.

[hellosquarerecordings]

Schneider Kacirek - June 2015

German duo  Schneider Kacirek are in Australia between June 17th and 21st for a series of intimate performances that sits in a unique space between Kenyan rhythms, ECM inspired jazz and electronic club ambiance.

From a past with indie electronic groups such as To Rococo Rot  and collaborations with Marc Ribot  (Tom Waits, John Zorn)  and Hans-Joachim Roedelius (Cluster) , the duo explores these new territories on Shadows Documents , their debut album, released on German label Bureau B. hellosQuare have also released a split 12" between the duo and Shoeb Ahmad, which will be available at all performances.

TOUR DATES CANBERRA Wednesday 17 June 8pm The Street Theatre supported by Spartak + Shisd $25 pre-sale/$30 on door MELBOURNE Thursday 18 June 8pm John Curtin Hotel Bandroom supported by Footy, Kharkov, Peter Knight + Joe Talia $20 (+bf) pre-sale/$25 on door SYDNEY Friday 19 June 6pm Goethe Institut Building, Woollahra supported by Alister Spence/Andrew Fedorovitch/Evan Dorrian Free entry - bookings essential through [email protected] PERTH Sunday 21 June 6pm Four5Nine @ Rosemount supported by Alex Dew Decimal System + Original Past Life $15 (+bf) pre-sale/$20 on door