“It's very different from the usual style of BKS with a tribal gypsy vision coming mainly from the duo acoustic guitar and violin”
1 The beginning 15:22
2 Caravan of the melancholy 13:38
3 Walking 11:57
4 Magic pure 12:24
5 The diminished song 6:37
(CD/DDL 60:00) (V.F.)
(Tribal New Berlin School)
We never know what to expect with Broekhuis, Keller & Schönwälder. The trio loves to surprise and amaze. It's in the austere universe of a cathedral with intimate dimensions that he gives an odd musical rendezvous to his fans. Strange since unusual because once again this new musical tangent of BKS succeeds in charming with a finely elaborated music for the pleasure of our ears.
A melancholic piano whose notes are covered with a discreet Vangelis choir opens the subliminal The Beginning. Melodious and exciting, they flow with tenderness on a gentle movement imbued of invisible caresses with romantic essences. A line of bass sequences crosses this virtual choir that a serpentine line of the piano embellishes with its harmonious visions. The rhythm comes alive a little more on percussions with random strikes, in the modern Klaus Schulze style, while a second line of the sequencer emerges to infuse more depth to the pulsations in place with a tone of electronic tribal percussions. Superbly melodious, The Beginning crosses the melancholy chords of a splendid acoustic guitar and a distressed violin that pierces our hearts with each slide of the bow. A sweet title that opens a tender and melodious album with accuracy. A minimalist chorus line from a soft guitar composes the structure of Caravan of the Melancholy. Fluid and slightly rhythmic, the beat is supported by strange sound effects which attract the sense of hearing. Gradually, the title amplifies its measure with a synth that contorts and twists around intriguing lamentations while the violin accompanies it in this wandering delirium. The guitar caresses our ears with sumptuous chords in this passage where synth and violin twirl like two lovers in a state of turmoil. Walking shows us the abilities of Raughi Ebert on acoustic guitar. On a rhythm with movements pounded with tenderness, he plucks his strings with an overflowing sensitivity that a synth surrounds with an orchestral depth. A kind of Mexican spatial western. Quite astonishing as a result!
Magic Pure begins with a superb limpid sequence which undulates in heavy silence. Tabla percussions break this serenity on a rhythm which takes shape with pulsations whirling in this frivolous ambience where the percussions make dance the strings of an austere violin which whirl in a sound whirlwind where, synth, piano, electric sitar and other sound effects whirl around in frenzy. A silky acoustic guitar, kind of bluesy style, opens The Diminished Song. As agile as Steve Howe, Raughi Ebert amazes with his virtuosity. Thomas Kagermann's violin encircles Ebert's strings which are plucked with resonance. And when the synth covers this movement with the tenderness of its layers, we are overwhelmed by the tenderness of the music. As much as The Beginning was a superb opening, The Diminished Song is a very good finale. This CD contains a bonus file where photos from this concert can be viewed on a pc. An excellent initiative which controls piracy, since Detlef Keller and Raughi Ebert have composed a new track, Visual, which goes superbly well with the ambience of this album. A very beautiful track on an undulating sequencer, creating one of its sensual melting rhythms, has a Pink Floyd style guitar ... Very beautiful!
In my opinion, LIVE @ DORFKIRCHE REPELEN is a little stroke of genius achieved by Broekhuis, Keller & Schönwälder and their friends; Raughi Ebert and Thomas Kagermann. It's very different from the usual Berlin School style of BKS with a more tribal gypsy vision coming mainly from the duo acoustic guitar and violin. A new path is open with a more traditional music blend with the new Berlin School style from the German trio. So, a melodious album on hypnotic rhythms with random corridors and stuffed of musical surprises that astonish and charm. It's not quite my style, but it goes smoothly in the ears.
Sylvain Lupari (November 15th, 2006) ***½**
Available at Manikin's Bandcamp