Klaus Schulze first attracted attention as a member of the German progressive rock band, Tangerine Dream. Following the release of their debut LP, Electronic Meditation, he departed for a solo career. Klaus' recorded work ... more »typically features extended pieces sometimes filling an entire album built around computer-generated synthesizers and other specially programmed electronic effects. Klaus Schulze remains a cult figure in the United States, where the bulk of his prolific output has until now been available only through the import bins. He is widely considered an avant-garde mainstay as well as a founding father of both the new-age space music and electronica genres. Reviews of Picture Music refer to its hypnotic quality, making bold statements that this is Schulze?s first true synth album. Originally released in January of 1975, Picture Music is seeing the light of day again thanks to Inside Out Music.« less
Klaus Schulze first attracted attention as a member of the German progressive rock band, Tangerine Dream. Following the release of their debut LP, Electronic Meditation, he departed for a solo career. Klaus' recorded work typically features extended pieces sometimes filling an entire album built around computer-generated synthesizers and other specially programmed electronic effects. Klaus Schulze remains a cult figure in the United States, where the bulk of his prolific output has until now been available only through the import bins. He is widely considered an avant-garde mainstay as well as a founding father of both the new-age space music and electronica genres. Reviews of Picture Music refer to its hypnotic quality, making bold statements that this is Schulze?s first true synth album. Originally released in January of 1975, Picture Music is seeing the light of day again thanks to Inside Out Music.
"There seems to be some annoying distortion in this version, especially on Totem, not present in earlier versions. Don't know if it's because the tapes are now thirty years old or just a mistake in the mastering process. The bonus cut is an extended/remixed version of Totem which is quite good. If derived from the same master tapes I can't understand why distortion is present in one track and not the other. Still an excellent re-issue otherwise and am looking forward to others from Klaus Schulze including his new album "Moonlake" (Sept. 2005)."
"Picture Music" - An Essential Klaus Schulze Re-Issue!!!
Louie Bourland | Garden Grove CA | 04/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Picture Music" is Klaus Schulze's third solo album recorded in 1973 and released during the early part of 1975 (after the release of "Blackdance"). The album has gone on to be one of the most innovative electronic music releases from the German music scene and paved the way for Schulze's breakthrough opus "Timewind". Over 30 years later, "Picture Music" still does not disappoint and sounds just as modern as it did when it was initially recorded.
The original album included two long tracks. The opening track "Totem" is a nearly 24-minute tour-de-force consisting of a hypnotic bubbling sequencer rhythm and cosmic synth leads. The piece builds with intesity as it approaches the middle with the rhythm speeding up building to a climax which leads to a calm cathedral-like organ finale.
The other track, "Mental Door" begins with what almost sounds like a continuation of "Totem" before shifting into an improvised chordal synth lead giving way to a Krautrock jam with Schulze playing drums, percussion and a wild synth solo. The piece then moves into its final section with haunting string-synth chords and the drum beat being pushed to the back of the mix.
The newly remastered CD not only presents "Picture Music" in astounding quality and expanded liner notes, it also sports a 33-minute bonus track, "C'est pas le meme Chose", which is an alternate mix of "Totem" with extreme stereo separation, sounds not heard in the original album version and an extended final section which is completely different from that on the original version.
With all this said, the expanded remastered version of Klaus Schulze's "Picture Music" is THE definitive edition of this classic album. It is definitely an essential title for electronic music connisuers (sp?) as well as fans of Schulze, Tangerine Dream and others from the German electronic music school.
One of Klaus Schulze's all-time Greatest!!"
Very good
Boris Joselovich | NESHER Israel | 06/17/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In my opinion there are 3 albums in K.Schulze's discography that are unsurpassable: Timewind,Moondawn and Mirage.All the rest is very good,good or quite good.Picture Music is a very good album which predates the three above mentioned masterpieces of electronic music.The bonus track is as great as the original version of Totem ,though it is 10 min. longer and sounds different.I recommend this new version of the disc to all K.S. fans.Great stuff!"
Brilliant Picture Music
norman a. blardony | Philippines | 09/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Pulsating sequencers, scorching synthesizers and nirvanic waves of sounds that will grab you take you so high and suddenly let go and then you drop in an endless bliss and peace. Wonderfull!!"
Track Listings (2) - Disc #1
