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Tracklist

A1	Auf Atlas' Rücken	2:54
A2	Reigen	6:26
A3	Affenrunde	3:59
A4	Der Tod Hält Mich Wach	2:21
A5	Euter Meines Vaters	2:00
A6	Orions Gamaschen	2:01
B1	Schwingen Aus Stein	6:57
B2	Eine Solide Menschen-Stadt	7:09
B3	Tanz Der Gestirne	8:34

Notes

While the production of “bohemian drips’“ latest release – “Iván Paz’ Visions of Space“ [BD007] – was dedicated to the exploration of virtual space in a physical context, the label’s next “binaural“ in-house production reaches out to new recording ethics.

“Die Milchstrasse Flockt“ [BD008] marks a turning point in the label’s history, as a group of Berlin based artists got together only for this record: The quintet consisted of Ruth-Maria Adam, Alexander P. Jovanovic, Inox Kapell, Josefine Lukschy and Alexander Meurer. They have no collective history or collaborative background – the group was only set to drive out to “Schloss Freudenberg“, a looming Chateau built in 1905, with a truckload of instruments. Their aim was to embrace the possibilities of the space, its historic collection of rare and strange instruments and its acoustics. Formed organically through the time spent in the castle, the album turned out to be an obscure yet beautiful assemblage of strange noises and sounds, staged and amplified through the space itself and the perspective of a “KU-100“ dummy-head microphone. All music was created with a wide range of acoustic instruments and unique sound devices, captured in binaural “Kunstkopf Stereofonie“. Thus, listening to this record with headphones will relocate you directly to the actual recording scenario.

“Die Milchstrasse Flockt” expanded the possibilities of spacial arrangement during the recording process, resulting in unique soundscapes that might be considered “Non-Music”. The LP takes you back to early electronic music, such as Ash-Ra Temple or Klaus Röder’s “Kristallationen“, despite the fact only acoustic instruments were being used: Side A starts off with playful twists and turns, kraut à la “Cluster“ or “Popol Vuh“, and lets you travel through trippy improvisation into soft-psychedelic landscapes, micro-sounds and unconventional sound-art experiments.

The A-Side exhausts the possibilities of the castle’s expansive collection of historical instruments such as one of the few “cristal baschets“ worldwide, “singing drums“ or Professor Klaus Fessmann’s „Klangsteine“, and bends the ideas of musical structure. Side B is based on the massive array of gongs of different sizes and materials from the castle’s private collection and can be described as classic drone, with a swerve into primitive music: This facet can be attributed to Ruth-Maria Adam’s anti-classical use of the violin and the recorder combined with Inox-Kapell’s remarkable understanding of the castle’s gong collection’s sonic potential.

The key to this album is capturing the first meeting of five musicians, who all come from very different musical backgrounds. This created a fresh and unbiased scenario for sonic exploration within the unique space of “Schloss Freudenberg“. A scenario prefaced by its transformation in the 1980’s, described by Hugo Kükelhaus as a “field of experience towards the unfurling of the senses and thoughts“.

The path to “Schloss Freudenberg“ is unexpectedly modest; patchy asphalt is bordered by wooden stakes and exposed wiring. Narrow wooden plank stairs rest on what were once steps, stretching almost across the entire width of the building, but are now covered with tar sheeting. The neo-classical facade includes a single shutter and a boarded up window. The walls expose layers of pink, pale green, and gray paint. Uneven parquet floors creak underfoot. As well as thoughtfully designed “imperfection“ to awaken the senses, visitors to “Schloss Freudenberg“ can enjoy different “experience stations“ spread out over its contorted halls, rooms and its large outdoor area, where you’ll also find an “Aeolian Harp“, gently caressed by the wind.

In 1975 Hugo Kükelhaus began touring Germany with a caravan of circus tents and experience stations. After he passed away in 1984, his vision was kept alive by his students Matthias and Beatrice Schenk, who kept on touring and established “Schloss Freudenberg“ as the permanent home of his “experience field“ in 1993: The “Natur und Kunst Gemeinnütziger e.V.“ was born. When the “Nature and Art Society“ moved in, the building had stood empty for almost a decade and extensive repair work was required. This ongoing process of renovation is referred to as "healing through art and culture" and is a collaborative effort, like much of Schloss Freudenberg's initiatives, involving several individuals, and public and private organisations in the region.

Music played by: Ruth-Maria Adam, Alexander P. Jovanovic, Inox Kapell, Josefine Lukschy, Alexander Meurer

Instruments and objects used: Cristal baschet, “Klangsteine“, singing drums, frame drum, guika, orff drumset, tube xylophone, Hohner bass accordeon, santur, celesta, cello, violin, flutes & reeds, a harmonium, a sound chair and 18 gongs of different sizes and material

Recorded live in Schloss Freudenberg in Wiesbaden, Germany in February 2017
Produced, edited and arranged by Alexander Meurer in 2017
Mixed by Ian Medina in Berlin in 2017
Mastered and cut by Andreas Kauffelt at “Schnittstelle“ in Berlin, 2018

Released by bohemian drips
Special thanks to Matthias and Beatrice Schenk, Thomas Meixner, Anne Hörmann and Lothar

© by bohemian drips, 2018 – all rights reserved