SYNTHETIK 1

SEESSELBERG was the electronic project of brothers Wolf J and Eckart Seesselberg. And these two were pioneers in this field and it's surprising they aren't included in the company of Klaus Shulze, CLUSTER and TANGERINE DREAM. It could be that their music just wasn't as available, or more likely it's because of how experimental this music is. They actually held seminars to instruct the public into the art of synthesizer sounds. As for their performances, they were usually done at art galleries and museums.

And thankfully they recorded these performances as this record consists of those live recordings. So this is a compilation really of what they felt was their best performances from 1971 to 1973. And self-released in 1973 with a 1,000 album run. As for how experimental this is, the liner notes relate that they essentially ignored the principles of standard rhythm and melody in favour of adventerous experimentation with the endless possibilities of the synthesizer.

These two brothers were older by the way. And Eckart started building his custom, home made synth rig in 1965 as the liner notes state, finishing it in 1971. And yes we hear the most unusual sounds from that device. His brother Wolf J worked with a Swedish composer in 1960 as an assistant, and it was here that his interest in electronics began as he experimented with them back then. These two are as legit as they could possibly be when it comes to electronics. I guarantee that Schulze and the known pioneers of electronics would all have learned a lot hanging out with these two older guys back in the day.

This record is on the NWW list by the way. And while I have nothing but respect for what they did here on this album, this is a tough listen. There's very little here that I actually like. In fact I doubt I will listen to this again despite how unique this is. I've never heard anything like it. Sounds that are completely new to me. And so yes I get that some rate this high for that reason, along with how original this is. But you know I rate based on my appreciation of the music more than anything else. So 3 stars is all I got.

We get nine tracks worth over 43 minutes. A lot of very long song titles with the year they were performed included in those titles and where. We get two 10 minute plus tracks, but also three tracks around a minute, more or less. It starts off sounding like the opening of "2112" by RUSH with shooting synths going off. I have to say there is a lot of annoying sounds on here. To a fault, but then this comes across as an avant electronic recording if there was such a sub genre. If there was then these two brothers would be their poster boys.

I actually was laughing out loud at times. You should hear some of these sounds. You know how laughter is contagious? Well that happens on that short one minute second track. Like laughing electronics. Same with that fourth track, and 3 1/2 minutes into the longest piece which is track seven. I think I came up with some new adjectives with this one. Those squishy sounds on that second longest track which might be the most adventerous. The water sounds on the opener that stutter. Laughing again with that 1 1/2 minute third tune. That sixth song is a tough one, annoying to a fault at times, and when we get a calm, we get relief. That 4 minute eighth song has fast paced beats throughout, relentless and frustrating. I feel like I'm on a train during the almost 8 minute closer.

SEESSELBERG should be as known as the legends, but this is a very difficult listen.