ROLF TROSTEL

Progressive Electronic • Germany

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Rolf Trostel biography
"ROLF TROSTEL brought, relatively, fresh wind with his albums, "Inselmusik", "Two Faces", as well as "The Prophet", at the beginning of the 80s, into the electronics scene run, when it was coming into a Punk, new Wave and/or new German wave. With the brand of new digital PPG Wavecomputer 360, he produced sounds, at the time hinted by the near-handed (already) atmospheres of today's Tech-tone, for the prototype of the Drumcomputers. The first two albums, published in a self direction, as well as the "Prophet" work, for which the Norwegian Uniton Label won the copyright, came restored, about twenty years later, not only in a compilation, but in an accesible format. Berlin label Manikin took care of ROLF TROSTEL's cultural inheritance and published his three early eighties albums into a double CD, since the Vinyls are hardly a future generation's remaint. The rough entire of the works ROLF TROSTEL achieved reminds of ASHRA ("Correlations"-like);even with the guitars missing, the rhythms and the aesthetics are a plus (since the Electronic Wave was, back then, arising."

Source: a German article, signed Carsten Agthe (translated, plus modifyied in very few places)

In aditional notes to the article, a bit more music style or reference connection can be made. Rolf TROSTEL also released "The Narrow Gate To Life", in 1983, this fourth expression being the most obscure of all. To the gentle idea that that TROSTEL's electronic fixations is equal to ASHRA's late motivations (or even to some JARRE digital attitude, by other reviewer's random call), there can be appreciate, perhaps, a late Berlin School contact, one clearly addictive to the electronic render. TROSTEL's music paraphrases a lot of maelstrom into sequencing, sound foreboding or atmospheric uptempos, bringing a space of artificial music in touch with vivant leads. Sequences seem always made having in mind a combination of high register splashes and much deeper bass rumblings; plus, since the 80s, however early or quick-phasing, put the sequencing in a synch, TROSTEL's efforts are talented and interesting. Whether it is particularly impressive, very strident or of sonic confidence, the new generation, promoted around these times, gets congratulated by the presence of this artist.

(Some notes from this paragraph are adapted from random reviews)

:::Victor "Philip" Parau (Ricochet):::

Why this artist must be listed in www.progarchives.com :
late classic mode profic..."ROLF TROSTEL brought, relatively, fresh wind with his albums, "Inselmusik", "Two Faces", as well as "The Prophet", at the beginning of the 80s, into the electronics scene run, when it was coming into a Punk, new Wave and/or new German wave. With the brand of new digital PPG Wavecomputer 360, he produced sounds, at the time hinted by the near-handed (already) atmospheres of today's Tech-tone, for the prototype of the Drumcomputers. The first two albums, published in a self direction, as well as the "Prophet" work, for which the Norwegian Uniton Label won the copyright, came restored, about twenty years later, not only in a compilation, but in an accesible format. Berlin label Manikin took care of ROLF TROSTEL's cultural inheritance and published his three early eighties albums into a double CD, since the Vinyls are hardly a future generation's remaint. The rough entire of the works ROLF TROSTEL achieved reminds of ASHRA ("Correlations"-like);even with the guitars missing, the rhythms and the aesthetics are a plus (since the Electronic Wave was, back then, arising."

Source: a German article, signed Carsten Agthe (translated, plus modifyied in very few places)

In aditional notes to the article, a bit more music style or reference connection can be made. Rolf TROSTEL also released "The Narrow Gate To Life", in 1983, this fourth expression being the most obscure of all. To the gentle idea that that TROSTEL's electronic fixations is equal to ASHRA's late motivations (or even to some JARRE digital attitude, by other reviewer's random call), there can be appreciate, perhaps, a late Berlin School contact, one clearly addictive to the electronic render. TROSTEL's music paraphrases a lot of maelstrom into sequencing, sound foreboding or atmospheric uptempos, bringing a space of artificial music in touch with vivant leads. Sequences seem always made having in mind a combination of high register splashes and much deeper bass rumblings; plus, since the 80s, however early or quick-phasing, put the sequencing in a synch, TROSTEL's efforts are talented and interesting. Whether it is particularly impressive, very strident or of sonic confidence, the new generation, promoted around these times, gets congratulated by the presence of this artist.

(Some notes from this paragraph are adapted from random reviews)

:::Victor "Philip" Parau (Ricochet):::

Why this artist must be listed in www.progarchives.com :
late classic mode proficient electronic artist

Discography:
Inselmusik, Studio Album (1980)
Two Faces, Studio Album (1981)
Der Prophet, Studio Album (1982)
The Narrow Gate To Life, Studio Album (1983)
Recall Level, re-collection Compilation (1998)
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ROLF TROSTEL discography

Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

ROLF TROSTEL top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.08 | 7 ratings

Inselmusik
1981

2.91 | 4 ratings

Two Faces
1982

3.20 | 5 ratings

Der Prophet
1982

ROLF TROSTEL Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 2 ratings

Narrow Gate To Life
1983

ROLF TROSTEL Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

ROLF TROSTEL Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.50 | 2 ratings

Recall Level
1998

ROLF TROSTEL Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

ROLF TROSTEL Reviews

Showing last 10 reviews only

Studio Album, 1981
3.08 | 7 ratings
BUY

Inselmusik
Rolf Trostel Progressive Electronic

Review by admireArt
Prog Reviewer

Good half ways!

One of the most missed Progressive Electronic artist, which is doing time in another PA sub-genre, not this one, is Jean Michel Jarre. Like it or not he was an impressive turning point in this electronic world. His 1976 "OXYGENE" alone, changed the focus of 1000's of electronic prog musicians, which found no way to escape the consolidated GODS of this style, in those days.(Well, even those Gods themselves listened!)

Rolf Trostel, as many others, found shelter in the more accesible, easy to the ear music, Jarre proposed. Artistic but "catchy" (,but not simplistic). Problem being, that by 1980, INSELMUSIK's year of release, J.M. Jarre had also turned out to be another consolidated, but mainly mainstream, electronic "God". His musical idiom became a world wide known language, like it or not, that is the way things turned out!

INSELMUSIK, is attractive but overly sweet. Even a good melodic line can be spoiled if you abuse it. Composition wise, if not entirely original, is as told, more or less enjoyable. The best parts had the fortune of escaping the obstructive, up your throat and outdated drum box "drumming", which affects, half of this work charms.

Electronic music, a bit to close to the 1000s of after 1976, JM Jarre's "mainstream" copy-kats.

Accordingly, average good!

***3 almost, PA stars.

Studio Album, 1982
2.91 | 4 ratings
BUY

Two Faces
Rolf Trostel Progressive Electronic

Review by philippe
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

As always in Rolf Trostel's musical production, "two faces" is a vast collection of "relaxing", "introspective" electronic pieces, written in a rather accessible genre with subtle prog-ish moments. Musically speaking it features a lot of keyboards epic sequences and building arpeggiations in the genre of Tangerine Dream("stratosfear", late Virgin years). The introductive composition is a sweet, charming and accessible electronic essay lead by "fragile" meditative minimal melodies. "It was war in Europe" features melodic pop synth lines, including a distinctive but discreet electronic beat, always composed within a certain "nostalgic" theme. After 3 minutes the composition turns to something very "cheesy" and almost grotesque, with "vulgar" synth melodies and horrible sounds covered by electronic arpeggios. It finishes with a pseudo-romantic synth theme with little piano imitation notes and massive synth chords. A certain "aura" of mystery is floating upon the composition. "Boa" looks like modern Klaus Schulze ("mediterranean pads"), boring and floating with electronic percussions and linear synth sounds. Well made but nothing transcendent concerning innovation and musical sensations. This one can ravish fans of Tangerine Dream at their more mainstream moments.

Thanks to Ricochet for the artist addition. and to NotAProghead for the last updates