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xabec | Seelenschiff
CD Hands
published in Orkus #7-8 2001
Against the expectations from many publications in the ambient region, the album "Seelenschiff" is no sole collection of etudes on industrial ambient collages and sound manipulations. With every single track on his first regular CD, mastermind Manuel Richter wants to express specific images or personal emotional states. In the booklet he explains in his own words motivation and topic of each piece, as well as the sound sources. Self-made instruments were used in the 8 pieces, next to classical instrument samples, nature sounds and, of course, a number of digital and analogue "noise, blubb and beep generators". The digital synthesis finally unites the variety of sound patterns to a throughout meditative picture, which rather reminds us on melodic-harmonic ambient structures à la Biosphere than on minimalistic noise art. Unlike many more extreme examples from the ambient camp, the "Seelenschiff" ("soulship") does not definitely sail against the stream.
- Alexander Maciol