Drone Records

RIECHMANN - Wunderbar

Format: LP

Label & Cat.Number: Bureau B BB027

Release Year: 2009

Note: re-issue of the only solo-album (1978) of this early electronic music artist from Duesseldorf who worked with NEU & KRAFTWERK-members; he was killed on the streets three weeks before the album appeared

Price (incl. 19% VAT): €16.50

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"Hypnotisch und sphärisch: das einzige Soloalbum des Düsseldorfer Elektronikers:
Die Musikerlaufbahn von Wolfgang Riechmann (1947-1978) begann in den 60er-Jahren. Unter anderem arbeitete der Sozialarbeiter schon 1967 mit Michael Rother (Neu!) und Wolfgang Flühr (Kraftwerk) in der Schülerband Spirits Of Sound und später in der Düsseldorfer Amateurband Phön-x. Mit der Gruppe Streetmark veröffentlichte er zwei Alben: "Nordland" (1976) und "Eileen" (1977). Im November 1977 begann er, sein erstes und leider auch einziges Soloalbum aufzunehmen. "Wunderbar" enthält Elemente der Berliner (Tangerine Dream) und der Düsseldorfer Schule (Kraftwerk, La Düsseldorf, Neu!), erinnert stellenweise (Titelstück) aber auch an Pink Floyd. Trotz der Einflüsse kreiert der Multiinstrumentalist seine eigenen hypnotischen und sphärischen Qualitäten. Wolfgang Riechmann starb im August 1978, drei Wochen vor Erscheinen des Albums, nachdem ihn ein Betrunkener in Düsseldorfs Altstadt grundlos erstach. "Riechmann hat erkannt, dass die elektronische Musik eine spezifische Ästhetik hat. Er nahm ihr die Kälte, indem er einfühlsame Melodiebögen schuf", schrieb die "Rheinische Post" 1979." [label info]

www.bureau-b.com

"Cosmic-kraut lost masterpiece! We knew we would get your attention with that, and for good reason because this is a record that any fan of spaced out kosmiche needs to own. Released in 1978, Wunderbar was the only solo album by Wolfgang Riechmann, as he was
tragically murdered just a few weeks before this record originally came out.
Influenced by the sounds around him in Germany you can hear bits of Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Neu!, Kraftwerk, etc. The
record has a fluidity to it that just soars and flows with such a shimmering grace. Makes a lot of sense that he was in a band in the early '70s with Michael Rother (Neu!, Harmonia) and Wolfgang Flur (Kraftwerk) called Spirits Of Sound. Recorded over thirty years ago, you can definitely hear Wunderbar's possible influence in the music of folks like Lindstrom, Prins Thomas, Arp, Jonas Reinhardt, Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom, Growing, Emeralds, etc. Riechmann would have sounded right at home on the Pilooski curated Dirty Space Disco compilation we love so much, which connected the dots between the spaced out electronic sounds of '70s Germany and cosmic disco dancefloors. We wouldn't be surprised if Matmos was listening to this as inspiration before they made Supreme Balloon. Wunderbar is that rare kind of album that allows you to get lost in space while never losing its keen melodic sense, a sound that is fresh and alive, never stagnant or pointlessly self absorbed. Mind boggling to think how his music would have evolved over the years if his life wasn't ended so abruptly, but here's hoping that Wunderbar finally gets the
recognition and respect is so rightfully deserves!" [Aquarius Records]