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AMAZING SOUNDS
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No. 75
April 30, 1999
====================
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++++++++++ COMMERCIAL MESSAGE:

AT-MOOSS RECORDS AND AMAZING SOUNDS PRESENT SEVERAL PRODUCTIONS OF
SELECT ELECTRONIC MUSIC MADE WITH SYNTHESIZERS. THESE ARE
AVAILABLE THROUGH THESE MAILORDER SERVICES:

http://www.amazings.com/mailorder.html

http://www.arrakis.es/~at-mooss

====================

CONTENTS:

NEWS

THE ELECTRONIC MUSIC IN EASTERN EUROPE Chapter 3. This mini-series
is a brief approach to the electronic music and innovative /
alternative styles in Eastern Europe. In this chapter:
Kaliningrad, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

REVIEWS:
STEVEN CRAGG: "ENTERTRANCE" New World Music
ANTHONY BASKEY: "THE ELYSIUM PROJECT" Infinite Creations
CENDRAIRES: "CENDRAIRES" Sonifolk
JON JENKINS AND PAUL LACKEY: "CONTINUUM" Spotted Peccary Music
MEDWYN GOODHALL: "MEDICINE WOMAN II, THE GIFT" New World Music
DWELLER AT THE THRESHOLD: "GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, ILLUMINATION"
Eurock

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NEWS

NEW RELEASES / RE-RELEASES / DISTRIBUTIONS
(For more information and sound clips, use the links)

Various artists: "Hamdulillah"

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000DC6U/thesciencebookboA/

Cyril Pahinui and Bob Brozman: "Four Hands Sweet & Hot"

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000GV5X/thesciencebookboA/

Paul Winter: "Celtic Solstice"

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000HZTL/thesciencebookboA/

Vidna Obmana: "Memories Compiled 1"

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000BDT/thesciencebookboA/

On June 6, synthesist Dom F. Scab and guitarist Albert Gimenez
(ex-Neuronium) will give a live performance in Abaixadors 10,
Barcelona, Spain.

The electronic music label AD Music now has an official fan club,
and June sees the first issue of Fanz-AD-FM, a colour magazine
which is being circulated free of charge to the fans who have
subscribed to it (First Year subscription is free of charge). It
is hoped to present 2 or 3 issues per year. It will focus on the
folowing artists: Code Indigo, Witchcraft. David Wright, Robert
Fox, Robert de Fresnes, Bekki Williams, Jan Hanford, Chris Harvey,
Raviv Gazit, Catalin Marin, Enterphase. AD Music itself is not the
originator of the magazine, it has been compiled by a collection
of fans in West Sussex, England. However, AD Music has agreed to
assist them in the presentation of a professional fan magazine.
The contact details are:
Artist Fan Club,
42 Horsham Road,
Littlehampton,
West Sussex,
BN17 6DA,
England.

====================

THE ELECTRONIC MUSIC IN EASTERN EUROPE
By: JORGE MUNNSHE
Chapter 3
----------------------------------------

It is impossible to attempt to compress the musical universe
enclosed behind the iron curtain by decades in a single mini-
series. A basic approach to the reality of the musical avantgarde
in each one of the multiple, rich cultures of this great unknown
which is Eastern Europe, nowadays in full development, would need
the making of a book. Therefore, this mini-series will only be a
brief vision, perforce incomplete, of this avantgarde style
sustained on cultures maybe as ancient or even more so than those
in the rest of Europe.


KALININGRAD
Sited between Lithuania and Poland, this state of the ex-USSR
is now part of the Russian Federation. Originally German, the
territory was annexed to the USSR at the end of World War II.
Nonetheless, its inhabitants come from everywhere, and therefore
the culture of this region is not exclusively German.
Andrei Kolomitsev is a musician who works on a regional
television channel making 3D computer animations, as well as the
music for some advertising spots. He signs his music as Stirlitz,
and uses a computer and synthesizers. One of these he has used in
his musical productions is an old analog of a Russian make called
Polyvox with two voice poliphony. The style of Stirlitz shows a
meaningful fusion of the Russian and German cultures, including as
well occasional voices in Russian and German. With the arrival of
democracy, he succeeded in contacting some foreign journalists,
and thus he made his excellent music available to us. Nowadays,
his problem is the same as that of all Western artists: he must
compete against the fierce commercialism of consumer music
produced in the bosom of the strongest labels, which often
smothers the most original manifestations of independent labels.

KAZAKHSTAN
The original ideas by Vadim Ganza, unavoidably disconnected
from almost any influence alien to his country, have led him to
developing his own peculiar style. Thanks to his knowledge as an
electronics technician, he succeeded in building his own recording
studio piece by piece, including the multitrack. He composed music
for years, without finding any channels to make his music known.
With the dissolution of the USSR, he managed at long last to get
enough freedom of movement to settle in the United States.

UKRAINE
Yuri Buchma is a well known synthesist supported by the
Ukrainian Radio, whose released music is described as very
innovative, both at an artistic and at a technical level. However,
some musicians from other states do not share this opinion, and
think that he has benefited from the Ukrainian official spheres.

ESTONIA
Arvo Part was born in Estonia in 1935, received a classical
musical education at the Conservatory in Tallin, and began his
career as a composer in the late 1950s. In 1980 he left the USSR
and obtained the Austrian nationality, later settling in Western
Berlin. He has written numerous scores of a classical style with
innovative elements, as well as movie soundtracks. He has been
given numerous prizes and awards.
The style by Lepo Sumera is oriented towards dodecaphonism and
minimalism, together with other avantgarde elements. To his
musical activity, his task as a producer for Radio Estonia must be
added, as well as his four years as a Secretary of the State For
Culture in Estonia.
After having received his musical education in the orthodoxy
of the Conservatory, Erkki Sven Tüür led the rock band In Spe
between 1979 and 1983, contributing his avantgarde vision to their
music. After that, he devoted himself to a greater experimental
work in his solo compositions.
Peeter Vähi gathers in his style the apparent contradiction of
fusioning corrents from disparate eras. In his case, baroque
classical music, Eastern music and electronic music are combined
to create meditative pieces, with a strong mystic trait,
classifiable within the esoteric trends of New Age music. Vähi,
who is a member of the Buddhist Community in Estonia, shows in the
titles of his works the spirituality he conceives his music with:
"1990 Years after the Birth of Christ", for instance.

LITHUANIA
The Lithuanian band Argo cultivates a remarkable kind of
music, in which they combine elements of the rock of the 1970s
with other futuristic and cosmic elements, as well as other
influences.
Kupriavichus also deserves special attention.

LATVIA
Ingus Bauskenieks has been making electronic music since the
early 1980s. His style is more or less of a Western nature,
related to Cosmic Music as well as certain areas near to Pop.
More difficult to assimilate is that of the band NSRD, which
is defined as a post-modernist one and which incorporates elements
of the culture on his geographical surroundings.
The band Zodiak also turns out to be interesting.

====================

CDs by IURY LECH AVAILABLE IN AMAZING SOUNDS MAILORDER SERVICE

In Amazing Sounds we receive many messages from our readers asking
us about how to purchase some of the CDs reviewed in our magazine.
We have created a mailorder service in order to improve the
distribution of some of these records wanted by our readers. Our
readers can now mail order some of these CDs reviewed on the
Amazing Sounds pages.

IURY LECH
Iury Lech is a composer, movie maker and writer. He usually joins
all these aspects in his artistic works. Born in 1958 in an
immigrant family from Ukraine, he began his artistic career by the
mid 1970s. By the late '80s he began to release his albums.

You can find more information in Amazing Sounds online version
(article-interview), at:

http://www.amazings.com/articles/article0031.html

"A BITE IN THE COMMON SENSE"
This album of thirteen pieces of varied styles, some of them very
innovative, independent from the most usual frameworks in
electronic music. Rhythm has a pervasive presence, be it in itself
as such or supporting the melody on its own. Quite passages turn
out to be cosmic. A certain symphonic classicism can be perceived
throughout most of the work.

"SERIAL CASTRATI"
The music contained in this album has a very personal, innovative
style. Some of the pieces possess a certain cosmic character,
others approach minimalism, but no known label could be applied to
it. Perhaps a new definition should be coined: "Computer ethnic
music". The most avantgarde pieces are like urban folk music of
the future.

"ASPERSIONS BY INSTINCT"
This album is a provocative shaped double CD where the
synthesizers and percussion have a basic role. The music goes
beyond the conventional, surpassing even the frontiers of many
styles (Ambient, Trance, Dark, Psychedelic, Space) that already
are avantgarde by themselves. On the whole, the work is like a
collection of dreams or nightmares turned into music.

PRICES:
A BITE IN THE COMMON SENSE $15.55 or 13.13 euros or 2100 pesetas.
SERIAL CASTRATI $15.55 or 13.13 euros or 2100 pesetas.
ASPERSIONS BY INSTINCT (2CD) $19.25 or 16.25 euros or 2600
pesetas.

OTHER AVAILABLE RELEASES:

JOSEPH LOIBANT:
SINE $16.30 or 13.75 euros or 2200 pesetas.

PLASTHA´S MOUNTAGE:
PROTOPLASTHA´S $15.55 or 13.13 euros or 2100 pesetas.

AT-MOOSS:
MORPHING SYNTHESIZERS 1 $15.55 or 13.13 euros or 2100 pesetas.
MORPHING SYNTHESIZERS 2 $15.55 or 13.13 euros or 2100 pesetas.
MORPHING SYNTHESIZERS 3 $15.55 or 13.13 euros or 2100 pesetas.

DOM F. SCAB:
INNERSEED $15.55 or 13.13 euros or 2100 pesetas.

ALBERT GIMENEZ:
MOSDUM $15.55 or 13.13 euros or 2100 pesetas.
ZIV $15.55 or 13.13 euros or 2100 pesetas.

LUIS ALBERTO NARANJO:
HUMAN FEELINGS (CDR) $12.96 or 10.93 euros or 1750 pesetas.
BLUE LIFE (CDR) $12.96 or 10.93 euros or 1750 pesetas.

ORDERS:
sales@...

EUROPE:
Postage Costs:
1 CD: 4.75 euros or $5.63 or 760 pesetas
2 or 3 CDs: 6.97 euros or $8.26 or 1115 pesetas
4 or 5 or 6 CDs: 10.09 euros or $11.96 or 1615 pesetas
3 weeks for delivery

AMERICA:
Postage Costs:
1 CD: $7.93 or 6.69 euros or 1070 pesetas
2 or 3 CDs: $12.37 or 10.44 euros or 1670 pesetas
4 or 5 or 6 CDs: $22.22 or 18.75 euros or 3000 pesetas
4 weeks for delivery

Orders are shipped upon Receipt of Payment. Orders are shipped
as recommended letters to make the shipping as secure as possible.
For orders under $50.00, we prefer you to send the money on
cash in letter (because of the fact that the bank charges in our
country are quite high). However, if you prefer to send us a
check, you may do it (adding $10.00 for bank charges).
If you send us a check in our currency (pesetas or euros), you
don't need to pay us that extra charge. Pay 135 pesetas in place
of every dollar, or 0.84 euros in place of every dollar.
For payments in other currency, ask for an estimate.
Make check payable to Mr. Jorge Munje.
The postal address is:
Jorge Munje
Amazing Sounds (C/O Manuel Montes)
P.O. Box 764
08220 Tarrasa, Barcelona
SPAIN

====================
REVIEWS:

STEVEN CRAGG:
"ENTERTRANCE"
New World Music
In this last work by S. Cragg, the dominant note is no doubt
eclecticism, with the result that the uses of different rhythms
are rematkable indeed, from the most tribal ones to the
sophisticated drum'n'bass, to salsa. All these, intertwined with a
great variety of sampled voices, as a general rule of a primitive
kind, as well as a wide range of electronic textures that
contribute to enhance the entire creation.
LAURA S. GARCIA

You can find more information about New World label here:

http://www.newworldmusic.com

ANTHONY BASKEY:
"THE ELYSIUM PROJECT"
Infinite Creations
The Elysium Project is the debut CD of Anthony Baskey and his
company, Infinite Creations. A graduate of Humber College and York
University, Baskey has a very peculiar style. His project is not
jazz but has clear jazz influences. The music has a profound
melodic content which carry us through a variety of tempos and
emotions. The author uses percussion, acoustic and electronic
instruments. The Elysium Project is in fact the first of seven
projects, each represented by a colour from the light spectrum.
This CD is devoted to the colour purple. It contains 11 tracks.
MANUEL MONTES

CENDRAIRES:
"CENDRAIRES"
Sonifolk
Cendraires is the first work by this new group from Valencia,
Spain. They are Nestor Mont, Mara Arnada, Joansa Maravilla, Gonçal
Palop and Didier Ferrand, but other musicians have also
contributed to the CD: Albert Gonzalez, Paco Bernal, Efren Lopez,
Jaume Gosalbes, Raul Nacher, David Mezquita, Lluis Osca, Lucas
Ibañez and Amparo Llatzer. The melodies are ravishingly beautiful,
a good mix of popular music, folk, blues and classical music. The
CD contains 12 themes and also includes the lyrics, both in
Spanish and Valencian.
MANUEL MONTES

JON JENKINS AND PAUL LACKEY:
"CONTINUUM"
Spotted Peccary Music
Jon Jenkins proves one more time that he is one of the
unquestionable electronic musicians of our decade. The magician
(here with Paul Lackey) shows all his abilities with keyboards.
Continuum offers us great textures (listen to the incredibly
atmospheric first theme), ambient soundscapes and powerful
percussion. A real feast for lovers of modern electronic music.
The album, with 11 themes, has been composed by Jenkins and
Lackey. Howard Givens and Teeto Cheema also have contributed with
guitars, flute and additional keyboards.
MANUEL MONTES

Do you wish to purchase this recording? It's very easy, use this
link:

http://cdu2.cduniverse.com/asp/albuminfo.asp?lc=23843+401&frm=lk_amazings

MEDWYN GOODHALL:
"MEDICINE WOMAN II, THE GIFT"
New World Music
Medwyn Goodhall, within the label New World Music, offers us a
work that basically can be divided into two parts: a first one, up
to the third theme, based on Andean sounds, thus contributing the
characteristic bamboo flutes even more to the approximation to the
South American continent: all this, intertwined with more or less
dominant, powerful percussions, according to each case, as well as
Spanish guitar touches, electronic "mattresses" and processed
voices in the purest Enya style, which become the protagonists of
the second block in the album. This second part, even if it
continues echoing ethnic airs, does not do so as clearly as the
previous one, perhaps due to the universal value of the guitar and
the electronic pads accompanying it.
LAURA S. GARCIA

If you wish to purchase this recording, you only have to use this
link:

http://cdu2.cduniverse.com/asp/albuminfo.asp?lc=67715+463&frm=lk_amazings

MEDWYN GOODALL
Composer and multiinstrumentist Medwyn Goodall began his musical
activity between Pop and Rock, recording his first album in this
style with a band. He also produced Pop and Folk bands in his
recording studio. Last but not least, he concentrated on his task
as a composer and the terrain he chose was that of New Age.
Essential recordings:
EMERGENCE
KINDRED SPIRITS
ANGEL SLEEP
IN THE STILLNESS OF A MOMENT
GIFTS OF COMFORT AND JOY
DRUID
MERLIN
EXCALIBUR
EARTH HEALER
WAY OF THE DOLPHIN
MEDICINE WOMAN
GREAT SPIRIT
KINGDOM OF THE SUN GOD
EAGLE SPIRIT
SIESTA
MOON GODDESS
INNOCENCE
PARADISE MOON
WHERE ANGELS TREAD
PAGAN SOUL
GUARDIAN SPIRIT
WHEN ANGELS TREAD
GRAIL QUEST
NAZCA, LAND OF THE INCAS
PRIESTESS RETURN TO ATLANTIS
GIFT OF EXCALIBUR
FAIR QUEEN GUINEVERE
THE WAY OF THE OCEAN
CLAN, A CELTIC JOURNEY
CHRISTMAS TAPESTRY
MEDICINE WOMAN II, THE GIFT

If you wish to purchase any recordings by this artist you only
have to use this link:

http://cdu2.cduniverse.com/asp/exactartist.asp?search=Goodall%2C+Medwyn&frm=
lk_amazings

You can find more information about New World label here:

http://www.newworldmusic.com

DWELLER AT THE THRESHOLD:
"GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, ILLUMINATION"
Eurock
This is the second CD by DAT. It has been two years in the making
but the results couldn’t be better. Eurock, the record label, call
this “progressive electronica”, a good definition for this new
work. The CD have three main themes (Generation, Transmission, and
Illumination). Each one has several parts but the mood is very
similar: powerful electronic sequences, sonic landscapes and dark
passages. You can see the influences of the early Tangerine Dream,
but DAT has its own sound palette and personality. G-T-I is a
great step toward the maturity and is probably the best CD of
their small production.
VICTOR. ARENAS

Do you wish to purchase this recording? It's very easy, use this
link:

http://cdu2.cduniverse.com/asp/albuminfo.asp?lc=9880+2015&frm=lk_amazings

DWELLER AT THE THRESHOLD
Dweller At the Threshold grew out of Dave Fulton, Paul Ellis and
Jeff Vasey's fascination with the flexibility of electronic music
to create a cinematic experience in sound. They reject the
uniformity and ease of preset patches preferring to craft new
sounds for each composition. To them, the synthesizer is a
creative tool which offers a wide palette of contrasting textures
that can be animated by hands of manipulation.
Essential recordings:
NO BOUNDARY CONDITION
GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, ILLUMINATION

Do you wish to purchase any recordings by this band? It's very
easy, use this link:

http://cdu2.cduniverse.com/asp/exactartist.asp?search=Dweller+At+The+Thresho
ld&frm=lk_amazings

====================

We are preparing an international directory of record companies,
artists, festivals, radio shows, zines, webs, journalists,
associations, and other organizations & people working in the
field of electronic music, Ambient, New Instrumental,
Experimental, World Music, and so on. The inserts are free. The
persons or firms wishing to be included can send us a file of no
more than 600 words with the data they consider as being of
interest (contact addresses - snail mail, telephone number, fax,
email, URL... -) and an explanatory text on their activities in
English) to: amazings@...

We are also preparing an encyclopaedia of composers of electronic
music. The artists wishing to be included can send us a biography
(with a list of works and contact address if they wish to) of no
more than 900 words, in English, to amazings@.... Inserts
are free.

The persons or firms having a page in internet related in some way
to the alternative musics can communicate the URL, as well as a
brief description of its contents, to webmaster@..., and
we will set a link from our web to theirs (The insert of a link in
our web is free whenever it is corresponded with a similar link
from their web to our web)

====================

Our warmest greetings for our readers and until the next edition
of Amazing Sounds.

====================

For further information about this newsletter and back issues:

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You can access all the contents in Amazing Sounds from the first
articles to the hottest news in our web organized as a directory,
in HTML format, with photos, and with hundreds of links:

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Amazing Sounds is a professional electronic magazine free for the
readers. It is financed only by means of its sponsors. The firms
wishing to insert commercial advertisements in these pages can
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Recording companies, artists and other professionals of the
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team of journalists at:
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Our readers can send us their public comments to:
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total reproduction by any means, or their re-distribution without
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**********