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Kontrasequenz - Zeitverschwendung (Hadshot)
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krelm
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
67
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648
Posted : May 19, 2004 16:23
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Kontrasequenz – Zeitverschwendung (Hadshot)
01. Happy Painting
02. Elastische Prognathie
03. Schrödinger’s Katze
04. Kinderköder
05. Backenschüttler
06. Protoplasmatisch
07. Zeitdilatation
08. Apfel-Z Live
09. Das Kleine Land am Anderen Ende der Welt
Kontrasequenz is always an artist that has been on the edge of my radar screen for years. Despite having a relatively small discography and the most tongue-twisting German names this side of M.O.S. (try saying “Binaler Otoplastikjumper” 3 times really fast), their music is always a very striking and unique mishmash of techno, progressive trance, and tech-house. Their first single in 2001 ended up in my record bag, but I could never figure out how to fit it into a set. I liked the groove of it, but the techno influence was difficult for me to work with at the time.
Now, 3 years later, Hadshot finally gives us a full album to sink our teeth into. Fortunately, my tastes have evolved to include more of the techno sound (that’s what living in Germany for 2 years can do to any respectable DJ  ), so it’s perfect timing for me. First a warning – this album is *very* techno-oriented. It lies somewhere between German tech and tech-house, but with a enough of an influence of driving progressive trance to keep a psy-floor happy. 
01. Happy Painting
This is the lone slow-groover of the album. The percussion is almost reminiscent of tribal masters Chris Cargo or Piliavin & Zimbardo. Slowly modulated rhythms and effects give a very hypnotic effect to the track. While there is no huge peak or major drive to the song, it is a wonderful warm-up or after-hours track to get (or keep) the heads bobbing and butts shaking.
02. Elastische Prognathie
The quirky techno/tech-house influence is more evident here. While somewhat uneventful for a straight-through listen, this one would be great to use in the mix to add a peak to a tekky set.
03. Schrödinger’s Katze
This is somewhat reminiscent of minimal German psy-tek – quite tweaky on the high-end with a very plodding bassline. Not my cup o’ tea.
04. Kinderköder
Lying somewhere between heavy tech-house and trippy progressive techno, Kinderöder is one of the high points of the album. It is fairly simple and minimal in structure, but all elements come together to create a nice dirty groove. Once again, it is definitely a track that a DJ will want to mix heavily, but at the right point in the later hours of the party, this will definitely fuck with the crowd’s head.
05. Backenschüttler
Creating a wonderful atmosphere with the perfect combination of the basic flavors (trance, techno, progressive), this track is easily the best on the album. A heavy driving bassline, sharp synth stabs and ethereal atmospheres merge to form a sheer dancefloor masterpiece. It’s amazingly simple – a relatively few layers are modulated and manipulated to perfection along with a flawless structure – but one never gets the feeling that something is lacking. While long (11+ minutes) and fast (144 bpm), it never gets boring or tiring. This is a total gem almost worth the price of the album alone. I’ll be playing this one for months.
06. Protoplasmatisch
Originally on the teaser 12” released in February, “Protoplasmatisch” is the most techno-ish piece on the album. The trademark heavy bassline is here with slight house influences, but make no mistake about it – this is techno.
07. Zeitdilatation
This track is meant for peak-time dancefloor action. Wasting no time for an intro, “Zeitdilatation” gets right down to business with a pumping bassline, frantic synth work and funky percussion. Pitched down quite a bit, this would rock a progressive floor.
08. Apfel-Z Live
Even though this starts of promising with a fantastic percussive opening, it quickly changes gears into rather abrasive techno. While there are nice ideas in the track, it’s just too tweaky and frantic for my tastes. I would love to hear a version of this track where the opening percussive groove is explored more without slamming your balls to the wall for the next 7 minutes.
09. Das Kleine Land am Anderen Ende der Welt
11-minute story spoken in German – kind of weird to hear on a CD like this, but it could be freaky to work into a downtempo or ambient set.
The bottom line:
Solid debut album from Kontrasequenz. While a couple tracks become a bit too tweaky and quirky for my tastes, and some of the fast bpms have me running for the pitch control, the high points in this album are more than worth the money. “Backenschüttler” is one of my favorite tracks of 2004 so far. With the exception of the groovy opener, this is excellent peak time progressive floor material that would cross over well into a more progressive techno set. The title “Zeitverschwendung” translates to “Waste of time”, but don’t let the name fool you – this album is definitely worth the time and money.
7/10
Favorite tracks: 1, 4, 5(!!!!), 7
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Dr. Krelm DJ Mixes and Broken Symmetry archives - http://www.krelmatrix.com
Broken Symmetry on MCast - coming in 2007.... |
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aje
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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1145
Posted : May 19, 2004 23:59
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Big up to Krelm for finally reviewing this one, i was too lazy to write a full review, but now i'll add my "senf".
While i totally agree that there are some tracks that are not quite my taste, i think 7/10 is to low.
The reason being that if tracks 4 and 5 would have been released as a single, it would have been the 12" of the year if not the last two years. Track 4 is the undidputed king of my current top ten, and track 5 is not far off (it reminds me of paranoid dancer by Johannes Heil in a weird way).
Track 4 also contains one of the most brilliant samples Ive ever heard.
To quote: "Irgendwann einmal wird ein grosses weisses strahlendes Raumschiff landen, und diese fremden hochgewachsenen Wesen werden Pillen an Bord haben. Stell dir vor mein Sohn, wunderbare kleine Pillen gegen die Traurigkeit..." (Translation: "At some point in the future a big white brilliant Starship will land on earth, and these strange tall creatures will have pills aboard. Just imagine my son, wonderful little pills against sadness...") Anyway, it sounds a lot cooler in german, because its the same kinda voice that tells fairytales to german kids on audiotapes. The way the beat kicks after the break is pure genious, too. Thats why i like electronic music, pills against sadness and a big bad-ass stomping beat
Anyhow, track 1 is great as well and the story on the last track is fucking sick and twisted. THe rest of the tracks are well produced and all that, but i wouldnt listen to them as much. To conclude, i think these guys would be a lot of fun to hang out with, and their music rocks, too.
Check out my album: http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/gay-satanic-hippie-tiefenrausch |
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Jingabé
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
18
Posts :
387
Posted : May 20, 2004 11:54
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This album was my first contact with Kontrasequenz. I knew they had released some tracks, but never really bored to check them out.
Well, I too got totally hooked to their sound. Although there a few tracks that are a bit too much for me, I think the whole album is a real gem. Highlights for me are #1 Happy Painting #2 Elastische Prognathie #3 Schrödinger's Katze #8 Apfel-Z Live and the real masterpiece of this album #5 Protoplasmatisch.
Not for the regular psytrance listener. Try this if you're not afraid of exploring different paths in the electronic music dimension... |
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Te_nTe
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
29
Posts :
444
Posted : May 20, 2004 18:21
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whoo - one of the best releases in tech house scene - really a hit this album.
almost all tracks have own unique idea - great release.
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krelm
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
67
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Posted : May 31, 2004 12:44
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Quote:
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On 2004-05-19 23:59, aje wrote:
While i totally agree that there are some tracks that are not quite my taste, i think 7/10 is to low.
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I think the main reason I only gave it a 7 was that there was no flow as an album and aside from the first track (and the weird ending), it is pretty much the same the whole way through. I like an album on CD to be a bit more diverse - otherwise why not just do a string of 12" releases?
That being said, there are definitely enough outstanding tracks on this one to be worth the buy. It just ends up being more of a DJ tool than something that additionally finds much time in my discman. Contrast to the Vision & Canedy album which gets a 9 in my book and is currently splitting headphone time with the Kooler album.
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Dr. Krelm DJ Mixes and Broken Symmetry archives - http://www.krelmatrix.com
Broken Symmetry on MCast - coming in 2007.... |
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The Journey Man Project
Inactive User
Started Topics :
128
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931
Posted : Jun 18, 2004 10:44
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This album is a great set of funky deep tech-house and triabl tracks... this is not progresive trance, I"d actually slip this on the very point of not really beloning in the trance scene, but it still rocks... yes as an album it doesn't really have a story or flow, but I can tell you now, all the tracks mix in with most of the recent progressive releases quite well, and these tracks, all of them, have been tried and tested an will get evn thos who are not big trance fans up and shaking their butts... and absolute must for those who like a bit of groov in their music, but not overdoing it with extra cheese, deep and meaningful, and excellent sample use (tho I don't always understand the German hehe!) |
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hip
Shuma
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
404
Posted : Jun 18, 2004 23:22
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GREAT ALBUM!
I was waiting for this since their single from 2001 I think. Great style, great music. massive respect.
after not so great last year for hadshot, in 2004 they are coming phatt!
Kontrasequenz, Vision & Canedy, Chosen #1 and #2...
For now, its the best label of the year
keep it up yaniv!
my verdict for this one is:
9/10 |
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clown
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
97
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1777
Posted : Jun 20, 2004 04:29
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Basilisk
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
168
Posts :
2984
Posted : Sep 29, 2004 20:14
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I agree that track 5 is a nice usage of very basic elements to good effect... the rest, well, only if it suits your taste. Turns out I didn't enjoy stuff this far over the crossover gap between progressive trance and techno (or whatever you want to call it). Not enough activity or depth for my ears, but there is some static quality here for those who are into the sound... reviews above describe it well.
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breno.cps
Started Topics :
8
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148
Posted : Sep 30, 2004 02:12
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fuc*in great! awesome stuff! one of the best of the year (for sure) ...
9/10 (just because..) |
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furthur
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
45
Posts :
1383
Posted : Dec 15, 2004 08:07
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Just keeps getting better and better with every listen.
Load Universe into Cannon. Aim at Brain. Fire.
www.ganesha.ca |
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