DESCRIPTION:
A better location is actually not to think for a concert during a beautiful, warm summer evening: the ruins of Brederode Castle Santpoort-Zuid. Friday found here, the third edition of Chill at the Castle instead. This time the program was focused on electronic music: Free Arts Lab, and Wolfram Spyra Remy Stroomer.

In this idyllic location Free Arts Lab, started a collective formed by Remy Stroomer (keyboards / synthesizers), Martijn Scholte (guitar / bowed guitar) and Jeroen Hagen (drums / percussion) at eight with their performance. It soon became clear that there was something wrong technically: problems with the enhancement of the electronic drum kit. As a result, the set did not really get going until late and got you as an audience feel that the band came in a bit. Sin!

Building on the classic style of the Berlin School, mined by musicians such as Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze, bandleader Remy Stroomer has developed his own style over the years. You'll hear the influences of his heroes, but his inspiration is evident also from many different angles. The performance began quite classic but innovative sequences and the addition of the (bowed) guitar and drums eventually led to a modern set.

In 1999 Remy's first album Exhibition of Dreams, and now the 35-year-old fourteen years of success in the electronic music scene, he has 13 albums by name. He organizes many within the electronic music scene and even has a label (Deserted Island Music) which he founded releases work by himself and other artists.

During the musical performances in the ruins a falconer let his birds, two owls and a falcon flying. A nice addition to the castle atmosphere, though it did not go quite right, because the birds could hear the music signals from the falconer not and occasionally on the ground somewhere, ended up among the public. Eventually there was also chosen to exhibit the birds. Their arts during the short breaks between performances

By now it was dark and it took along with the smoke machine on stage for even more atmosphere inside the ruins. Subtle but visible light effects formed the background of the concert and made for an eerie effect.

Wolfram Spyra (1964) is a large well-known in the world of classical electronic music. The beloved German musician is a welcome guest at music events across Europe and that is not surprising, given the success of his albums (14 total). Later this year, his 15th album, Staub, although there is some delay in the release is increased by problems with the artwork. On his new album Spyra drill a new genre, what he calls "post-electronic. He then examines the analog synthesis and alienation and complexity.

His work is quite diverse. Spyra trying to stay in everything he does. Increasingly innovative He has written music for films, television programs, theater, dance and other art forms, and it covers different genres of electronic music, which he sometimes called 'classical' forms, then jazz, or modern corner of the genre chooses.

The full implementation of the new album was a journey through the history of electronic music, a tribute to the old masters, as it were. The set has been entirely played live on analog synthesizers, without the use of pre-recorded layers. A tour de force that Spyra has fully mastered. We heard the style of the old Tangerine Dream and the spheres of "a band from Dusseldorf", or Kraftwerk. It was for the less experienced listener quite a challenge when the minimalists had their turn. It remained at number one, and what followed was, though still complex, a little easier on the ears. The final number was a real Spyra track, with subtle rhythms, singing melodies; all with a unique collection of sounds developed by Spyra itself. For him no preset sounds.

To conclude this relaxing evening at the castle stood Remy Stroomer and Wolfram Spyra again on the 'stage' and they brought an improvised adaptation of Planet of the Arps, Remy, played back four years ago, Remy to 'der Spyra "asked if he would like to drop.'s musical eye and ear on his piece The result was finally over and listen to the audience was not disappointed.

The two men were assisted by the electric (musical) partner Wolfram, Roksana Vikaluk, a Ukrainian who since childhood has lived in Poland and has built up as a singer. Musical career there Her voice was a valuable addition to the electronic layers of the two men and the vocals were reminiscent of those of Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance.

Although it was they failed to advance to practice together, so really the piece was played, all completely improvised seemed to listeners as if they had played many times. Together
It was a successful electronic Chill at the Castle where all attendees and organizers undoubtedly will remember with pleasure.

Tekst by Nausikaä Blaauw on June 29, 2014