Gunter Schickert (& related) ~ Germany

Eiszeit (1978 / 2005)

My first notes from 2006:

"Even though the liner notes state that Eiszeit was a completed album that never was released during its day, it seems more like outtakes and random studio recordings (noting sound quality and style differences). The best tracks are the ones you would expect to involve Schickert, the echo guitar rave-ups with great soloing. But there are other songs covering industrial, rock, ambient, and even a strange vocal number. Catching an early Ash Ra Tempel vibe on two of the cuts as well. My favorite is the eight minute 'Ich Bin Ein Teil' which closes the album in monster fashion."

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In hearing this release again last night (for the first time since), it becomes apparent that while the album is most certainly inconsistent, it does feature a few super tracks, notably 2, 6, and the aforementioned closer 7. The album gets lost a bit in the middle, but it does demonstrate an uninhibited creativity that is a hallmark of the Krautrock genre. Speaking of said scene, this is a superb example of a group of like-minded individuals successfully creating the vibe long after Germany's underground had moved onto other realms. +1 overall.

Ownership: 2005 Cosmic Egg (2005). Historical liner notes. 

2006 (first listen / review); 10/31/23 (update)

GAM (1976 / 1986)

GAM was the group that guitarist Gunter Schickert formed after his landmark Samtvogel album from 1974. Joining him here is Axel Struck on guitars and Michael Leske on drums. The first letters of their names make up the acronym. Though the group was active throughout the late 70s, they never formally released anything in their day. It wasn't until 1986 when the budding UK research team of Alan and Steve Freeman befriended Mr. Schickert, when it was discovered that some archival tapes existed, and were worthy of release on cassette.

In effect, GAM 1976 is a rehearsal jam session, and the music is somewhat like a full band effort of Schickert's solo work. The additional guitar adds a unique call and response component, and drums are always welcome for this type of music. 'Apricot Brandy' is an extended but familiar take on Samtvogel's opening track. 'GAM Jam' is the highlight here with a killer sequence that closes off the final 3rd of the track. Clearly a fully developed composition could have emerged from this riff.

The downside of course is the rough recording quality and the lack of focus. Both of which can be forgiven since that wasn't the initial purpose. So a point-in-time Krautrock jam, that sounds a few years earlier than 1976.

Former ownership: 1986 Auricle (MC)

1990 (first listen); 2/22/19 (review)

Somnabul (1980-1994)

Obscure and uneven archival recordings from Gunter Schickert circa 1980 to 1994. On the plus side, it's worth the price of admission just to hear 'Arabische Nächte', which is Schickert at his absolute best, with fast paced sound on sound guitar, and molten psychedelic soloing layered on top. And the Middle Eastern theme gives off a big whiff of early Agitation Free (and would you believe Michael Gunther himself was involved on this project?). Also of note are the 'Dig It' segues which propel the album forward in an exciting way. Other notables are the extended version of 'In der Zeit 1' from Uberfallig, the haunting Voice of Eye styled studio manipulation of 'Sirenen', and the muddled psychedelic title track. On the down side is the brooding electronik 'Töchter der Neere' which isn't Schickert's forte at all. Also 'Monkeys' sounds like a GAM reject, whereas 'Now' is pretty dull to be honest.

Manuel Gottsching is credited with remastering. If only Achim Reichel could have been involved, then we would have had all the pioneering German sound-on-sound electric guitarists in the same room!

Ownership: 1995 Musique Intemporelle (CD). Part of the "Rainbow Collection" that also featured an archival Agitation Free album. One of the series' trademarks was the addition of a "multimedia" track at the beginning of the disc (this is what they mean by CD ROM on the cover - it is a factory pressed CD), which comes across as loud static if you don't remember to start with track 2. There are no liner notes to speak of, so the origin of these songs is hard to determine.

1995 (first listen); 9/27/15 (review)

Kinder in der Wildnis (1983)

Gunter Schickert's Kinder in der Wildnis was itself an archival release compiled between 1981 and 1983 and released on the obscure York House Tapes due to a recommendation from the Freeman Brothers (Ultima Thule / Audion). As such, the music has a variety of styles, but all based on the patented cosmic sound-on-sound guitar style that Schickert had been performing since his Samtvogel album. There's a bit more of a rock element here, with nods to the NDW sound that was dominating the German underground at the time. The rockier sound also points to his days with the GAM ensemble he had formed in the mid 70s. As usual, there are all kinds of echoed vocals, from various sources. These augment the non-stop psychedelic guitar patterns, for a truly hypnotic experience. One of Germany's most innovative artists - quite a compliment considering the fertile scene from which he came from. The CD offers two very good and relevant bonus tracks.

Ownership: 2013 Bureau B (CD). Liner notes and bonus tracks.

12/19/13 (review)

The Schulze-Schickert Session (1975)

Two legends of 1970s electronic music came together for one "living room" session, and produced the 45 minute+ piece presented here - an album that was oft-bootlegged until the Mirumir label of Russia finally settled the score in a legal manner. For those doubters that remain, the reissue received the blessing of Klaus Schulze on his own website. And the CD features unique liners from long time biographer Klaus Muller. And while the music is not exactly Timewind meets Samtvogel, the characteristics of their individual styles remain intact. Schickert is primarily on acoustic guitar, with nylon strings it appears - played in his trademark sound-on-sound style. Klaus has his usual field day with his sequencers and synthesizer solos. And so it goes for 45 minutes, a pleasant excursion into the minds of two of Berlin's finest e-musik pioneers.

While I'm not 100% certain of this (the liners do not clarify), but it seems to me the final two pieces are Schulze solo works tacked onto the end to fill the CD - perhaps from the same time frame, sans Schickert.

Ownership: 2013 Mirumir (CD)

6/22/13 (review)

 

Samtvogel (1974)

Gunter Schickert was one of the pioneers of the sound-on-sound guitar based electronik musik movement along with Achim Reichel (AR & Machines) and Manuel Gottsching (Ash Ra Tempel). An intense, burning, cyclical pounding of the senses, as Schickert tries to resolve the angst of the Cold War Berlin world he lives and breathes. A psychotic aural vision that is so perfectly realized.

Ownership: 1976 Brain (LP); 2013 Important (CD) Digipak

1989 (first listen); 8/07/09 (review); 5/17/13 (update)

5/17/13 (new entry)