Bernd Kistenmacher ~ Germany

Wake Up in the Sun (1987)

Given that Klaus Schulze has released something like 500 albums worth of material, one wouldn't think there's much of a demand for copycats. And Kistenmacher is just that, but I have a soft spot for his early works. I first discovered the electronic artist real time in the 80s while I was still "early in the game", and even though I was quite familiar with Schulze by then, it was nice to have new music in this genre. But this was before Schulze unleashed his massive archives. In any case, if you can't get enough of Timewind styled Berlin School music, one could do worse than Wake Up in the Sun. Kistenmacher proves he's quite adept. I'm keeping it.

Ownership: 1997 Green Tree (CD). The "bonus" track was taken from Head Visions, an album they reissued at the same time! What bonus? Makes one question why they even bothered to reissue this in the first place (there were already three CD pressings in print at the time).

1998 (acquired); 5/13/15; 4/9/20 (review)

Kaleidoscope (1989)

Old skool Berlin School music heavily influenced by Klaus Schulze circa Blackdance, with a good dose of Ashra's New Age of Earth added into the mix. Plenty of analog synthesizers, and some modern ones including electronic percussion, with a bit of acoustic guitar to offset the machines. 

---10/13/25

Wasn't sure where I pulled that Ashra reference from while hearing the very Schulzian 23 minute opener. Oh there it is - track 2. 30 minutes of pure beauty, clearly a tribute to Gottsching's most optimistic release. I just noticed the sun peeking through the curtains.

Ownership: 1989 Musique Intemporelle (CD)

1990 (acquired); 5/29/16 (review); 10/13/25

Head-Visions (1986)

No discussion about Bernd Kistenmacher can be had without at least a passing mention of one Klaus Schulze. Especially at the time of Timewind or X, arguably the Master's finest moment in the sun. Head-Visions contains three long tracks of Berlin School goodness complete with full-on sequencers, and various other analog / digital tones drizzled on top to add much needed color. While Schulze himself was busy messing about with digital technology and an unhealthy love of beats, Kistenmacher was trying his duly best to bring back the glory days of the original movement. And he succeeded mightily, as others followed suit shortly thereafter. Be sure to get a hold of one of the CD reissues which contains the 11+ minute 'Dreamdance', as fine a track as any on the album proper.

Ownership: 1997 Green Tree (CD). One bonus track.

1988 (LP acquired); 6/24/15 (review)

Outlines (1991)

Bernd Kistenmacher was one of the leading lights of the new wave of Berlin School electronic solo artists coming from Germany in the middle 1980s. Comparisons to Klaus Schulze are unavoidable, though Kistenmacher wisely borrowed from Schulze's late 70s output rather than the programmed sound he preferred at that time. By 1991, Kistenmacher himself was somewhat marginalized as his influence - and others - ushered in a boatload of new artists in the genre. This was a good time for Kistenmacher to take a break, as his sound was beginning to sound all too familiar, just as his idol had done before him. This is a nice, and varied, elektronik album performed by a seasoned veteran. Perhaps too much of the same thing for my collection, however.

Former ownership: 1998 Green Tree (CD)

11/22/14 (acquired / review)

11/22/14 (new entry)