Six Degrees of Sauerkraut--Part XXXIV: Harold Budd Day

Today was always a special day in the Glimmerlight. Indeed, 4/20 was a national holiday, a time when all the replicants would gather in the White Arcades to celebrate Harold Budd - the kindest android to ever grace our crystal shores.

While Harold wasn't constructed under the streets of Düsseldorf, we accepted him as a brother upon his arrival. With the coming of the yellow crystals we had all gotten to feeling a bit uptight. But Budd's synths created soothing melodies, and he built the White Arcades, where all the droids would go to have a mellow good time.

When Budd departed for his off-world colony we all thought it was a bad trip, but he left the White Arcades behind, where we could all gather to chill out and remember him.

So spark up that blue crystal in your inner core, click on the title of this post, and check out some of those sweet sounds we listened to in that white haze.

The Adventures of Moebius -- Part III: Trading Places II

Long ago, I promised you I would complete this tale.

Let me refresh your memory - In 1983, Moebius and Roedelius, inspired by the American comedy Trading Places, exchanged subroutines, so they could make music like the other. Moebius took Roedelius' melodic subroutines and created his masterpiece Tonspuren. Roedelius, on the other hand, took Moebius' skronky subroutines and created his album of off-beat skronk - Offene Türen.

Finally, you can now experience Roedlius as Moebius by clicking on the title of this post. This is one of the highlights from Offene Türen - "Husche" - a true slice of skronk madness. Indeed, the skronk almost drove Roedelius insane - he longed for the sweet beat-less melodies of his youth on the blue crystal shores of Horst.

However, he left Offene Türen in homage to skronk - he left it for all androids of the future to ponder over, and enjoy.

Immer wieder!

Six Degrees of Sauerkraut--Part XXXIII: Free-Birds

As I've mentioned before, we always loved it when Frédéric Mercier joined us in the Glimmerlight. He would play to adoring crowds of replicants, bathed in the cooling blue hues of the Glimmerlight's Hinterhoff Stadium, deep beneath the streets of Düsseldorf.

As Mercier's epic shows drew to a close, the crowd would chant "Free-Birds!" in all of our mechanized glory, imploring Frédéric to play his signature tune. At the end of the tune, as the grand climax to his show, Frédéric would transform into his other form, a majestic robotic Pigeon. He would fly from the stage back to France, leaving the androids open-mouthed with awe and appreciation.

We always left Mercier's shows tremendously pleased, but also perplexed that such a fine specimen of technology originated in France.

Check out "Free-Birds" by clicking on the title of this post.

Rauf und runter!

Intence - Triade - Part VII: The Glimmerlight

As the droids sang our weary farewell...

"Do you remember me long ago

Used to wear my heart on my sleeve

I guess it still shows

We watched the sun fall down and

I hop on my bike; still that night

You're my first glimmer of light

You were my, you was my first

Glimmer of light!"

The last track of Intence's LP is called "Train." You know the drill.

Rauf und runter!

Intence - Triade - Part VI

For those rainy days in April, pull out your "Parapluie" by clicking on the title of this post. Track 5 of Triade attempts some funk.

You be the judge.

Intence - Triade - Part V: Unprotected Sax!

For real though, this track is the reason I usually don't post full LPs. Intence was a really intense crew of cybernetic synthesists, but, as was the case with many of my early-80s colleagues, they had the penchant for engaging in unprotected sax - check out what I mean on "Spectrum" by clicking on the title of this post.

My loyal readers will know that I'm working my way through the classic album Triade by Intence, on Germany's Sky Records. Between "Quiver", which was my last post, and this post, "Spectrum," is the track "Yellow Below" which I posted some months ago. In the end, you'll have to put it all together. But I've posted the correct track listing somewhere in this gripping mini-series on the late-glimmerlight.

Keep in mind the words of Bob Barker, and have your android spayed or neutered.

Intence - Triade - Part IV

As you all know, the droids have gathered to mourn the passing of the purple and gold crystals. Another year, another Vikings' playoff loss. Our digital hearts may be broken, but we can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind; 'cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance, well they're no friends of mine.

And to celebrate our renewal in the blue glimmerlight we continue our Intence quest. Side 2 of the Triade LP begins with the track "Quiver" which you can access by clicking on the title of this post. Basically, it's track two of the LP, after the marathon "Mosaique (parts I-VII)" of side one.

Everybody takin' a chance!