Conrad Schnitzler

Conrad Schnitzler (1937–2011), composer and concept artist, is one of the most important representatives of Germany's electronic music avant-garde. A student of Joseph Beuys, he founded Berlin's legendary Zodiak Free Arts Lab, a subculture club, in 1967/68, was a member of Tangerine Dream (together with Klaus Schulze and Edgar Froese) and Kluster (with Dieter Moebius and Hans-Joachim Roedelius) and also released countless solo albums. "Contempora" is a sort of collection of sketches, reflecting Schnitzler's inexhaustible creative powers in condensed form. "Contempora" again underlines Schnitzler's noble ethos.

Another gem by the Tangerine Dream and Kluster founder member gets the Bureau B reissue treatment, now packaged with nine - count 'em! - bonus tracks on this CD issue (eight on the vinyl). 'Contempora' was one of seven LPs privately issued by Schnitzler in '81 and also his fifth solo album proper, part of a remarkably creative fallow patch that also included the incredible 'Conrad & Sohn' LP with his offspring, Gregor. Utilising EMS Synthi A and Korg MS-10 for rhythms and sequencing he supposes 22 primitive yet futuristic and abstract star charts for mental travel, following oblique vectors and uncharted routes thru inner kosmic space, full of prismatic refractions and mercurial wormholes which open in the path in front without any tangible borders, only his steady pulses to cling onto. (Boomkat)