Not much is known about the German session musician ensemble Studiogruppe 1 from the ‘70s and ‘80s. It’s believed that the grandfather of one member, known only as V.S., originally soundtracked silent films in theatres - although that hasn’t been proved. Studiogruppe1 never rose to prominence in the heyday of studio groups and library records, but it certainly wasn’t due to lack of trying.

Although it’s unknown who the individual members of Studiogruppe1 were, it’s clear they could find a groove within the machines. It appears the sessions were also engineered by V.S., and there’s plenty of space between the notes, which lends a heady atmosphere of anticipation to the music. Just close your eyes and you will find that the music triggers many scenes from the movies in your mind. 

Take the opener Dunkler Sonnenaufgang, for example. Waves lap on the shore line of an alternate Coney Island, while the sound system of an abandoned amusement park plays arpeggios in the distance. Errinungen could complement expansive panoramic time-lapses of natural cycles and rolling clouds. The track Wenn Der Tiefe Schlaf Kommt, might accompany a documentary on REM dream cycles and flotation tanks. Sonnentanz raises the temperature, as act III in every movie narrative should, as protagonists rush to overcome their challenges. Ein Neuer Anfang would perfectly soundtrack the plot twist of any number of thrillers, film noirs, or sci-fi mysteries. Album closer War Alles Nur Ein Traum could supplement slow-motion shots of dawning realization, foreshadowing a betrayal or a cliffhanger.

V.S. and Studiogruppe1 have condensed the evocative sounds of the ’80s into something of an art form. Bringing to mind the lilting melodies and melancholy chord movements of Tangerine Dream, Vangelis or Manuel Göttsching, Studiogruppe1 manage to capture widescreen emotional flash points without the need for celluloid, or barely any visual aid, for that matter. These tracks work just as well in the furnace of your imagination or a dark room filled with dry ice and lasers.

 (Short version)

Not much is known about the German session musician ensemble Studiogruppe 1 from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. They never rose to prominence in the heyday of big studios and library records, but it’s clear they could find a groove within the machines. Just close your eyes and you will find that the music triggers many scenes from the movies in your mind. 

This collection of tracks could accompany a whole host of scenes, from the plot-twist of a sci-fi noir, to widescreen timelapses, or the slow-motion foreshadowing of a cliffhanger. Studiogruppe1 have condensed the evocative sounds of the ’80s into something of an art form. Bringing to mind the lilting melodies and melancholic chord movements of Tangerine Dream, Vangelis and Manuel Göttsching, Studiogruppe 1 manages to capture emotional flash points without the need for celluloid. These tracks work just as well in the furnace of your imagination or a dark room filled with dry ice and lasers.

Dunkler Sonnenaufgang

Some people live their lives by the motto 'go hard or go home'. While in certain circumstance this might be helpful, there are plenty of other options out there to be considered and going at it your very hardest isn't always the right thing to do. Sometimes you just need to relax a bit more and slowly sink into your task, taking care of the final details rather than going for an all-guns-blazing approach.

That's exactly what Black Spuma (aka Fabrizio Mammarella & Phillip Lauer)  have done on their new EP, taking care over the finer details of the release and even managing to squeeze in a track with the same name as their new moniker without it feeling too cheeky. Take a few minutes out of your day to get this blissful, chilled out dose of house in your ears and you'll feel all the better for it;

PREMIERE: Black Spuma - Black Spuma (International Feel)

Interview and tracklist: http://www.thefader.com/2016/06/28/fader-mix-mark-barrott

Dunkler Sonnenaufgang

International Feel

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