A Synthetic History of E.M.A.K 1982-1988: Elektronische Musik Aus: Koeln

This CD is a compilation of electronic music made by the Cologne-based collective E.M.A.K. in the 1980s. Many listeners may initially be underwhelmed, because the music's not particularly sonically advanced for its time. But what is easy to forget is that in those days electronic instruments were expensive, whereas E.M.A.K. were on a budget. They did not have the major record label deutschmarks of their much more famous contemporaries. Hence the reason why this music was, after all, ahead of its time: E.M.A.K. were among the first (though not THE first - Juan Atkins was recording by then) "bedroom"-style electronic artists.In some ways "A Synthetic History..." is a similar listening experience to early Chicago house. The work of Drexciya, though 5-10 years later, is also a useful comparison, albeit Drexciya were more deliberately low-tech; the price of musical hardware having fallen considerably by then. But this is not just another proto-house/techno record. E.M.A.K. are generally musically much more accomplished and less repetitive. Although largely instrumental (save for one track), a lot of this LP has an almost pop feel to it, similar to mid-late 70s Kraftwerk output only without the vocals. There's also a soundtrack element in some of these pieces: think "Outrun" (as in the arcade game of yesteryear) or the type of music Michael Mann might have used in his early films - for example "Thief" or "Manhunter". And in fact Mann's soundtrack composers of choice at that time, Tangerine Dream, are not a bad comparison either. However E.M.A.K's songs are much shorter, less prog-rock and consequently, for me, have a much wider appeal. The album closer "Traumreise" could even be Vangelis - if Vangelis was a German who bought his musical instruments in Woolworths and recorded in his dad's garage.A well conceived release from Soul Jazz (in fact its sub-label, Universal Sounds) who along with Honest Jon's are joint top of the re-issue label league at the moment. And well packaged too - in a mini DVD-style case.