Flashbacks of Greater Than One
dance through my head as I first listen to Ammer Einheit’s
Deutsche Krieger. This collaboration between FM Einheit and Andreas
Ammer was over two years in the making and follows their award winning
Radio Inferno and Apocalypse Live audio plays.
Deutsche Krieger is broken down into three separate sections, each dealing
with a separate figure in German history. Part I, consisting of 5 tracks,
is an audio collage of scratchy snippets of Kaiser Wilhelm mixed together
with squeaky electronics, twisted beats, distorted rhythm lines, and various
‘found sounds’ from German history. It is here that I find a parallel with
Wells’ GTO project. Portions of the tracks are ambient in nature, with an
array of sounds flowing through them like a tide on a distant, forgotten
continent. Part II deals with none other than Adolph Hitler. These 5
pieces follow the history of Hitler’s reign, from his first speech to his
last speech and even includes Ammer Einheit’s vision of what Hitler’s
funeral may have been like. The music on these pieces range from
experimental noise to soundtracky type electronic mayhem, all of which are
driven by the plethora of Hitler vocal samples. As in Part I, other sounds
from the time period are added in as well, all of which represent one of the
most hideous and unforgettable times in world history. Lastly, Part III
revolves around Ulrike Meinhof. This time around disco elements are added
into the mix, making the pieces seem less horrific. Also, the music becomes
a bit more complex, such as on 02.07.1967, Fernsehen. This
particular piece contains a gritty, abrasive rhythm akin to more modern
electro. Overall, I’d say that I prefer the last 1/3 of this CD the best.
Being that I don’t know a lick of German, I find that I must focus more on
the music, and on Part III, the music sounds more up to date and accessible.
I suppose this CD will be a hit in Germany, but being that it is sample
driven, the majority of the rest of the world just might not get it.
INVISIBLE RECORDS
P.O. Box 16008
Chicago, IL 60616
INVISIBLE
homepage:
Ammer Einheittis:
Andreas Ammer
& FM Einheit
