I ran across this band one night while scouring the web for info.  It’s wasn’t long too much longer before I held this CD demo in may hands.  Transitions by Firstep is an all instrumental album featuring 9 tracks of solid Euro electro.  The man behind this project is Volker Dietz.  Judging by Volker’s approach to music he seems to have been weaned on the lighter, more watery side of electro.  None of the pieces on Transitions are too jagged or rough and all contain certain sounds and sequences that are quirky and melodic.  After several listens I was surprised that this one man German outfit has yet to find a label to release his material.  All of the pieces are very strong and easily kept my attention by not ever become burdened with overused sequences, rhythms, etc.  Each track comes to life via the effective way in which Volker aligns all of elements within the piece.  The sequences play off of the rhythm, which plays of the percussion, which plays off the sequences.  Everything seems to fit just right, which is rare for an unsigned band.  I’m torn between thinking that some of these pieces need vocals or not.  The music itself is very strong and the addition of vocals may take away from this, but at the same time vocals make it even easier for listeners to grasp a hold of a track and they can also make songs more recognizable.  Of the nine pieces, my favorite is Beyond Your Closed Eyes.  There is so much going on within this piece.  Everything from deep wet sequences to higher leveled, symphonic patterns to EBM styled beats to a variety of sequenced sounds.  Volker is definitely on the right track with his music and I wish him all the best in finding a good home for it.
    
Firstep is:
Volker Dietz
Contact Firstep @
Berrenrather Str. 138
50937 Köln
Germany
e-mail: gv.dietz@netcologne.de
Firstep homepage:
http://www.eclipse.de/bands/firstep.html