Having started his impressive career as early as 1991, Wolfgang Voigt is without a doubt one of defining figures in German electronic music, commonly credited for pioneering the minimal techno style as a native musical language of Germany's techno scene. Inspired by the British acid house revolution, he began recording under the name Mike Ink, often together with his long time partner Jörg Burger, soon releasing under a myriad of pseudonyms and (co-)founding almost as many influential labels of the time, such as Structure or Trance-Atlantic. Many of his early releases are regarded as classics today - the acid-breakbeat anthem 'Paroles' for example or his recordings as Love Inc. on Frankfurt's Force Inc. label. Not content however with the mere recombination of US and UK techno styles, Voigt developed a musical concept he felt more in line with the musical traditions of his home and which went to be come known as minimal techno (at least in its German variant). Inspired by the Cologne school of experimental music as well as the rhythmic patterns of folk music he recorded a string of releases for his Studio 1 and Profan labels, which heralded a new reductionist era for techno and house music. Having found his very own means of musical expression he consequently began to record under his real name Wolfgang Voigt in 1997, but has continued to use his various other monikers on occasions, such as the project name Gas for his ambient recordings. He has co-founded the influential Kompakt label, which he runs together with Michael Mayer and Jürgen Paape.
Tracks on "Freiland Klaviermusik"
This Album is featured in Update #044:
Essential 2010 Albums Now On Sale
We wish you an amazing 2011! To start the celebrations we have compiled 200 of our favourite albums of 2010 for our biggest ever New Year Sale!
From today on until January 16 all selected albums will be available for a special price - including many of the more...
This Album is featured in Update #023:
Ben Klock, Kode9, Pan Sonic
It's getting hot hot hot. The best thing to take to the beach is certainly a great DJ mix in your earplugs, and this month wasn't short on first-rate specimen: Kode9, Michael Mayer and dOP mix albums all feature in this newsletter, and Ben Klock even claims more...
Wolfgang Voigt takes his 'Freiland Klaviermusik' project to album level, compiling the project's first EP from 2008 and plenty of new tracks. 'Freiland' blurs the boundaries of classical music and techno, combining improvisational piano playing with 4-by-4 kick drums. Adventurous and - as always - highly recommended.
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