Title: Compendium
Artist: Solitary Experiments
Genre: Electro
Release Date: 7th December 2007
Label: Out of Line
Introduction
After they made their first tentative steps into music under the alias PLAGUE, Dennis Schober and Michael Thielemann decided to found the project SOLITARY EXPERIMENTS in 1994. At that time, the line-up was competed by a female background singer who left the project in 1998 which was also the time when Steve Graeber joined in and in 1999, the first album ‘Final Approach’ was released. A year later, SOLITARY EXPERIMENTS proved their live qualities at the Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig. In 2001, their second album ‘Paradox’ finally saw the light of day. A few years and albums later, the band blesses us with a remix album including various unreleased material and some collaborations.
Members
Michael Thielemann - Sampling, Programming, Engineering, Recording
Dennis Schober - Lyrics, Vocals, Effects, Performance
Steve Graeber - Programming, Sampling
Website
http://www.solitaryexperiments.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/solitaryexperiments
Track Review
01. Collateral Damage feat. Life Like - 5:05
The first of the new tracks starts rather unspectacular with a dull sequence line, but one by one new sounds and elements appear like a noise that could have been caused by an explosion and just reaches our ears from afar. Shot melodic fragments and sounds appear just to stop suddenly and without any warning, a damn fast beats kicks in. It's almost like a steam hammer, but it sometimes just stops and desperate screams and chaotic sounds fill the void to get replaced by the same hammering bets a few seconds later, so you'll get no time to rest.
02. Seele bricht feat. Feindflug - 6:16
When I read that this was a collaboration with FEINDFLUG I expected a hard industrial stomper, but what reached my ears when the track started was a spherical and kind of uplifting melody I’d never expected. New layers appear until a pumping and fast beat starts that can catch up with the one on the previous song. The lyrics are completely German-tongued, but I will translate the chorus here, which I really like because it bears some hopefulness.
“A star that shines in the night, a small ray of hope in the darkness
A bright light on the horizon, it guides the way into incessancy”
03. Counterpart Two feat. Chris L. - 4:33
This song was initially an instrumental track and was included on the last album 'Mind over Matter'. This version presents the song with vocals provided by the vocalist of AGONOIZE. The arrangement was expanded with additional synth effects, while the basic structure remains intact. The beat is still mid-tempo and the atmosphere is filled with various chorals and synth layers that provide the song with its dreamy and longing mood. Chris vocals are less distorted than they are with AGONOIZE and so they're sounding lass angry even though the lyrics are pretty gloomy.
04. Fast Pain Relief (Suicide Commando RMX) - 6:06
What do you expect of a SUICIDE COMMANDO remix? Right, it has to be danceable and sinister. This is exactly what you're getting here. After the creaking of a door, which is opened, so that someone could silently sneak into the room, mighty string arrangement appear and guide you through the beginning while you still hear indefinable sounds. Dennis’ voice appears alienated, like a robot and when the beat starts, you know exactly who's got his hands on the machines.
05. Odyssey of Mind (Negative Format RMX) - 6:35
The basic mood of this song that was uplifting was perfectly transported onto a new arrangement. The beat of the album version was heaver and a little bit slower. This one's lighter and faster and is a perfect candidate for the heavy rotation of the DJs. Trance leads and synth layers complete the roundelay of new sounds.
06. Pale Candle Light (X-Fusion RMX) - 4:39
After some low synths appearing out of the dark, the distinctive leading sequence of 'Pale Candle Light'. The song was already dark in its original version, but X-FUSION boosted the level of darkness. The angriness of the vocals has been increased with additional distortion effects during the verses, while the vocals of the chorus remained as they are. In-between some spherical passages have been incorporated that remind me a little bit of HOCICO. Those elements will appear again later in the chorus, but with some additional soundscapes, so the atmosphere gets denser.
07. Delight feat. André Hartung (Sero Overdose RMX) - 4:57
A lush mid-tempo beat, which has a similarity to the original welcomes us to this remix. The tempo has been kept and Dennis is supported by André Hartung at the vocals who adds a nice counterpoint to Dennis rather dark vocals with his cleaner and mellow voice. Actually the track focuses mainly on the voices during the verses as the sequences and melodies are really holding back behind them, while they're much more dominant in the chorus parts.
08. Homesick (Analogue Brain RMX) - 5:46
Homesick is one of my favourites on the latest album ‘Mind over Matter’ so I was curious how this was converted and I have to say I’m not quite satisfied with the result. The special and unique atmosphere of the original is nowhere to be found. I know that it's a remix but it's also possible that the atmosphere remains intact and to work out a new atmosphere. It's a good remix for the clubs but nothing more.
09. Pale Candle Light (Grendel RMX) - 5:09
I really like that remix even though it's quite monotonous beat-wise and a little bit more diversity in that area wouldn't have hurt. A bit unusual at first is the fact that the vocals lines have been changed so the vocals are performed in a different manner; in another tempo and rhythm to be specific. The layered string arrangements incorporated in the track give it some kind of a classical touch
10. Delight (Cultutre Kultür RMX) - 4:49
What immediately catches the ear, when Dennis starts to sing it, that the vocals are not in place with the rest of the song at least during the verses while it doesn't catch the eye that much in the chorus parts but is still audible. It spoils a bit the impression of a solid remix, at least for me. The remix doesn't fall back on melodies that much, but rather on a crystal clear rhythmic construction and vocals heavily processed with reverberation effects.
11. Still alive (Aesthetic Perfection RMX) - 5:02
The distinct synth melody of the original starts the track after a short noisy introduction and the sample from the movie “SAW” is also included here. The remix distinguishes itself pretty clear from the original in terms of its rather light arrangements. It uses more trance elements and less synth layers due to what it losses a bit of atmosphere, but it therefore will be pretty good dance floor filler.
12. Pale Candle Light (Supreme Court RMX) - 4:41
Supreme Court doesn’t pick up any of the elements used in the original and rework the track their own way with their own sounds and means. First thing to mention is that the chant is very low in the mix and in contrast to this all other elements are loud and dominant here. As I mentioned before no elements from the original were picked and so there are also none of the melodies and this adds a cold and sterile touch to the completely danceable remix.
13. The Dark inside me (Captive of Society RMX) - 5:26
'The Dark inside me' was included on the ‘Cause & Effect EP’ released in 2004. CAPTIVE OF SOCIETY replaced the original lush beat with an intricate and playful drum composition. The dark basic mood is created by a low spherical layer in the back. You have to listen very closely to recognize it at all and some clinking synths. A wide string layer dominates the chorus while the beats are reduced up to a single noisy sound to maintain a rhythm.
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 7
Extras: -
Total: 7
Conclusion
Remixes always have to compete with the originals and in most cases they just loose. There's always something missing, whether it's a small sound you real liked or the atmosphere that got lost during the rework. Some of the remixes on these release are really good like the 'Captive of Society Remix' of 'The Dark inside me' or the GRENDEL RMX of 'Pale Candle Light' which add some new facets to the songs, but some others are just standard like the SUICIDE COMMANDO RMX of 'Fast Pain Belief' for example that uses almost the same sounds you already know from the project. I like the new tracks a lot especially the collaboration with FEINDFLUG which resulted in a song I never expected. It's definitely not a bad album and I guess the DJs will love it.
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