Magic X-mas !

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Inside an unexpected package, along with a cryptic note that said only "You need to hear this" I find the strange stylings of deep-voiced Karl Mohr. I don't seek out electronica, because I often find it monotonous and uninteresting. But this little prejudice does not apply to the imaginative work of Karl Mohr.

Mohr's arrangements are deceptive. He wants you to put your trust in his earnest vocals, and then he gooses you with his dissonant riffs. Sometimes, he works this the other way around, playing sweet, synthetic loops and punctuating these with atonal vocals in the range of a Leo Kottke and with the haunting lilt of a David Bowie. His highly layered music is an almost disorienting blend of sweet sincerity and wry irony, heavy on the wry.

The puzzle of Christmas music is to make its well-known themes sound completely original. Using eerie electronic loops and understated vocal expressiveness, Karl Mohr certainly does that. Achieving unexpected pathos with an almost country-style, sweet-and-sour treatment of White Christmas. Applying the deep-creep voice to Frosty The Snow Man to conjure an image of Frosty as Freddy Kruger. And performing the de rigeur You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch with a throaty disgust Thurl Ravenscroft would appreciate.

You need to hear this.

--Richard Banks

End of the Line ! + PURCHASE + ~ Karl Mohr ist ein experimentierfreudiger Solo Kuenstler aus Kanada. Ist der Beginn mit "Unidentified Flying Object" mit typischen Death Rock Klaengen noch als einigermassen Eingaengig zu bezeichnen, werden die Songs im Laufe des Albums wesentlich experimenteller. Dabei spielt Karl nicht nur mit den Instrumenten und der Elektronik, sondern auch mit seiner Stimme. Dabei liegt er zwischen dunkel verspielt und schraegen Intonationen. Besonders interessant klingt die in Deutsch gesungene Version von "Kleines Feuerstueckchen". Gesamplete Vogelstimmen und eine Kirmes Melodie leiten "Milkwood" ein. Ein instrumentales Stueck voller versteckter Impressionen. Mit "No stars no moon" gibt es ein duesteres, schraeges Intermezzo, welches an Nick Cave erinnert. In "Imposter" singt Karl im Zeitlupentempo, Saxophonklaenge und ein verqueres Instrumentarium in betonter Langsamkeit gespielt sorgen fuer Gaensehautatmosphaere. Ein Spieluhr dient als Einleitung fuer das traurige "Have You Seen My Rabbit". Nachdem auch "Can Your Remains...." in ruhigem Gewaesser schwimmt, gibt es mit "Blown Away" einen schraegen Pop-Song. Karl Mohr schafft es mit seinem rauhen Stimmbaendern, in fast fluesternder Manier das menschliche Gehoer zu umschmeicheln. Sehr getragen erklingt die verschrobene Ballade "Powder Blue Vampire". Ein Album welches voller Abwechslungsreichtum in keine Schublade passt. Ein Werk, welches die Schoenheit in wirrer Harmonie transportiert. Gelungen und vollkommen eigenstaendig. Andreas [Amboss-Mag]

The Four Seasons 2117 ! + PURCHASE + You've got to hand it to Karl Mohr: the man has vision; and the man has balls. Misguided? Well maybe that too. It's hard to describe his recent release "The Four Seasons 2117", at least in a way that won't elicit a dropped jaw, eyebrows raised in disbelief, and maybe a belly-laugh as well. The album is Vivaldi's Four Seasons performed on digital synthesizers, often set to hyperactive techno beats; but wait, the best is yet to come: overtop of it all is a long and detailed narration concerning the fate of love and relationships in a hyper-technological future. So you can see where the vision and the balls come in; and maybe you can see where 'misguided' comes in too. This reads as just about the most outrageous, and possibly worst, idea for an album, ever. However, witness what may well become known as "The Karl Mohr Effect": approach any concept, no matter how preposterous, with pure blood'n'guts bravado, and put everything you've got into it, and god damn if you won't just about make it work. That Mohr pretty much pulls off this grotesquely ambitious concept is a testament to either his talent, or his insanity. Or possibly both. It is hard to anticipate how one will react to this album. The Vivaldi adaptation will appeal to fans of Wendy Carlos and the like, although the rhythms stuck underneath are far more hectic than anything Carlos and her ilk have produced. As for the monologue, again, hard to say what reaction it will get. An hour-long monolog on love in the future seems pretentious at best, and surely boring beyond belief; and yet, it kind of works. The narrator, for one thing, is superb; it is voiced by a Dr. Peter Allen, whose mellow, calmly expressive tone and pleasant Brit accent is extremely easy on the ears, and he is able to make some fairly far-fetched text convincing. (He also brings back memories of "The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" radio series.) As a result, the monologue is neither as maddening nor as boring as it might have been in the hands (or rather mouth) of a lesser narrator. As for the text itself, it is engaging enough; the philosphising and ruminating never sink to being didactic or preachy, and the sci-fi elements are at times amusing. (However, the piece could perhaps do without the mock radio announcer intro.) Definitely an album for the eclectic listener; fans of electronically-scored classical music - Carlos, Tomita and the like - should certainly give it a listen, as should intellectual Star Trek fans everywhere. You are at least guaranteed an utterly unique listening experience. (James Andean)

Wassernixe / Froze Like Ice! on blue 12" vinyl + PURCHASE + ~ "Die Tracks haben für mich die totale Sommer-Stimmung. Sie wären auch gut für den Anfang eines Sets geeignet. Sehr interessante Mischung aus oldschool Techno Elementen, strangen Sounds, aber trotzdem melodisch. DJ Bugs [Wien, Österreich] ~ Side A, 'Wassernixe' is an intelligent collection of sounds, deep bass lines, plucky synth, deep solid beats and some soft warm keyboard action. Label side, 'Froze Like Ice' is darker than the the A side and marches along in the more minimal tech Detroit way, every so often breaking to allow a deeper, warmer feel take over. Indeed for a first timer the single offers music that is easy listening that can also lend itself very nicely to the dancefloor. Another amusing thing about this single is the crystal clear blue vinyl that it is pressed on, froze like ice indeed! Aine G Deep House Network

Vampires in Clubland ! + PURCHASE + ~ A ten-song live concert of Karl Mohr with his band The Fallen Angels, plus six new remixes of "Unidentifed Flying Object"!!!