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Hanzel und Gretyl: Ausgeflippt
[Energy Records] (1996)
This is a brilliant CD: dark, humorous, intelligent, irreverent,
and satirical. Hanzel und Gretyl’s use of samples is fresh-sounding
and creative–it’s fun to play “Name That Source” on several tracks.
A lot of it is from SF films and TV shows, most notably the original
Star Trekand 2001: A Space Odyssey.A favorite track, “Stress Pill,”
features HAL 9000’s unique delivery as “lead vocalist.” The samples
are never gratuitous, but fit perfectly into the rhythm and dynamics
of the music (check out “Essen Sheißen und Geld Machen”). They
are compositional elements, truly integral to the piece. (This
fact alone makes H+G stand out as gifted mixologists, but then
they do it so well! In fact, the samples fit the music so well
on many of these tracks, that I’m guessing that the sample inspired
the song.)
There are also hard-edged post-industrial vocals throughout, in
an even mix of German and English. H+G are not above making fun
of themselves and the whole dark techno genre, as on “Galaxia
Malakia,” which starts out hard and tough, then in the middle
switches to flamenco guitar with Hare Krishna-style vocals. A
totally inappropriate mix of elements, which is why it works so
well! It’s a hilarious poke in the eye aimed at all those electro/dance
mixologists who take themselves far too seriously.
The way themes, samples, and ideas re-appear throughout the CD
ties everything together. We hear the whispered word “Ausgeflippt”
echo through the album’s virtual space several times, reminding
us of the journey we’re on–a refrain from the subconscious mind.
Tracks flow into each other seamlessly, making the whole CD listen
like a single multi-movement symphony.
The center of Ausgeflipptis as dark as you could want: “38 Lashes”
is bleak and apocalyptic and angry. (One of its inspirations is,
I believe, the tense 40 lashes scene from “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Entirely apt.) Immediately following is the contrasting track,
“L’Experience des Difficultes Technique,” with its slippery tonality
and humpback whales: it’s like a “Please Stand By” message with
voicemail-on-hold music from the Twilight Zone. This is followed
by the angry apathy of “Watch TV Do Nothing,” then the CD climaxes
with “Essen Sheißen und Geld Machen,” a tour-de-force of composition
with samples. Finally, we chill out with the post-tribal “Apa
Mare” and the radio-telescopic ambience of “Umbra Penumbra.” You
should feel wrung out by now, okay? Good.
This is the best techno/trance/dance-beat CDs I’ve heard in years:
a wonderful trip through the sick and funny minds of its creators!
Very highly recommended.
Here's a sample track from the CD, one of my favorites:
L'Experience des Dificultés Technique
But really, there's so much more.
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