Picture Music

Klaus Schulze | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 5, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Revisited Records
• ASIN: B0007Y09SM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,278 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Klaus Schulze first attracted attention as a member of the German progressive rock band, Tangerine Dream. Following the release of their debut LP, Electronic Meditation, he departed for a solo career. Klaus' recorded work typically features extended pieces sometimes filling an entire album built around computer-generated synthesizers and other specially programmed electronic effects. Klaus Schulze remains a cult figure in the United States, where the bulk of his prolific output has until now been available only through the import bins. He is widely considered an avant-garde mainstay as well as a founding father of both the new-age space music and electronica genres. Reviews of Picture Music refer to its hypnotic quality, making bold statements that this is Schulze’s first true synth album. Originally released in January of 1975, Picture Music is seeing the light of day again thanks to Inside Out Music.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great album but..., May 13, 2005

By 

T. Matthews (NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Picture Music (Audio CD)

There seems to be some annoying distortion in this version, especially on Totem, not present in earlier versions. Don't know if it's because the tapes are now thirty years old or just a mistake in the mastering process. The bonus cut is an extended/remixed version of Totem which is quite good. If derived from the same master tapes I can't understand why distortion is present in one track and not the other. Still an excellent re-issue otherwise and am looking forward to others from Klaus Schulze including his new album "Moonlake" (Sept. 2005).

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Picture Music" - An Essential Klaus Schulze Re-Issue!!!, April 30, 2005

By 

Louie Bourland (Garden Grove CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Picture Music (Audio CD)

"Picture Music" is Klaus Schulze's third solo album recorded in 1973 and released during the early part of 1975 (after the release of "Blackdance"). The album has gone on to be one of the most innovative electronic music releases from the German music scene and paved the way for Schulze's breakthrough opus "Timewind". Over 30 years later, "Picture Music" still does not disappoint and sounds just as modern as it did when it was initially recorded.
The original album included two long tracks. The opening track "Totem" is a nearly 24-minute tour-de-force consisting of a hypnotic bubbling sequencer rhythm and cosmic synth leads. The piece builds with intesity as it approaches the middle with the rhythm speeding up building to a climax which leads to a calm cathedral-like organ finale.
The other track, "Mental Door" begins with what almost sounds like a continuation of "Totem" before shifting into an improvised chordal synth lead giving way to a Krautrock jam with Schulze playing drums, percussion and a wild synth solo. The piece then moves into its final section with haunting string-synth chords and the drum beat being pushed to the back of the mix.
The newly remastered CD not only presents "Picture Music" in astounding quality and expanded liner notes, it also sports a 33-minute bonus track, "C'est pas le meme Chose", which is an alternate mix of "Totem" with extreme stereo separation, sounds not heard in the original album version and an extended final section which is completely different from that on the original version.
With all this said, the expanded remastered version of Klaus Schulze's "Picture Music" is THE definitive edition of this classic album. It is definitely an essential title for electronic music connisuers (sp?) as well as fans of Schulze, Tangerine Dream and others from the German electronic music school.
One of Klaus Schulze's all-time Greatest!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Klaus hits his stride..., February 18, 2000

By 

DAC Crowell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Picture Music (Audio CD)

This album is the start of a string of astounding and important works in the history of German electronic music, works which would prove influential to many things that would come after, in addition to being just satisfying spacemusic. Following in the wake of the singular and curious pulsations and dronings of "Cyborg", Klaus began to work with sequencers on this and "Blackdance"...and the results are fantastic. The characteristic Klaus Schulze sound of epic sequencer and sound-wash ambience comes to the fore on these two long-form pieces. Many albums in this style would follow throughout the 70s and into the early 80s, the majority of which are critical listening for anyone interested in the 'kosmische musik' genre.