Customer Reviews

Possessed

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when i first heard about this album, i didn't think much of the concept.... the point of kraftwerk is that they were the "man machine" & pure technology & whatnot, so being covered by a string quartet seemed a bit odd. however, the whole thing fits together incredibly well.... the melodies are immediately recognizable and none of the bleeps and buzzes are ignored. balanescu's original compositions obviously aren't quite as much fun, but even on their own would make the album strong.... melodic, slightly quirky 20th century composition. all in all, a must for kraftwerk fans and definately worth owning for any fan of string quartets.

I found this CD accidentally at the library, not knowing what it would sound like. I went home and was pleasantly surprised. The complexity of "Computer Love" was incredible to me, even before I learned the song was originally done with synthesizers. "The Model" is beautiful with the strings, and "Autobahn" and "Pocket Calculator" couldn't be more fun to listen to!

I also enjoyed "No Time Before Time" (now one of my favorites on the CD), and "Want Me" -- which I found annoying at first, but eventually learned to love. This whole album is relaxing and pleasing to listen to when you want something different.

(Please note; I had no idea about the band Kraftwerk before I found this CD; I had nothing to judge them by. In fact, this CD led me to Kraftwerk!)

My encounter with the music of the Balanescu Quartet came via an amazon recommendation for Possessed I got after I reviewed a Glover Gill album. I was never into Kraftwerk, and was only somewhat into the Talking Heads, so I was unfamiliar with everything on the CD except for Kraftwerk's once-ubiquitous Autobahn.
It took a few listens to get into this CD. There were a couple of cuts I liked right off, but I admit to shelving it until recently. After listening several more times with new ears, I found more to like than originally. The music of the Balanescu Quartet reminds me somewhat of that of Darryl Way's old band Wolf, particularly on the hypnotic title cut.
Possessed, clocking in at nearly 17 minutes, is clearly the class of the album. I could listen to that time and again. But I also really enjoy Robots, Model, No Time Before Time, and the David Byrne song that closes out the CD, Hanging Upside Down.
If you are looking for something interesting and out of the ordinary, Possessed definitely qualifies on both counts. Do your ears a favor and check it out!

a good friend, who is into lots of very different music, introduced me to ths one. I have played it for a lot of my friends and they all like it and some have also bought it. Once upon a time I also owned the original Kraftwerk LPs, but I got totally fed up with it and sold it to get money to go on vacation.

The Balanescu Quartet version is much better for me. The music is very soothing, its good music for closing the eyes and drift a way. Its also moving, developing and it is definately catchy.

This cd has also given me a lot of fun. I have brough it with me on my travels and played it for Kraftwerk fans, mostly germans, and it is so fun to see them trying to figure out what the music is! They wrinkle their foreheads, they start humming to the music, exclaiming " I know this song!" and then after a few more bars or while the next song starts up. "I even think have it at home, I am sure I have it, what the f... is it?" There is actually some who manage to find out who it is, but most have to listen for a while and I usually have to drop some really strong hints.

This is also the kind of music that is great fun to introduce to people, because it is so special and quite different. I am shocked to see only 2 reviews though, it deserves so much more. So become possessed you also. Give it a chance and listen to it here.

In the 1980s, the Kronos Quartet set a trend by commissioning and playing works for string quartet from composers and in a style that were closer to "World Music" than to the established traditions of western classical music. The foray must have met a wider public than that of classical music (and, even more, of high-browed contemporary classical music), and other ensembles followed suit. The Balanescu Quartet, founded in 1987 by violinist and composer Alexander Balanescu (also founder and leader of the Michael Nyman Ensemble and former member of the Arditti String Quartet), is such an ensemble, and this is one of their most succesful crossover disc.

They started off recording a disc with the string quartets of British minimalist Michael Nyman (Michael Nyman: String Quartets 1-3 - Balanescu Quartet) and already one that had crossover compositions by David Byrne and John Lurie (High Life for Strings). But this one, "Possessed", published in 1992 by Mute Records, was the first one from the ensemble to be published under their own name, in a pop-/rock fashion. In a manner reminiscent of the Great Rumanian Leader(s) of the past, Alexander Balanescu is the only one to get his photos on the disc, and he's composed for himself a look reminiscent of The Blues Brothers, too. The composers' names are written in very small typo on the disc's cover, and they indicate the style of the music: Kraftwerk, David Byrne, Alexander Balanescu. Other artists with whom Alexander Balanescu collaborated on other occasions, either individually or with his quartet, also give a good pointer to his musical attractions: The Lounge Lizards and John Lurie, Jack de Johnette, Ornette Coleman The Pet Shop Boys, Spritualized, Kate Bush.

So what we have is music bordering on alternative rock and progressive jazz: "pop/rock in concert attire" or "Progressive Rock for Classical String Quartet". Do I sound like being dismissive? Not at all: as a big listener of classical music, I love it.

The music is dance-like, the melodies are catching, oftentimes ballad-like over repetitive accompaniment with strong rhythmic contour, and the arrangements (all of them by Clare Connors, the Quartet's second violin) and the three original compositions of Balanescu (tracks 6-8) show great skill and fine invention in sound color, using the full array of the instruments' performing techniques, like playing on the bridge, playing harmonics and so forth, to imitate the sound of a rock band. Try the electric guitar track 4 at 1:00, the bass drum in the same track at 3:54 (I think it is the wooden side of the bow hitting the cello strings). I find it very entertaining. And I think there is real percussion in tracks 6 and 7, or I can't imagine what they are doing to the instruments - sigh of relief, a look at the product info on the back cover confirms that there is drums and percussion there. Balanescu speaks over the music in track 5, "Pocket Calculator", in a robot-like tone of voice, with his Romanian accent ("I'm the operrratorrr with my pocket carlculatorrr"),, but I guess he is just kraftwerking here. They add a women's choir on track 7, billed as the "Miranda Sex Garden", whatever that is (OK, thanks again, the free and people's processed internet encyclopedia. I guess everybody knew who Miranda Sex Garden was, but me; now I do too. Originally a trio, formed in 1990, of classically-trained female madrigal singers who had met at the Purcell School of Music in Bushey, South Hertfordshire, England, they were picked up by Mute who changed them into, well, a crossover ensemble. The label's album immediately following this one by catalog number, Stumm 112, is a Miranda Sex Garden disc, Suspiria, Suspiria).

Anyway, the music is colorful, catching and entertaining, and listening to the disc again, years after I had shelved it, my enjoyment has not abated. The Balanescu's next crossover disc, Luminitza, followed two years later, Stumm 124. It is good, but not as good as this first essay (and shorter too): Luminitza.

TT 69:30

Fantastic take on classic songs. You dont have to be a fan of Kraftwerk to "get it"

This is one of the most stunning pieces of music I've ever heard. Alexander Balanescu's violin work is superbly expressive. To me it combines Eastern European violin expression with modern music form. I originally heard Model on NPR's All Music considered several years ago and it was an instant favorite. I purchased this and other of the quartet's albums and this is the best with Maria T being a close second. In addition to Model, the three pieces written by Balanescu's are superb: Possessed, Want Me and to me the best is No Time Before Time. They only have a few phrases but they vary and intertwine wonderfully. The theme builds to wonderful heights. They are so intense, I missed my exit on the way to work. Be careful if you listen to these while driving alone at night - you might not make it home! After this intense trio of songs, the light Hanging Upside Down is necessary.

The most clever CD I have ever listened to!

A Classical Quartet doing covers of Kraftwerk & David Byrne. Wonderful renditions of 'Model', 'Autobahn', and 'Computer Love'. So focused is the music, you may wonder who is real!

Alexander Balanescu does a wonderful job of giving (then) pop music and classical taste. This music is incredible!