Schulze, Klaus: 101, Milky Way

Klaus Schulze was a founding member of the pioneering electronic progressive band Tangerine Dream. He played only on their 1970 debut, providing percussion. He then moved on to the “krautrock� band Ash Ra Tempel and provided drums on its outstanding 1971 self-titled debut. During this time, he also began to experiment on synthesizer tones, which would become his life’s work. Following that, he joined the Cosmic Jokers, another great krautrock band, and played on all three of their 1974 releases, the only studio albums the group would produce. In the meantime, he began his solo career, resulting in roughly 60 albums, the first appearing in 1972.

Schulze sadly left us in 2022, but his work hasn’t. Last year came the release of 101, Milky Way. As SPV Recordings, which has released the album, states: “In late 2008, a German film production company approached Schulze to score a documentary about computer hackers. What began as a potential soundtrack evolved into a full-fledged Klaus Schulze album. While the documentary Hacker directed by Alex Biedermann, only featured snippets of this work as background music, the complete composition from 2009 [is now] available to the public for the first time.�

Technically, the album consists of 13 tracks, though actually it’s better to think of it as having five: three lengthy suites comprised of multiple parts divided by two individual pieces. It is a work worthy of his legacy. The suites provide an array of sounds, going from what might be considered the most passive to the most aggressive, with very enjoyable palette cleansers in between. The album makes for great background listening but also rewards close attention. I have played it to both help me go to sleep as well as to actively bathe in the beautiful sounds that just a few instruments played by one man can produce.

If you are expecting peak mid-70s Schulze, then you are asking too much. In this genre, it is hard to top Timewind, Moondawn, or Mirage, all absolute classics. But if you want some very solid atmospheric synthesizer compositions, then certainly give 101, Milky Way a whirl. This type of music isn’t for everyone, but even skeptics might be surprised by the rewards it provides, if given a proper chance.

SPV Recordings say they “are delving into the archives of this electronic music pioneer.� Let’s hope there are many more posthumous releases to come.

Track Listing
1. INFINITY Pt 1 (4:26)
2. INFINITY Pt 2 (4:28)
3. INFINITY Pt 3 (5:55)
4. ALPHA (4:58)
5. MULTI Pt 1 (4:57)
6. MULTI Pt 2 (5:37)
7. MULTI Pt 3 (5:16)
8. MULTI Pt 4 (5:56)
9. MULTI Pt 5 (10:46)
10. META (8:38)
11. UNI Pt 1 (4:17)
12. UNI Pt 2 (8:41)
13. UNI Pt 3 (5:37)

Added: January 21st 2025
Reviewer: Aaron Steelman
Score:
Related Link: Artists @ Bandcamp
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Language: english

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