Having assumed they would be too stuffy for my tastes, I had avoided the Kammerflimmer Kollektief in the past. And, when I received this album in the mail, I sat down to listen to it with some trepidation. What came out of my speakers was everything that I thought this band couldn't achieve. Brilliantly melded orchestral and electronic music, on par with the best of Germany's long musical legacy—Neu! and (early) Kraftwerk to The Notwist and To Rococco Rot.
"...denn Nacht ist jetzt schon bald!" is a meeting of the very ancient and the very modern. A communal tumult is built up with sliding guitar, horns, strings and a mystical flute before it's overcome by heavily tweaked electronic drums which slide out of the mix as quickly as they came for another minute. The first track, "Neumond inselhin" intermingles calm swells of electronic ambience and a cello breaking down into violent scratching noise. Drums roll and tumble beneath the gentle ringing of a vibraphone in "Irgendwann: Fruhling." The electronics mingle so closely with the organic elements in "Tumult," that little more than a horn bleat, a piano and a treated guitar peek through for a few moments.
Aside from the beautiful way in which they combine electronic and organic sounds, Kammerflimmer Kollektief have a way with melody and movement. The changes and progressions throughout are embellished and dressed up with the interesting mix of tones and approaches. This makes for a calming listen regardless of how much attention you give it. But, in looking closely, you'll find an intricate and intriguing tapestry.
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