Selbstportrait
Encyclopedia
Selbstportrait is the third solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius, best known for his work with Cluster
, Harmonia
, and Aquarello
. The title is German for "Self Portrait", a title which clearly reflects the gentle, introspective nature of this album of ambient
or New Age music
. The original Sky Records
release was subtitled Teil 1 Sanfte Musik, German for "Part 1, Soft Music."
Selbstportrait was recorded by Roedelius at his home in Forst, in the Weser Uplands of West Germany
between various Cluster
sessions from 1973 until 1977 on his ReVox
A77 reel to reel
. The music actually predates the two previously released solo albums: Durch Die Wüste
and Jardin Au Fou
. The final mix was completed at Gorilla Studio in Vienna
, Austria
at the end of April, 1979, with the exception of "Prinzregent" which was edited in Conny's Studio (owned by Conny Plank
) in 1976. Selbstportrait was originally released by Sky Records in 1979. Phillipe Blache, writing the review for Prog Archives, describes the album, in part: "The music in itself is another exploration in electronic, pre-ambient 'picture' music but really orientated to the most 'mainstream' side of it."
Selbstportrait and seven of 11 tracks from the follow-up album Selbstportrait - Vol. II
were reissued as a single CD by Sky Records in 1996 under the title Selbsportrait I & II. It was reissued in its original form on both LP and CD by the Bureau B label on December 3, 2010.
Cluster (band)
Cluster is a German experimental musical group who influenced the development of contemporary popular electronic and ambient music. They have recorded albums in a wide variety of styles ranging from experimental music to progressive rock, all of which had an avant-garde edge. Cluster has been...
, Harmonia
Harmonia (band)
Harmonia is a Krautrock supergroup from Germany. They formed as a collaboration between Michael Rother of Neu! and Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Möbius of Cluster and later included the British musician Brian Eno.-Musical style:...
, and Aquarello
Aquarello
Aquarello was a musical group which blended ambient music and jazz. The trio included keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius, based in Austria, and two Italian musicians, multi-instrumentalist Fabio Capanni, and saxophonist Nicola Alesini...
. The title is German for "Self Portrait", a title which clearly reflects the gentle, introspective nature of this album of ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
or New Age music
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
. The original Sky Records
Sky Records
Sky Records was a Hamburg, Germany based independent record label specializing in Krautrock/Kosmische Musik and electronic music. Some of their releases could be classified as progressive rock or art rock, experimental music, industrial, ambient, or New Age...
release was subtitled Teil 1 Sanfte Musik, German for "Part 1, Soft Music."
Selbstportrait was recorded by Roedelius at his home in Forst, in the Weser Uplands of West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
between various Cluster
Cluster (band)
Cluster is a German experimental musical group who influenced the development of contemporary popular electronic and ambient music. They have recorded albums in a wide variety of styles ranging from experimental music to progressive rock, all of which had an avant-garde edge. Cluster has been...
sessions from 1973 until 1977 on his ReVox
Revox
ReVox is a brand name of Swiss audio equipment created by Studer on March 27, 1951.The ReVox brand name was spun off into Studer Revox AG in 1990. During Studer's acquisition by Harman International Industries, Revox was sold separately to a group of private investors...
A77 reel to reel
Reel-to-reel audio tape recording
Reel-to-reel, open reel tape recording is the form of magnetic tape audio recording in which the recording medium is held on a reel, rather than being securely contained within a cassette....
. The music actually predates the two previously released solo albums: Durch Die Wüste
Durch Die Wuste
Durch die Wüste is the first full-length solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius, best known for his work with Cluster, Harmonia, and Aquarello. The title is German for "Through the Desert."...
and Jardin Au Fou
Jardin Au Fou
Jardin Au Fou is the second solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius, best known for his work with Cluster. The title is French for "Garden of Madness"....
. The final mix was completed at Gorilla Studio in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
at the end of April, 1979, with the exception of "Prinzregent" which was edited in Conny's Studio (owned by Conny Plank
Conny Plank
Konrad "Conny" Plank was a German record producer and musician. He was born in Hütschenhausen. His creativity as a sound engineer and producer helped to shape some of the most important and innovative recordings of postwar European popular music, covering a wide range of genres including...
) in 1976. Selbstportrait was originally released by Sky Records in 1979. Phillipe Blache, writing the review for Prog Archives, describes the album, in part: "The music in itself is another exploration in electronic, pre-ambient 'picture' music but really orientated to the most 'mainstream' side of it."
Selbstportrait and seven of 11 tracks from the follow-up album Selbstportrait - Vol. II
Selbstportrait - Vol. II
Selbstportrait - Vol. II is the fourth solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius, best known for his work with Cluster, Harmonia and Aquarello. The title is German for "Self Portrait - Vol. II", a title which clearly reflects the gentle, introspective nature of this album of ambient...
were reissued as a single CD by Sky Records in 1996 under the title Selbsportrait I & II. It was reissued in its original form on both LP and CD by the Bureau B label on December 3, 2010.
Track listing
- "In Liebe Dein" - 3:43
- "Girlande" - 3:47
- "Inselmoos" - 5:40
- "Fabelwein" - 5:05
- "Prinzregent" - 5:53
- "Kamee" - 3:59
- "Herold" - 3:32
- "Halmharfe" - 3:24
- "Arcona" - 5:05
- "Staunen Im Fjord" - 3:33
- "Minne" - 2:09
Personnel
- Hans-Joachim Roedelius - Producer, composer, piano, keyboards
- Ernst Josef Seibl - Mixing (final cut)
- Jürgen Kraemer - Mixing on "Prinzregent"
- Udo Klemt - Mixing on "Prinzregent"
- Martha Roedelius that catg - Photography