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Rumours are abound that the man behind this archive “Berlin School" work is ex-TANGERINE DREAM-er Peter Baumann, however, read on for the facts...
‘Baumann/Koek’ is another hitherto undiscovered treasure of German electronic music, the only album by the electronic music pairing of Wolfgang Baumann and Ata Koek, both from Kempten, Bavaria.
It was mixed in Conny Plank’s studio and distributed, without a label, by the duo themselves in 1978.
The music owes much to the “Berlin School”: layered sequencer patterns, swirling chord tapestries, a computer beat here and there. Oriental elements or hints thereof add a particular charm to ‘Baumann/Koek’, available now for the first time on CD!
Rumours persist that Peter Baumann of TANGERINE DREAM is behind the ‘Baumann/Koek’ project. Indeed, the music might bear a certain resemblance, and the song entitled ‘TD-Mem’ might be seen as a clue. However, we are told the rumour is just that, a rumour, with no bearing on the truth.
And is it entirely coincidental that Peter Baumann’s recently announced first solo release in years is coming out on the same label? ... Anyway, we digress ...
In actual fact, ‘Baumann/Koek’ can unequivocally be identified as Wolfgang Baumann (no, not the MPS record cover artist), born in Kempten in 1950 and his friend Ata Koek (Köktürk, to be precise), born in Istanbul in 1956.
Wolfgang Baumann was 15 years old when he learned to play the electric organ. Some ten years later, he had grown tired of the limited range of sounds the instrument offered and he sold it on the spot. Wolfgang and his friend Ata were determined to explore new tones and musical structures— with a synthesizer. Together, they made the trip from Kempten to Bonn with the singular aim of visiting the legendary Synthesizerstudio Bonn, the very same store where KRAFTWERK and countless other electronic icons went shopping for their equipment. The duo purchased a second-hand ARP 2600 and immediately began experimenting with the synth. They soon realized, however, that they needed more gear to create the music they dreamed of. Before long they had added an ARP sequencer, a Solina String keyboard and an EKO Compurhythm drum computer to their arsenal. Last but not least, they acquired a four-track recorder and were ready to commit their music to tape.
Without a record label to back them, they pressed up 1000 copies and paid the production costs themselves. Having recorded all the music on the four-track machine at home, the pair went to the expense of booking Conny Plank’s studio for the mix. The album was well received and the Swabian wholesaler Jaguar Records stepped in for worldwide distribution pressing another 5000 LPs.
Japan proved to be a particularly popular territory, with radio stations picking up on the record (as did the UK, with stalwart Lotus Records promoting it on a "Is it? Isn't it? Decide for yourself" angle!)
Sadly, Jaguar Records went bankrupt shortly afterwards. Baumann and Koek were disinclined to take on any further financial risk and decided against a follow-up record.
The music clearly references the Berlin School: a hypnotic maelstrom of sequencer patterns and swirling tapestries of mostly minor chords, underpinned at times by a computer beat. What really sets the music apart from comparable productions is the subtle influence of Arabian tonality that saw Ata Koek consciously introduce just a hint of Oriental flavour. If Baumann and Koek considered their “modest” equipment to be a hindrance, their music sounded all the better for it. There is a raw, unpolished quality to the tracks, a clarity that draws the listener closer, far more so than the bombastic productions of contemporaries like TANGERINE DREAM, Klaus Schulze et al.
‘Baumann/Koek’ is also available as a 180gm Vinyl LP – Stock # 1851417
‘Baumann/Koek’ is available now.
BAUMANN/KOEK: BAUMANN/KOEK CD Track List:
01. Yarabbim (11:48)
02. TD-Mem (8:33)
03. Gamabol (11:40)
04. Where (5:24)
05. Sequencer Roll (2:25)
TPT – 39:50