Van der Papen

van der papen - majestic 3" CD EP [ parvoart ] recordings parvo 004
1 - april (9:12)
2 - 30483 (5:40)
3 - uvea (9:53)
review:
First up: we all should pay attention to this relatively new label, for we have yet to have heard a bad note from them. And maybe the crew (at [parvoart] ) will soon abandon their obscure 3” CD format and present us with longer playing times. Certainly Van Der Papen delivers in the 25 minutes on this CD reverential, orchestral dub-techno à la Gas that hits the spot exactly. It is definitely jam-packed with references. Who can say no to the Twin Peaks strings, who has never wished for a smooth bass drum with side order of subtle vinyl crackle and who was ever resented Moby doing a bit of rave? This is worth (checking out).
Thaddi @ de:bug 11/08
Miswriting the name of much appreciated (...recently become trendy) composer Arvo Pärt, you have the name of this interesting new label from Van Der Papen. They opened the label with a series of 3” and if from the morning you can guess how the rest of the day is gonna be like, here we’re dealing with a really good start. These two Lonkowsky twins from Berlin gave us a short work based on simplicity and sobriety, that’s why after the about twenty minutes of this release I’ve been thinking if they’re gonna put all of their efforts into building a full-length and they do it for good, I’m sure it could be an interesting cd. 4/4 kick drum minimal techno style on a melancholic quasi dramatic ambient melody, no vocals but the usual soft sounds to enrich the simple texture of the tracks. After the minimal techno opening they become ethereal and even more relaxed but as you can easily hear there’s some sort of continuity between the first and the second episode and for what concerns the last and closing track, well if you appreciated the beginning I’m sure you love the “end titles”. In some way it reminded a bit the approach of Afx Twin during the days of his Ambient Works and when reading this remember that I think Richard D James was at his personal best together some of the following more relaxed productions (ok Come to daddy is great but is still prefer the ambient era). Berlin based and for good, for Germans or not these guys have all the good qualities of electronic music from Deutschland mixed with a great taste for nocturnal ambient feels. An interesting debut and you know, when working on minimal things...taste is everything."
Andrea Ferraris @ Chain D.L.K
A brief history is useful when determining the inception, or at least the reason for, Van Der Papen. As former members of hardcore rock outfit Schafe, twin siblings Ronald and Christoph Lonkowsky’s interest in euphonic ambient techno started after a friend of theirs, Duncan ó Ceallaigh, lent them records by the likes of Gas and Yagya. Immersed in the deep and heavy sounds of these seminal albums, the brothers married this with their love of soundtrack composers such as Angelo Badalamenti and Harry Gregson Williams and Van Der Papen was born. Fittingly, the fruit of their labour (the “Majestic Ep”) sees light of day on ó Ceallaigh’s [Parvoart] Recordings stable. [Parvoart], for the uninitiated, is a microlabel based in the German Baltic Sea port of Wismar, that defines itself by an unified aesthetic based around unique artwork and photography and a preference for the 3” CD format. “Majestic” is this imprint’s maiden voyage into the world of ambient techno.
Van Der Papen have clearly studied those aforementioned records, the influence of Wolfgang Voigt is prevalent throughout, particularly notable in the soaring, layered synth work on each of the three compositions featured. Though, dismissing this record as a blatant carbon copy would be wrong, as the Lonkowsky brothers use their grounding in chillout, club and noise to add their own spin on proceedings.
Immediately noticeable on this recording is, the comforting, velvety production job. Right from the first few seconds Van Der Papen shroud everything in a blanket of whispering vinyl crackle and surface noise, fashioning a woozy, tranquil ambience throughout each piece.
“30483” takes its name from the number of days that lapsed between the turn of the 20th Century and the brothers’ date of birth and its shifting phasing sounds, gentle beats and pulsing bass provide a sterling backdrop for Duncan ó Ceallaigh’s echoic hammered dulcimer – surely the first use of this instrument in the techno field? “April”, on the other hand, is far more standard, utilising vast Vangelis like synths that swirl and melt in the foreground in tandem with electronics straight from the Hawtin handbook. Though, it must be pointed out that, there is much more going on underneath than its ambient techno veneer.
Though their approach is streamlined, Van Der Papen at least attempt to forgo the traditional dynamics of this genre. Of course, this Ep features all the expected hallmarks of an ambient techno release. From the gliding, glissando synth work, submersed, aquatic basslines and rhythms of looped beats. And the Lonkowsky brothers could be, unfortunately, lassoed by comparisons to GAS. They still, however, manage to carve out their own unique niche in a saturated genre – and for that I commend them.
Michael Henaghan @ Angry Ape
LAST TWO COPIES AVAILABLE HERE!
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