The restless trip through countless clubs, numerous airports and on-going party insanity continues as the second soundtrack rendering of Hannes Stöhr’s premier drama film, Berlin Calling, takes on its awaited release. Paul Kalkenbrenner’s masterstroke, “Berlin Calling Vol. 2,” continues to accompany the protagonists from Stöhr’s moving and somewhat tragic depiction while surfacing a humorous and well-spirited undertone. Although the tracks, “Bengang” and “Torted,” lack their corresponding picture, they highly possess the authentic feverish atmosphere depicted in the film, plainly making them the blue prints to DJ Ickarus’s jam-packed dance floor. Don’t expect any fancy embellishment on this release. These two tracks flow nicely like a non-stop machine. “Bengang” transmits more of a classic house-element with subtle hints of percussion while “Torted” pulls the track’s speed, making it an uncompromising energy-booster. “Berlin Calling Vol. 2″ simultaneously offers a powerful and irresistible listening experience to soundtrack listeners, film observers and, of course, movie hero character, DJ Ickarus himself! Resistance is futile!

Minimaland Feedback: Collector’s stuff

A) Bengang

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B) Torted

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Bpitch#206
Release Date: 07.12.2009

Berlin Calling is undoubtedly part of the film highlights of 2009. Hannes Stöhr’s fictitious drama based around the up-and-coming Berlin musician and Toxicomaniac Ickarus skillfully distances itself from ‘hip’ biopics and instead offers one hundred percent of authenticity and classic storytelling. What is surprising is the ease and the speed with which the dramatic – and even in parts tragic – story is presented. This balance act succeeds not only with images, but also with Paul Kalkbrenner’s congenial soundtrack accomplishes that feat effortlessly. Finally, after the “hymn” Sky and Sand, comes the second release as a 12” EP. Thematically, the title song is closely related to Sky and Sand, and the three tracks form an absolutely harmonious trilogy, not only perfectly transporting the film’s atmosphere, but actually generating it on their own. Even if you don’t know the images, you will soon get the impression of a subliminal, compulsively seething energy – and at the same time that of devouring emptiness, cycling faster and faster around aimlessness.

Square (A1) with its widely expansive structure incorporates the most of the anthemic character of Sky and Sand, meandering between forsakenness and calm, with a beat that works as relentlessly as a motor.
Aaron (B1) on the other hand, appears like a reflection of the A-side: a slightly acoustic sounding interlude with a bouncy beat that seems like a welcome opportunity to take a breath and put the spirits of the night back at a distance for a while.
Azure (B2) is a hit. Period. A gentle, almost conservative beginning gives way to the initially muted, but ever manically growing, big emptiness of the protagonist. The common theme of the whole soundtrack now emerges like an echo of all tracks – the beat unstoppably marches forward, but without the outlook of a relief, back into the mist of the night. To be continued…

a1 - Square 1

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b1 - Aaron

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b2 – Azure

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Minimaland Feedback: After almost one year, it’s a pleasure to get back to “Berlin Calling” steps again… the Cd really marked us and, in Vol.1 vinyl, we’ll all get the chance to buy some of the most gentle soft tracks that have been made during electronic musical history. We are trully appreciators of this producer’s work and we will always be waiting for his next move… for now lets way for Vol.2 because this is a perfect first!

BPC#198
Rls Date: 03.08.2009

The featured artist this week was very easy to choose. Paul Kalkbrenner, the old school German producer has recently released what is already considered his biggest album to date. He is easily one of top5 best live acts I’ve seen in my life and his music is able to transmit such feelings that nobody else does. Obviously Bpitch Control is the label behind this released, their work with Kalkbrenner has been going on for ages and the union seems to enhance the results in both sides.
This release is a special launch of an  OST to a movie called “Berling Calling” where the main artists of the cast are Dj Ickarus (P. Kalkbrenner) and his girlfriend Mathilde (Rita Lengyel). The movie portrays the life of techno dj as it really is including: gigs, relationships, record deals, touring and drug use. This is the closest you will get to real life. Seems like a movie that we all should watch and listen – the OST was all produced by Kalkbrenner. The plot is set, let’s talk about music:
The album starts with “Aaron” a low-pitch track perfect to start a set. Great Beat and soft melody to go along. The next two tracks also dive through soft rhythms, perfect to be listened in one of those special party’s. “Sky and Sand” was the first track that really caused a different impact on me when I listened the album. The accapela is great and all the power t

hat is created when the beat starts is simply amazing. I’m having goosebumps just by remembering it.
What more can i say? The album goes on and one with pure German productions, always presenting deep melodies with an arrow pointed to your heart (and soul) (e.g. “Square 1″, “Bengang”, “Moob”). There are also some Special edits of previously released tracks like “Altes Kamuffel”, “Atzepent” or “Castenets”. There’s even a new remix of one of the major Berlin hits this year – and that we so much appreciate – “Sascha Funke – Mango”. One last note to the Special Berlin Calling Edit on “Gebrunn Gebrunn” remembering us what music should be all about: feeling, enjoyment and attitude. This was the music that Paul Kalkbrenner ended his last set here in Portugal leaving us crying out for more.
Paul Kalkbrenner delivers a couple of great new tools and also some that we all knew from his sets but were previously unreleased! Berling Calling OST is already one of the best albums of the year. Don’t miss the movie also.

Tracklist:
1 Paul Kalkbrenner – Aaron 2 Paul Kalkbrenner – Queer Fellow
3 Paul Kalkbrenner – Azure
4 Paul Kalkbrenner – Sky And Sand
5 Paul Kalkbrenner – Square 1
6 Paul Kalkbrenner – Altes Kamuffel (Special Berlin Calling Edit)
7 Paul Kalkbrenner – Torted
8 Paul Kalkbrenner – Moob
9 Sascha Funke – Mango (Special Berlin Calling Edit)
10 Paul Kalkbrenner – Atzepeng (Special Berlin Calling Edit)
11 Paul Kalkbrenner – Castenets (Special Berlin Calling Edit)
12 Paul Kalkbrenner – Revolte
13 Paul Kalkbrenner – Bengang
14 Paul Kalkbrenner – Peet
15 Paul Kalkbrenner – Absynthe
16 Paul Kalkbrenner – Gebrunn Gebrunn (Special Berlin Calling Edit)

Bpitch#185
Rls Date: 02.10.2008