T.Raumschmiere and President Bongo at Urban Spree / Friday, 27.11.2015

T.Raumschmiere is known for his take-no-prisoners approach to his live sets, which feature distorted beats, grueling basses, and steep descents. Now for the flipside, the negative image of the sound that made T.R. famous, the sound that has allowed us to get closer to the understanding of this magic ambient music. And don’t miss the DOUBLE Record Release Concert by T.Raumschmiere and President Bongo.

There is a purpose behind ambient music: it is utility music. Brian Eno made that clear once and for all with ‘Music for Airports’ – the utilitarian nature of this music can already be found in the title. But way before that, in 1920, Erik Satie composed ‘Musique d’ameublement’ – furniture music. Satie created true background music as a reaction against the misuse of classical music as a carpet of sound. The purpose of his furniture music was also to bridge the awkward gaps in conversation in social situations. In turn, Eno’s airport music is meant to serve as background music while sounding interesting enough for listeners to become absorbed.

If we go by Eno’s definition, the music on T.RAUMSCHMIERE’s new album is not ambient. Although – or in fact, because – each individual track on this album immediately and effortlessly generates atmospheres, it is impossible not to be drawn in. T.RAUMSCHMIERE sucks the listener into the perceptible endlessness of his pulsating sounds, even though the music does not actually expect anything from the listener. It is not demanding, it does not sound lofty or ethereal. It is in constant movement and evolution while sounding grounded at the same time. The tracks are not weightless; they have body.

Stephan Stephensen aka President Bongo wears many hats, but likes to refer to himself as ‘an emotional carpenter’. And the name is fitting: throughout his illustrious career, Bongo has built, tooled, shaped and reconstructed reality in a manner that has touched upon the emotional spheres of thousands, greatly increasing their quality of life and inner harmony in the process.