Diagnosis from our patients


From Zero Tolerance:
Schloss Tegal: 'Neoterrik Research' (by Glenn Burston)

Subtitled The Hidden History, Cold Spring have here gathered a veritable feast of rare, deleted, remixed and unreleased material from the enigmatic partnership that is Richard Schneider and MW Burch that ordinarily would cost the ST aficionado a hefty sum to purchase separately, along with a fascinating essary on the history - and indeed mystery - of the castle from which the band name derives.Tracks such as 'Felgeschrei' and 'Last Glint Of Consciousness' are deft at showing the 'noise' side; heavy blasts of dissonant disquiet that are almost addictively hallucinogenic to the point that the threat posed in speaker damage is completely ignored. That, however, is not to say that the pieces that follow a more mellow road are any less disconcerting. 'The Demon That Feeds On The Chaos Of Man' is a darkly brooding menace whose dense claustrophobia si made all the more harrowing by what it hides rather than what it displays. The 'Anti-Life Equation' trilogy is perhaps the standout of the album. Apring a soundtrack into an unchartered territory in another world, this truly shows the quality and depth of thought in the use of sonic architecture that lesser mortals are unable to replicate. That said, the bleak intensity of the hitherto unreleased recording of 'Black Static Transmission' for Dutch radio does run a very close second. 'The Hidden Variable' showcases Tegal's ability to weave an eclectic tapestry from found sounds that appears both serene and madcap in equal parts while 'Invitation To An Outrage' completes the journey through a particulary desolate vision of dark ambience. Having become one of the most name-dropped artists of the dark ambient world, 'Neoterrik' also offers, aside from the 'snaggered it at last' side, an excellent overview of the band's career that stretches across time and also shows off several different facets of Schloss Tegal for both the experienced and novice alike.




SCHLOSS TEGAL
'The Hidden History Of Schloss Tegal'

All deleted 7" singles, compilation tracks, unreleased pieces and a few live tracks are gathered on the new Schloss Tegal album entitled NeoterrikResearch. Schloss Tegal has built quite a reputation in the dark, industrial scene, due to releases such as for instance Black static transmission, The soul extinguished, Live at the arsenal of the arts, The grand guignol, Oranur III "The third report and Human resource exploitation. Again Schloss Tegal impresses with slow-moving dark ambient, remastered byRichard Schneider at Synaesthetics Studios in Prague. But Neoterrik Research offers more, for instance the harsh, mechanical mix by labelmates Folkstorm.Due to this collection of excellent dark, long drawn-out apocalyptic soundscapes, hypnotic experimental noise, ritual drones and organi moments, Mark Burch and Richard Schneider prove that their material has been of a constant high level during the years. An album without a weak moment. But Schloss Tegal fans wouls have known that in advance.

Phosphor Magazine : Paul Bijlsma



SCHLOSS TEGAL
'The Hidden History Of Schloss Tegal'
COLD SPRING

Right from the start, this compilation of rare Schloss Tegal soundscapes is
nothing but harsh and cold. The manipulation of electronics and natural
environments sends unnerving shivers across your body and through the very
air itself. Sub sonic bass rumbles build and morph and the occasional
disconcerting voice whispers bleak and haunting mantras. As with similar
artists, ( Gruntsplatter, Habeeb and Marspiter) this is best listened to in
total darkness with headphones for that all engrossing claustraphobic vibe.
This is also a pretty hard slog to listen too in one sitting. The
unrelenting desolate atmosphere Schloss Tegal evokes can be a might
depressing and overwhelming, but for this kind of noise, that's a
compliment. So, if the darkness is your friend then this soundtrack will
bring it even closer, open the void and tempt you in.

ALEX BONIWELL - from Alternative London


SCHLOSS TEGAL
Neoterrik Research - The Hidden History of Schloss Tegal
CD - 11 tracks - Cold Spring - 2004

'Neoterrik Research - The Hidden History of Schloss Tegal' is a compilation gathering unreleased, out of print, remix tracks and pieces from various compilations from the well-known American dark ambient activist Schloss Tegal. Released last spring on the English label Cold Spring, this cd features eleven tracks remastered by Richard Schneider at Synaesthetics Studios in Prague. There is no risk in predicting that this record will easily find its audience amongst the Schloss Tegal fans, but also amongst those interested in dark ambient/atmospheric music in general. A total length of sixty-six minutes, alternating frightening dark ambient soundscapes ('Last Glint of Consciousness') with pulsating and repetitive ('Zero Situation') as well as hypnotic experimental noise ('The Hidden Variable'), ritual-dronic ('Technocore (Iteration X)', 'Black Static Transmission', 'Invitation to an Outrage (Reptilian Mind)', organic ('The Demon that Feeds on the Chaos of Man'), minimalist (Anti-life Equation') or post-industrial ('Collapse of the Wave Function') passages. The overall atmosphere is undoubtedly dark, atmospheric and post-apocalyptic... and in no way boring. Captivating would certainly be the best word to describe the ambiance that dominates this brilliant collection of old and new Schloss Tegal recordings.
Presented in a jewel-case, this release also includes a booklet featuring all the information relative to the origins of each track as well as an interesting text about 'The Secret origins of Schloss Tegal'.

Highly recommended!

Nathalie F. - http://www.heimdallr.ch/Reviews/2004/SchlossTegal-NeoterrikResearch.ht

NEOTERRIK RESEARCH
'The Hidden History Of Schloss Tegal'
(Cold Spring)

Cold and harsh. These rare Schloss Tegal soundscapes are designed to
manipulate and unnerve even the most hardened listener. Sub bass drones and
rumbles fuse and meld with whispered voices in the thin cold air as
manipulated electronics and natural samples mesh to form unearthly
concoctions. Schloss Tegal wants to haunt you, wants to make the whole
experience uncomfortable. Sit in the dark and scare yourself. You know you
want to.

Alex Boniwel


NEOTERRIK RESEARCH
'The Hidden History Of Schloss Tegal'
(Cold Spring)

Dopo il successo di "Black Static Transmission" ristampato nel 2002, la Cold Spring pubblica una raccolta di brani di brani inediti o presenti su 7" o compilation ormai dispersi di una delle leggende del Dark Ambient, gli Schloss Tegal..
..un disco unico che ripercorre la carriera di questi 2 grandiosi artisti, che nel corso della loro carriera hanno sperimentato in lungo e in largo nei territori della musica ambientale.. ci troviamo di tutto, dai primi lavori su vinile a brani comparsi in compilation mai pubblicate ("Invitation to an Outrage (Reptilian Mind)" e "Unsub (Insect Mind)") o su altri dischi, come "Felgeschrei" comparso nel disco di remix di Folkstorm.. non mancano brani inediti come "Zero Situation", maledetto dark ambient noise in tipico stile Schloss Tegal..
..in poche parole un disco per gli amanti di questi pionieri del dark ambient e per chi vuole ascoltare i primi lavori di questo oscuro duo.. insomma per chi non vuole farsi mancare nulla delle loro oscure colonne sonore..
..nel booklet vi è anche un interessante storia sulle "origini segrete di Schloss Tegal".. e capirete un pò di cose.. un disco da non perdere.

Paride - Stillborn Webzine (Italy

NEOTERRIK RESEARCH
'The Hidden History Of Schloss Tegal'
(Cold Spring)

(Swedish)

Cold Spring RecordsHet van Amerika afkomstige maar tegenwoordig in Praag residerende duo Schloss Tegal bestaat reeds vanaf de begindagen van de industriële muziek. Ze hebben dus al een heel parcours afgelegd en een gewaardeerde discografie uitgebracht. "Neoterrik research", dat als subtitel "The hidden history of Schloss Tegal" meekreeg, verzamelt alle vandaag haast onvindbare tracks die ooit verschenen of bedoeld waren te verschijnen als bijdrage tot verschillende compilaties. Daarmee is "Neoterrik research" niet alleen interessant voor de trouwe fans van het project die nu al die individuele tracks netjes op één cd kunnen beluisteren, maar eveneens voor de nieuwsgierige nieuwkomer die eens wil ‘proeven’ van Schloss Tegal en hiermee een mooi overzicht krijgt van hun evolutie doorheen die bijna 25 jaren. De muziek kan het best omschreven worden als noisy ambient soundscapes met een minimum aan ritme en een maximum aan sfeer. In tracks als "Last glint of consciousness", "The demon that feeds on the chaos of men" of "Collapse of the wave function" deed het ons wat denken aan de muzikale exploraties van de Japanse noise-artiest Aube, zonder Schloss Tegal daarmee te willen degraderen tot een kopie of wat dan ook van laatstgenoemde. Het is eerder zo dat beiden een gelijkaardige stijl parallel aan elkaar ontwikkeld hebben. Schloss Tegal brengt in verschillende tracks echter meer variatie aan, zoals bijvoorbeeld in "Zero situation", één van hun meer recente tracks die ook te vinden is op de verder in dit nummer beschreven "Statement 1961"-compilatie. Zoals het meeste van hun werk is ook dit een noisy soundscape, maar het bevat tevens rustig voortkabbelende beats. Verder is er ook nog "Technocore (Iteration X)", waarin subtiel in de achtergrond verwerkte tekstsamples te horen zijn, of "Invitation to an outrage (Reptilian mind)" dat een vertraagde en dus enorm zware stem bevat. Tenslotte willen we ook nog de remix vermelden die Schloss Tegal gemaakt heeft van "Felgeschrei", oorspronkelijk een track van Folkstorm. Hoewel "Neoterrik research" eerder een verzamelalbum is, blijft het wat ons betreft zeer aanbevelenswaardig aan éénieder die van industriële muziek houdt en die term dus breder opvat dan louter de harde, ritmische electro-industrial die tegenwoordig zo populair is.


[PW] - Dark Entries Magazine




NEOTERRIK RESEARCH
'The Hidden History Of Schloss Tegal'
(Cold Spring)

Teini-ikään varttuneella Schloss Tegalilla on takanaan jo reilu määrä julkaisuja ja ajatus yksittäisten, vaikeammin saatavilla olevien kappaleiden kasaamisesta yksiin kansiin tuntuu hyvältä idealta. Neoterrik Research - The Hidden History of Schloss Tegal sisältääkin aiemmin vain pienipainoksisilla kokoelmilla, kuten Ultrason, julkaistuja sekä kokonaan julkaisemattomia kappaleita.
Parhaimmillaan Schloss Tegal erottuu edukseen monista muista dark ambient -yhtyeistä siinä, että se onnistuu musiikillaan luomaan kuulijan eteen lähes käsinkosketeltavan tilan tunnun. Esimerkiksi levyn avaava Last Grint of Consciousness vie kuulijan suoraan kylmään ja autioon teollisuusmaisemaan. Levyn parhaimmistoon lukeutuu myös kolmesta osasta koostuva Anti-life Equation, jonka ensimmäinen osa auto-special doctrine luo muutamasta yksinkertaisesta elementistä ovelan pysähtyneen tunnelman. Osaltaan onnistuminen tilan luomisessa johtuu varmastikin levyn tavanomaista rikkaammasta äänimaailmasta: useimmissa kappaleissa yhtye sekoittaa rohkeasti erilaisiin elektronisia ääniin ja metallin kilahduksiin lyhyitä puhesampleja, jotka eivät ole kärsineet dark ambientin piirissä ainakaan vielä kovin suurta inflaatiota. Vaikka Schloss Tegalin musiikki on hyvin visuaalista, on melko yllättävää huomata, ettei Richard Schneider ole Graeme Revellin ja Brian Lustmordin tavoin tehnyt juurikaan elokuvamusiikkia. Esimerkiksi Zero Situation:in kaltaiset tunnelmanluojat on kuin tehty elokuvia varten, niin vahvasti kappale onnistuu piirtämään kuvan hylätystä suurkaupungista.
Vaikka aivan koko levy ei yllä parhaimpien kappaleiden tasolle, edustaa Neoterrik Research onnistuneimmillaan mielestäni genrensä ehdotonta parhaimmistoa. The Hidden History of Schloss Tegal tarjoaa hienon katsauksen yhtyeen vähemmän tunnetumpiin kappaleisiin täydentäen siten monen fanin puutteellista levykokoelmaa. Lisäksi se toimii uusille faneille hyvänä tutustumislevynä antaen kattavan kuvan yhtyeen tekemisistä vuosien varrella.Jaakko Penttinen

Dead Music Union - Finland


NEOTERRIK RESEARCH
'The Hidden History Of Schloss Tegal'
(Cold Spring)

Schloss Tegal, god, reached beyond expectations, solid rumbling layered drone-ambient, swirling and crushing deep frequencies, evoking pretty claustrophobic atmospheres at times; dark soundscapes filled in with selected samples, turning it into more cinematic themes. An absolute keeper!

Stefan - |||geluidsoverlast||| webmagazine & mailorder [ b e l g i u m ]


Schloss Tegal "BlackStatic Transmission" CD Cold Spring Records

Enter a world of occult and derelict atmospheres that gives a new understanding to the sheer force behind dark ambient noise. Exploring the themes that revolve around the subject of the anti-world, the place where time runs backwards and alien transmissions have been sent to us to decipher and understand. Richard Schneider composes seven magical noir transmissions divided into two parts with the assistance of MW Burch and En Llewellyn. In the first set of planiospheric compositions we encounter off-world transmissions with static apparitions of lost souls and knowledge of what's to come. Massive drones grate your mind while fierce and menacing voices attack from all sides, swirl about when we enter this surreal plane of existence. Shadowy voice excerpts are slowly captured and recycled while deep bass sub-sonics pulse into you veins like oil. Repulsive psychotics and unsettling screams churn into your brain while thunderous terrorizing percussive elements wander about the maze you are lost in. You become entangled and traumatized with various foreboding entities as you move through the chaos. Charred and thick barriers lead you slowly out. And the intensities break down to the mechanical and opaque passageways, ending the first 22 minutes of the cd. In the second set of planiospheric fields, we engage abrasive lo-fi bass modulations that set the base for this mysterious environment. The modulations are broken with more dense barriers and messages that accelerate you deeper into this invisible world. Lost signals and codes tap your senses. Rotating mechanical undertones submerge your mind even further displaying erosive tendencies. Eventually various shrieks, cries, and warnings start to give us insight to the transmissions. All things become surrounded by beautiful feminine chants that evoke depressive feelings and leave us with an introspective ending to the 42 minutes of insight from the very intriguing composer. This release encourages me to venture more into this musician's work; "Black Static Transmission" proves to be another powerful work of dark ambient, building tortured soundscapes similar to dr. blood of ah cama-sotz. Do not overlook this one, you might regret it.

;_Andrea Strachnacova

Schloss Tegal "Black Static Transmission Live" CDR - Tegal Records

Schloss Tegal is, unquestionably, one of the most significant bands creating music today - or ever! Through releases steeped in intelligence, research, deft sound manipulation, and the most distinct use of obscure samples, they have created a body of work almost unequaled in the realm of dark, cryptic, discomfiting designs. Black Static Transmissions Live, features four extensive doses of live assaults from the Black Static Transmissions tour. It's a showcase for the extraordinary breadth and intense singular focus that this band has always exhibited. "Oranur III - The Third Report", the shortest track, sets the mood with haunting, elastic tones corrupted by alien electronics. Sounds shift with vibratory tenacity, a tone like the pounding and scraping of a metallic heart adding a particularly coarse edge. The ambience of unease, a specialty for Schloss Tegal, has been set. A large chunk of "Black Static Transmissions" follows, opening with the eerie "I've come to tell you what I have seen" sequence (a personal fave), that leads into an ever-shifting avalanche of tones, timbres, and illusory samples. It captivates via sheer disparate focus, sounding as though dimensions are being bent, warping under the heavy weight of drones adorned with agitated cilia and mutilated by fluttering sunspots (there is a sense of kinetic life eradiating from a hole in the pocket of an unknown region of ectoplasmic origin); looped voice samples that hint at mysterious allegiances and, more so, mysterious intentions; Morse codes from the outer reaches of the universe that tap out messages of an ambiguous nature; and the moon's lunar attraction, generating cosmic tidal waves that swell and recede in an otherworldly nod toward discomfort of an almost spiritual, albeit alien, foundation. The edge of the seat is where these sound manipulations reside, as a para-psychological force rumbles through the panoramic Chaos like an icebreaker through the frozen Arctic tundra. It never sounds as though Schloss Tegal create music so much as channel sounds from the great beyond. "Toxified System Resistor" clocks in at 30 minutes, stretching out the droning mix of tones in a way that fortifies their strength. The samples that are sprinkled throughout disorientate via subject matter (...vs. technology vs. reality vs. perception vs....) and a drugged, incomprehensible maneuvering of voices as the track progresses, sounding like the utterances of putty. The layered drones, aligning cadences in an extremely concentrated fashion, scratch at the perimeters, warding off hope for the embrace of an undefined distress. There's an overwhelming dose of cataclysmic Pandemonium present during "Blind Fault Upheaval," along with a taut tension of the trapped-in-the-cabin-waiting-out-the-monsters variety. At one point, wood smacks down and splints on the backs of howling demons, while later, the edge of sanity is massaged by talons of dread. The tension is occasionally tapped, dispersed in spurts of swirling, screechy (unnerving!) agitation. The all-around mood is fraught with fear, horrific and fascinating all at once. Black Static Transmissions Live is only available through the website (www.interzonemusic.com) and, needless to say, I highly recommend it.


;_Funprox Webzine


Schloss Tegal "Black Static Transmission" CD Cold Spring Records

Schloss Tegal is one of the most acclaimed dark sound manipulators around. Ultra dark and frightening ambient is what they have to offer us on "Black Static Transmission", their fifth album. This release was out of print for a few years, and ha snow been re-released by Cold Spring. A powerful, full sound, in which many things happen, strange machinery, deep rumblings, massive drones, speech samples, strange metallic percussion... Dense and mechanical walls of sound in which you can easily lose yourself. An occult, otherworldy sphere surrounds this music. "Black Static Transmission" deals with the subject of the anti-world, where time runs backwards and where we encounter cryptic alien transmissions. The mysterious mood is greatly enhanced by the use of EVP's. As Richard Schneider of Schloss Tegal explains in an interview, "EVP is the use of tape recorders placed in certain locations to record the voices and communicate with the dead. Questions are usually asked by the researcher and then [they] play back the tape to hear the answers in the static void of the tape hiss and distortions". An album with two parts, consisting of seven interesting 'transmissions' of a cold and shadowy world. The second part seems to be even more dense and deep, with deep basses, static sounds, radio waves and plenty of eerie voices. A very dark and mysterious creation, intelligently created and with an interesting concept, not something to consume easily.

;_Experimental Music Webzine


Schloss Tegal "Black Static Transmission" CD Cold Spring Records

It seems like this project has been rather succesful transcending genres in their fan-base. I have often seen Schloss Tegal mentioned in the influences of Black Metal bands and their resignated kin who have converted to Dark Ambient or Noise music. It is not without reason I guess. The 'horror' aproach along with the fabled way this album is said to have been conjured ought to have appealed to one or another who find happiness in indulging in the extreme. I do however believe Schloss Tegal also have their concrete black music to thank for their success since after all, this music is very well-structured and enjoyable. Black Static Transmission projects an opaque soundness that seem to be eminating from the black core of the world itself.
This is the kind of brooding Dark Ambient album that has a certain mesmerising effect upon the listener. It is mostly built around hollow drones and sweeping sounds crowned with a turmoil of twisted voices going round and round like some sick, yet ravishing maelstrom. As the the music is rather hypnotic, it sort of falls out of the picture sometimes. Yet judging from the strange turns my fantasy takes when this happens, I do not doubt that the 'music' is still there in the background, gently giving acupuncture to the twisted sides of my imagination. The music perfectly generates 'negative' emotions, yet it also generate a slight addiction that is bound to last. I remain sceptical however to this EVP story, yet I certainly admire the effect that the eerie voices have on the listener. It certainly is a creepy atmosphere which is being established here. I do however find some of the 'clearer' voice samples that are speaking about the EVP phenomena to be rather ridiculous, especially when they are repeated. There couldn't have been worse way of ruining the otherwise splendid atmosphere of this CD, yet luckily, these spoken parts only appear on few occasions. Still it is truly the biggest flaw in this recording.Otherwise, I find this to be a nice and very functional CD that definitely stands out. Remember however that Black Static Transmission is best heard at a rather high-volume in head-phones or a surround stereo rack. Otherwise, much of the hypnotizing effect will be forfeit. This is splendidly obscure music for the ravenous music lover.

;_Ectonaut



Schloss Tegal "Black Static Transmission" CD Cold Spring Records

THIS was my very first introduction to SCHLOSS TEGAL, despite having heard a great deal about them over the last few years. Born in the heart of Kansas during the early-1980s, this deranged brain-child of Richard Schneider and Marc Burch takes its name from one of the first clinics specialising in the treatment of mental illness. Not simply from a therapeutic perspective, however, the centre was also used to induce psychotic debilitation amongst the enemies of the Third Reich. Meanwhile, The beastly choir depicted in the CD’s interior artwork is amazing. I’m not sure who the artist is, but it resembles a macabre blend of Hans Holbein and William Hogarth. This recording is based on the stellar transmissions which are constantly being sent from what Schloss Tegal describes as the hidden ‘Anti-World’. But this is a process which most people are unable to perceive, not least because the medical establishment has waged a bitter campaign against natural remedies relating to magnetic aura. This, it is argued, is achieved by transforming human information receptors into thalassmia, or low levels of haemoglobin in red blood cells. Despite the fact that the CD appears to contain a total of seven tracks, it plays in two lengthy sections (forty-one and twenty-one minutes respectively). The opening rush of wind swirls like a murmuring Kansas tornado, with samples elaborating upon strange voices that arrive completely unheard but which can subsequently be heard on tape minutes later. This is achieved by using white noise generators, from which the captured voices can extracted electronically. The sounds themselves are Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), samples from the world beyond. Ghostly rumblings which transmit personal information to the recipient. The samples used on this CD range from the scientifically human to the harrowing and the unknown: ‘Beyond the universe a light glows’. The result is a sonar cacophony of unexplained and fluctuating baggage, affecting the ears in the way that darkness and horror can affect the eyes. At times the EVP samples appear so indulgently sinister that it is difficult to ascertain whether the typical reaction should be one of fear or curiosity. Unlike a lot of Dark Ambient recordings, the minimalist approach is distinct by its very absence and a busy and varied collection of themes function as a highly eventful musical sub-plot. There is always a great deal going on. A rippling series of posthumous booms and slumps to occupy the enquiring mind. Emissions for the inquisitive. Conversational overlap for the serious eavesdropper. Listen to this in a darkened room and you’ll be tempted to reach for the light-switch. At one point we hear something resembling the hurried swish of black helicopter blades, almost as though one is being caught red-handed whilst being exposed to a great secret. A secret that the powers-that-be wish to keep latent and suppressed. Towards the end of the CD we hear a mixture of English and American accents, as the samples beneath degenerate into a screaming torrent. A nightmare soundtrack for Dante’s Inferno: ‘Let the night roar, because they can hear us’. This is dead-air in the fullest possible sense. Pure class.

_Troy Southgate