Esperanza | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 11 March 1996 | |||
Recorded | January 1995 – January 1996 in Random Studio, Forst and Studio B3, and Hamburg/St. Pauli [1] December 1995 – January 1996 at Alphaton Studio, Wentorf | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 56:12 | |||
Label | Random Records | |||
Producer | Michael Rother | |||
Michael Rother chronology | ||||
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Esperanza is the eighth studio album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released on 11 March 1996. Excepting 1993's compilation album Radio , the studio album was Rother's first since 1987 and his sole full release of material in the 1990s.
The album was recorded between January 1995 and January 1996 in Germany at Rother's own studio Random Studio in Forst and Studio B3, Hamburg. Additional recording and digital treatments took place at Alphaton Studio, Wentorf in December 1995 and January 1996. Receiving positive reviews the album was released as an CD and limited edition double LP in 1996 before it was re-released in 2000. The artwork and photography and for the album was designed and shot by Thomas Beckmann.
Esperanza was recorded and produced by Rother with only a small amount of assistance. This was in contrast to the majority of his 1980s work which Rother recorded alone. Jens Harke provided vocals and wrote the lyrics for "Weil Schnee und Eis", aside from the vocal samples on "Die Ganze Welt (World Mix)" (from Radio), the appearance of vocals on the song was a first for Rother's solo work. Joachim Rudolph contributed to the album in his programming of Pro Tools and DD-1000 computer software. The rest of the album was written and performed by Rother utilising electronic instrumentation. [1] The entire album was digitally treated at Alphaton Studio, Wentorf along with additional recording on "Electra".
Esperanza was first released on Random Records as CD and as double LP on 11 March 1996. The double LP was pressed on 150 gram and limited to 1000 copies, it includes bonus tracks dating from the sessions that produced the bonus tracks on Rother's 1993 re-issue campaign. The tracks included are "Nachtpassage (Chill Remix)", "Unterwasserwolken", "Südseewellen (Ambient Remix - 1993)" and "Nachtpassage (Ambient Night Mix)" In 2000, Rother re-issued all of the albums, including Esperanza, in partnership between Random Records and BSC Music. [2]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [3] |
Esperanza received positive reviews by the majority of critics.[ who? ]
All tracks are written by Michael Rother, except "Weil Schnee und Eis" music by Michael Rother with lyrics by Jens Harke
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Silver Sands" | 3:29 |
2. | "Perlenklang" | 3:36 |
3. | "Weil Schnee und Eis" | 2:28 |
4. | "Esperanza" | 3:30 |
5. | "Electra" | 3:23 |
6. | "Wolkenwelt" | 3:03 |
7. | "Kristall" | 6:36 |
8. | "Singapore-Lore" | 3:13 |
9. | "Heartbeat 67 BPM" | 2:45 |
10. | "Loop-Loop" | 4:17 |
11. | "Glox" | 0:33 |
12. | "Gleitflug" | 3:04 |
13. | "Travel" | 3:02 |
14. | "Herzlicht" | 3:23 |
15. | "One" | 2:49 |
16. | "Sphinx" | 3:41 |
17. | "Spirit of '72" | 2:37 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
18. | "Nachtpassage (Chill Remix)" | 3:51 |
19. | "Unterwasserwolken (1994)" | 5:26 |
20. | "Südseewellen (Ambient Remix - 1993)" | 5:35 |
21. | "Nachtpassage (Ambient Night Mix - 1994)" | 4:12 |
Neu! were a West German krautrock band formed in Düsseldorf in 1971 by Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother following their departure from Kraftwerk. The group's albums were produced by Conny Plank, who has been regarded as the group's "hidden member". They released three albums in their initial incarnation—Neu! (1972), Neu! 2 (1973), and Neu! 75 (1975)—before disbanding in 1975. They briefly reunited in the mid-1980s.
Neu! 75 is the third studio album by the krautrock band Neu!. It was recorded and mixed at Conny Plank's studio between December 1974 and January 1975. It was released in 1975 by Brain Records, and officially reissued on CD on 29 May 2001 by Astralwerks in the US and by Grönland Records in the UK.
Cluster were a German musical duo consisting of Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius, formed in 1971 and associated with West Germany's krautrock and kosmische music scenes. Born from the earlier Berlin-based group Kluster, they relocated in 1971 into the countryside village of Forst, Lower Saxony, where they built a studio and collaborated with musicians such as Conny Plank, Brian Eno, and Michael Rother; with the latter, they formed the influential side-project Harmonia. After first disbanding in 1981, Cluster reunited several times: from 1989 to 1997, and from 2007 to 2010.
Harmonia was a West German musical "supergroup" formed in 1973 as a collaboration between members of two prominent krautrock bands: Cluster's Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius joined by Neu! guitarist Michael Rother. Living and recording in the rural village of Forst, the trio released two albums—Musik von Harmonia (1974) and Deluxe (1975)—to limited sales before dissolving in 1976. AllMusic described the group as "one of the most legendary in the entire krautrock/kosmische scene."
Michael Rother is a German experimental musician, best known for being a founding member of the influential bands Neu! and Harmonia, and an early member of the band Kraftwerk.
Hans-Joachim Roedelius is a German electronic musician and composer, known as a co-founder of the influential 'kosmische' groups Cluster and Harmonia. He is notable for his prolific discography, either as a solo artist, as part of a band, or in collaboration with other artists. He has more than 100 releases to his name. He also performed in the ambient jazz trio Aquarello, and released several solo studio albums.
Radio is the first compilation album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released in October 1993.
Musik von Harmonia is the debut album from the influential German krautrock group Harmonia, released in January 1974 by Brain Records. Formed by the addition of Neu! guitarist Michael Rother to Cluster, they recorded the album from June to November 1973 in Cluster's Forst recording studio. It was self-produced by the group using a primitive mixer and three tape recorders.
Deluxe is the second album from the West German krautrock group Harmonia, consisting of Neu! guitarist Michael Rother and the Cluster duo of Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius. It was recorded in June 1975 in Harmonia's studio in Forst, Germany. It was first released on the Brain Records label in 1975.
Tracks and Traces is a collaborative album by German kosmische supergroup Harmonia and British musician Brian Eno, initially credited to Harmonia 76. Eno joined the group at Harmonia's studio in Forst, Germany for the September 1976 recording sessions.
Flammende Herzen is the debut studio album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released in 1977 and includes the single "Flammende Herzen" b/w "Karussell". The music was used the following year to soundtrack Flaming Hearts. It was Rother's first solo venture after having recorded five albums prior as a member of Neu! with Klaus Dinger and Harmonia with Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius.
Sterntaler is the second studio album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released in 1978 and includes the single "Sterntaler" b/w "Sonnenrad".
Katzenmusik is the third studio album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released in 1979 and includes the single "Katzenmusik 9" b/w "Katzenmusik 2".
Fernwärme is the fourth studio album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released in 1982 and includes the singles "Silberstreif" b/w "Erlkönig" and "Hohe Luft" b/w "Fortuna".
Lust is the fifth studio album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released in 1983 and includes the single "Palmengarten" b/w "Cascadia".
Süßherz und Tiefenschärfe is the sixth studio album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released in 1985 and includes the singles "Süssherz" b/w "Maus-Mann-Motiv Nr. 4" and "Glitzerglanz" b/w "Rapido".
Traumreisen is the seventh studio album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released in 1987 and includes the single "Lichtermeer" b/w "Happy-End".
Remember (The Great Adventure) is the ninth studio album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released on 25 April 2004. The studio album was Rother's first since 1996 and his sole full release of material in the 2000s. It would take sixteen years till his next album. Dreaming was released in 2020.
Die Engel des Herrn is a 1992 studio album by the band Die Engel des Herrn. It was originally released in a limited edition of 1000 on the private label L.S.D., which Klaus Dinger created when he failed to find a record label willing to release the album. When Dinger signed to Captain Trip Records in 1995 all copies of the album not yet sold were bought up and sold by CTR, although no more copies of the album were ever pressed. Consequently only 1000 copies of the album exist, and it is one of the rarest Klaus Dinger albums.
Dreaming is the tenth studio album by the German solo artist Michael Rother. It was released in September 2020. Aside from some soundtrack material during the 2010s, Dreaming is Michael Rother's first solo effort since Remember was released in 2004. The album was constructed from leftover musical sketches and vocal samples of Sophie Joiner from the sessions for Remember .