Block 4

08/02/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtlWBPCIWs4
Hardware, will it be a major shift for Elektronengehirn? You decide.
Malte Steiner initiated Elektronengehirn in 1996 as an experiment to create music exclusively using software-based sound synthesis. Elektronengehirn is an old-school term from the 60s for computers, when they were referred to as electronic brains. What sounds trivial today was, back then, a pretty radical idea, especially when one lacked access to the computational resources of institutions like universities. Computer sound synthesis for the masses was in its infancy, and not much was possible in real time. Initially, Steiner used Csound in non-real-time mode to create complex soundscapes. Later, with more powerful computers, he also employed Pure Data and Max/MSP, which both run strictly in real time.

Meanwhile, block 4 studio added more and more hardware, like the ever-growing Eurorack Modular system since 2002. It became silly to ignore all the equipment and not incorporate it into the electro-acoustic world of Elektronengehirn. With the album 'Hardware,' it was time to break with the original concept and combine all the possibilities: software and hardware, digital and analog, virtual and physical.

this is the latest release of the now aalborg-based label block4 run by malte steiner.next show:07.03.2k24 baze.djunkiii presents This Is EuroRave Volume 1 @...

23/01/2024

The review of Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen new album compounds at Nitestylez:

baze.djunkiii on music and general life Home Of The Intrauterin Recordings Label Group Q[e]M = Quality [electronic] Music

17/01/2024

Baze.djunkiii unboxing the latest CD from block 4, the album compounds by Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen

and it is probably one of the most conceptual and abstract works the label has released so far.next show:01.02.2k24 baze.djunkiii presents Further Exploratio...

01/12/2023

Discover the eclectic world of the block 4 label. From Minimalsynth via IDM and Industrial to Noise and Experimental, as Downloads, CDs and Vinyl:

est. 1989 to manage and release music by Das Kombinat, Notstandskomitee, Elektronengehirn and more, on cassette, vinyl, CD and as downloads. Original from Germany, now operating from Denmark. keep updated via our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/c-4HCn

02/10/2023

Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen's concert 'condensation' at Lasher Fest 23 is now online in its full lenght, enjoy!

Listen to the new album 'compunds' here: https://tinamarianekroghmadsen.bandcamp.com/album/compounds

Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen: condensation, performed at Lasher Fest 23, Musikkens Hus, Aalborg (DK), 16.9.2023 - the new album compounds can be found here: htt...

15/09/2023

Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen ceremonially opens Musikkens Hus with ‘condensation’, an electroacoustic noise performance.

Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen is an artist and researcher who works between performance art, sound, open technology, and matter – in a mode of practicing and collaborating with philosophy and non-human agency.

As an artist, Madsen’s work revolves around ephemeral, performative and conceptual art practices, critical posthumanities and q***r theory.

Listen to the new album ‘compounds’ → shorturl.at/eJT23
Tickets → mhus.dk/lasher

15/09/2023

Nice review by Side-Line of the new Notstandskomitee album The Doomsday Layout:

REVIEW

Notstandskomitee – The Doomsday Layout (Album – Block 4)

Genre/Influences: Minimal-Electro, Experimental, Cinematic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Block 4 owner Malte Steiner strikes back with a new album of his legendary Notstandskomitee project. The German Electro-Experimentalist got instant fame during the 90s and never stopped composing new material. “The Doomsday Layout” features sixteen tracks that have been composed between 2009 and 2023.

Content: For all of those who’re familiar with the work of the artist it will be rather easy to recognize his sound and approach. Notstandskomitee remains first of all devoted to the creation and experiment of sounds. It feels once more like sounds have been assembled in a sonic frame and getting more accessible by slow rhythms. The tracks are revealing endless effects but also deep bass lines and blasts, bombastic sound arrangements and a few vocal effects.

+ + + : Malte Steiner remains a true sonic architect; a studio engineer transposing sounds and noises into a new shape. Some tracks have a visual appeal while other are getting back to early Minimal-Electro experiments. A few other -and more accessible, cuts have this Kraftwerk-touch on top but Notstandkomitee remains first of all Experimental and even Abstract. The minimalism also becomes visionary when listening to the funny entitled song “Watch People Reacting To Music By Notstandskomitee” which has something Techno-like for future generations. The last track “Big Drama In Small Cities” is another great attention grabber for its sensual rhythmic, deep bass line and evasive sensation.

- - - : A very few spoken samplings and/or vocals would be a little bonus.

Conclusion: Music from a true Electro-scientist!

Best songs: “Watch People Reacting To Music By Notstandskomitee”, “Big Drama In Small Cities”, “Expertensysteme”, “Rules Replacing Trust”, “Planning The Unplannable”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063645246848

Label: www.block4.com / www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063867523207

14/09/2023

https://tinamarianekroghmadsen.bandcamp.com/album/compounds
New on block 4: compounds by Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen
Available as download or limited edition CD in Digipack.

compounds by artist Tina Mariane Krogh Madsen consists of tracks created and produced between 2015 and 2023 in Fljótstunga & Seyðisfjörður (IS), Berlin (DE), Aalborg (DK), and Helsinki (FI). As an album, it moves across the conceptual, to intensity, noise and silence where each composition embody multiple entities, as compounds, in both their sounding and wording.

Madsen going to perform a concert at the Lasher Fest 23 at Musikkens Hus Aalborg (DK) on the 16. September at 18:00

5 track album

14/09/2023

Side-Line reviews our release of the THX 1971 album Minimal ist meine Wahl

REVIEW

THX 1971 – Minimal Ist Meine Wahl (Album – Block 4)

Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Minimal-Electro.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Thomas Meier-Goldau is a German artist active since 2014 as THX 1971. He released multiple productions including split-albums. This work features eight songs and has been released by Malte Steiner’s label Block4.

Content: The title of the album perfectly stands for the approach and sound of THX 1971. It’s a true minimal creation with neither tricks nor elaborated sound layers. The tracks feature this ‘electro-robotic-minimalism’ which might appeal for fans of Notstadskomitee, Das Kombinat and co. The robotic, female, spoken vocals inject a sterile and linear element to the music.

+ + + : THX 1971 reminds me to early ’80 Electro-Experiments. It’s not about analogue sound treatments but the simplicity versus efficiency of melody lines. Music doesn’t always have to be complex to catch the attention. So this is an album with a cool ‘retro-futuristic’ sound.

- - - : I regret there are only 8 songs featured while most of them aren’t going over the 3 minutes. Minimalism is cool but just a little bit more extra sounds would be cool.

Conclusion: Retro-Futuristic Electronic music might be the best way to define THX 1971.

Best songs: “Polizeistaat”, “Medizintechnik”, “Fahrenheit 451”, “Deine Gedanken Werden Deine Gefühle”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: https://thx1971.hpage.com / www.facebook.com/thx1971

Label: www.block4.com / www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063867523207