The second release on Funkwelten, a side-label of Black Rain which is dedicated to innovative electronic music. For a Space is a project of Sebastian Ullmann, who already created the 6 tracks on this album in 1998. Back then they only appeared as a limited cd-r. Two years later For a Space published its official debut “Welcome 4000” on Daniel Myers label Basic Unit. For this re-release of “Secrets Behind” they have been mastered by Echorausch, who was responsible for the first Funkwelten release. Just like the other Funkwelten albums this cd comes in a nice minimal thin digipack, which makes you directly think of modern electronic music.
Without exaggeration I can say that this is one of the best albums I have heard this year. I have already played it numerous times the last few weeks. “Secrets Behind” lasts only 38 minutes, which are over before you know it, so the ‘repeat’ button is very useful here. For a Space treats us to highly atmospheric tranquil electronic music, with a beautiful spacious sound which fills your room. Some parts are ambient chill out music, but there are also more challenging parts for the listener. Each of the 6 tracks incorporates different elements and creates new nuances in the mood.
‘Bellism’ starts with heavy church bells, but don’t expect Raison d’Etre-like dark ambient. Soon more futuristic sounds take over to bring you to another level, where you can happily drift away. After a minute or two a subtle rhythmic framework supports the soft trancy electronic layers. A somewhat darker bass sound leads you further, making it almost danceable. Build on a repetitive base but with many subtle evolving elements.
Rainy weather leads us to ‘Borrowed thing’, which slowly seeks its way in space, passing the discussing men in the background. Lovely spacious sounds remind me of minimal piano music. But just like the other songs this track also contains surprises and turns which you didn’t expect, like the technoid (break)beats which suddenly pop up, without spoiling the moving atmosphere.
‘Holoism’ is a nice meditative piece, with a very slow beat and angelic female sounds in the background. More unobtrusive technoid sounds and sampled piano complete the aural painting. Halfway the rhtyhms get a little harder and the classical sounds more bombastic, as if to ensure if you are still awake in the listening room. Then things slow down and you are taken again to a position somewhere above our earth.
‘Overthrow’ offers another tasteful menu of spacious layers and soft technoid beats. It reminds me somewhat of Abscess in their ‘Journey’ period. ‘Aimless’ starts with a penetrating screaming female voice, think of Diamanda Galas. This is perhaps the only distracting elemtent on the album. But soon things get back to their normal tranquil state again. As the song continues the tension is increasing, to reach a rhtyhmic climax in which the female voice is sampled again in a fragmentary manner. This is the longest track, lasting 8 and a half minutes. There some nice percussive elements in the second half of the song.
Final track ‘Battle on planet X’ is somewhat of a surprise, because of its danceable character. I’ve already played it at parties with a good response. Though it is built up rather subtle, it has an irrestible groove. Just atmospheric waves of sound and two types of rhyhms, which have breaks at the right moments. Perhaps one of the simpler tracks of the album, but highly effective and stimulating.
A great experimental ambient album, which is moving and challenging at the same time. I wonder if the other material of this acts is just as good and if Funkwelten can maintain this high standard.
