Fragments of a Journey By Mike Hans STEFFL

 

Fragments of a Journey

By

Mike Hans STEFFL

Written by

Steve Sheppard

 

My first connection with Mike came in 2023 with the album Calaboose Islands, it was an exhilarating experience, now some two years later I stand on the precipice of something else new and exciting, as Mike Hans STEFFL releases his latest album Fragments of a Journey, it is a musical voyage of electronic genius you will never want to return from.

This new release is one of the finest of its type I heard for some years, its jam packed with 10 quality pieces to thrill and engage the audience with, the opening offering is one of the smoothest examples yet and called, Into the Forest, the pastiche of synths, and eventual percussion here manifest an electronic vibe that is deeply compelling.

Offerings like Passages gifts the listener an immersive experience in a similar fashion to that of fellow European electronic composer Philippe Wauman with his Anantakara project, but one can find a slice of Keith Emerson styled brilliance deep within the weave of this very creation, in this clever Berlin School flavoured opus.

A gentle ambience is also here on pieces like Butterfly Directions, an onward arrangement in the blissful valley of the track Getting Lost, with elements within that reminds me so much of US electronic artist Forrest Smithson, and pieces like the vibrancy of the long form Out of Nothing into Something, this specific track had me encapsulated, offering up flavours of Richard Carpenter in sinister mode, smooth transitional passages of ambient constructs, and one that concludes with a dramatic coda, simply and with ease, long form electronic music at its very best.

The penultimate offering is called Dead End Road, and this last but one slice of EM brilliance weaves its way into our musical hearts with such colour and style. With elements of classic Laraaji from 1980 and hints of David Wright from the 90’s, this is a spectacular last but one manifestation indeed.

The final boss of this amazing album is called Out of Reach, a glorious long form conclusion is at hand, with a mixture of soft synths and chimes and a bed of delicate sound is set on one of the most attractive starts from the collection, this is utter beauty, an oasis of tone can be found here that will ease the listener with a sense of full appreciation and bliss.

Fragments of a Journey by Mike Hans STEFFL in my opinion is the finest electronic based album I have listened to since Geigertek gave us Sound Track For City Living in 2011, each track is spectacular in its structures, with this release it will hook the listener into an experience of electronic music like they have never had before, this is superior work from the German artist, and as such he should be acknowledge for its genius.