"Phosphoric Brain Massage" CD extra
:// notes
After our "Digital Cocooning" phase we were ready to try something new (which later turned out to be STReaming), and leave clubculture and Techno behind. But along came Sony Music with an offer we simply could not refuse ;-)
Not only was Sony interested in releasing audio and CD ROMs, but they were interested in exploring the Internet. So they said. Quite soon it became clear to us that a giant, bureaucratic company like them had big problems following our ideas and concepts, especially concerning the Net. It even turned out to be difficult to distribute and promote an "original multimedia-band", as they were used to sell products the same old way since the sixties: release a single, play a small live tour, release an album, play another live tour, and start the procedure all over.
To use the Net for other things than give away promo items or send newsletters when a new product was in the shops, was beyond the perspective. But the advance payments for the records were neat.
Gary Danner & his Theremin and Elisa Rose & her Laptop.
still from performance and CDextra release in munich
Text by David Hudson for Rewired on the release-performance of "Phosphoric Brain Massage", Munich 1997
Topic 7: Art Sights: #9 of 10:
observation by David Hudson
Thu 01 May '97(01:58 PM)
Night before last, I did catch some Klangkunst, but down in Munich. 'Twas a performance by Electric Minds' very own Station Rose. And a marvelous time was had by all. I'll be writing about this a bit more and running an interview with Gary Danner and Elisa Rose, and when those URLs go up, I'll post them here.
Meantime, briefly, it went something like this: They'd set up four huge screens on which they projected the animated graphic work that Elisa does. The space was kind of funky in that it was a café that actually looked onto to the indoor court of a riding school, i.e. horse riding. They projected slides through the windows onto the opposite wall of this court. Add a wall of mirrors here and another one there, and you've got yourself quite a lot of swirling, dizzying computer-generated psychedelia going on. I have to admit up front that psychedelia straight up isn't usually my thing, but Station Rose isn't -- they're more, just as your typical techno extravaganza can often be psychedelia + some 90s twist. But Station Rose go off in a different direction yet again. They've developed their own aesthetic over many years, and this is what comes across most. That they're extremely tight and that the two of them together produce this indescribable energy that isn't about dancing your ass off, but is about something...something uniquely theirs. Frankly, I don't know what else to call it except their love for each other.
At any rate, have I mentioned that Gary does the music? That's what happens, essentially. Gary gets these sounds going, these beats and synth lines, and then the two connect. Elisa actually plays the animations on a keyboard, a program that's evidently pretty new.
All in all, a great, great evening.
Hirnmassage
Mit “Phosphoric Brain Massage” legen die gefeierten Multimedia-Pioniere Elisa Rose und Gary Danner alias Station Ros ihr viertes Werk vor. Die CD-Extra enthält zwar ganz konventionell drei Audio-Tracks, sticht aber weniger wegen der Musik (die Künstler selbst nennen es Psychedelic Techno), als vielmehr wegen der ungewöhnlichen, experimentellen Präsentation des Multimedia-Inhalts vor.
Wie der Anwender zu sehen bekommt, entstand über drei Monate hinweg in freien Multimedia-Sessions im Station-Rose-Studio und ist eine Synthese aus Graphik, Sound und Animationen, die auf einmalige Weise miteinander und mit dem Betrachter interagieren. Die Struktur ist in einem positiven Sinne chaotisch und sorgt dafür, dass jeder erneute Zugriff wiederum neuartige Formen und Kombinationen hervorbringt. Daneben gibt es noch Wissenswertes über das Duo selbst und eine kurze Video-Hommage an den vor einem halben Jahr verstorbenen LSD-Guru Timothy Leary. Wer sich für die Arbeit von Station Rose interessiert, sollte unbedingt auch einmal auf ihre Homepage unter www.well.com/user/gunafa schauen. „Phosphoric Brain Massage“ gibt es in gut sortierten Plattenläden um circa 13 Mark
English:
Brain massage
With “Phosphoric Brain Massage” the celebrated multimedia pioneers Elisa Rose and Gary Danner aka Station Ros present their fourth work. The CD-Extra conventionally contains three audio tracks, but stands out less because of the music (the artists themselves call it psychedelic techno) and more because of the unusual, experimental presentation of the multimedia content.
As the user can see, it was created over three months in free multimedia sessions in the Station-Rose-Studio and is a synthesis of graphics, sound and animations that interact in a unique way with each other and with the viewer. The structure is chaotic in a positive sense and ensures that every new access brings about new forms and combinations. There are also interesting facts about the duo themselves and a short video homage to the LSD guru Timothy Leary, who died six months ago. Anyone interested in the work of Station Rose should definitely take a look at their homepage at www.well.com/user/gunafa. "Phosphoric Brain Massage" is available in well-stocked record stores for around 13 marks
MACup 7/97
CD-TIP: STATION ROSE
Massage für das Hirn
Interaktive Skulpturen und Farbenspiele flimmern über den Bildschirm, Techno-Rhythmen dröhnen aus den Boxen: Das Frankfurter Multimediaduo Station Rose inszeniert seine CD „Phosphoric Brain Massage“ als musikalisches Versteckspiel – verborgene Schalter führen zu immer neuen Songs und Bildsequenzen. Highlight: Ein Video mit dem mittlerweile verstorbenen LSD-Guru Timothy Leary (CD-Extra für CD-Spieler oder PC/Mac, Sony Music, 10 Mark).
English
CD TIP: STATION ROSE
Massage for the brain
Interactive sculptures and play of colors flicker across the screen, techno rhythms boom out of the speakers: the Frankfurt multimedia duo Station Rose stages their CD “Phosphoric Brain Massage” as a musical game of hide-and-seek - hidden switches lead to new songs and picture sequences. Highlight: A video with the now deceased LSDS guru Timothy Leary (CD extra for CD player or PC / Mac, Sony Music, 10 marks).
WELL.COM
ZU STATION ROSE
Club Culture und Dancefloor einmal anders: am PC! Das Multimedia-Duo Station Rose aus Frankfurt bastelt seit über zehn Jahren an multimedialen Kunstformen, an der Verquickung von Musik, Herzschlag, Digitaltechnik und Bild. Sie gebrauchen den Ausdruck „Hypermedia“ für ihre Arbeit. Elisa Rose und Gary Danner sind kein Techno-Duo, und trotz ihrer Veröffentlichungen auf Platte und CD sind sie eher den PC-Surfern und Hackern, den Mondo-2000-Lesern oder nächtlichen Internet-Usern bekannt. Auf ihrem eigenen Label Gunafa haben sie bereits CD-ROMs und CD-Plus sowie diverse Audio-Tracks herausgegeben. Im Prinzip besteht ihre Arbeit aus digitalen Bildern und deren Variationen und Veränderungen, die aber mit eigener Musik generiert werden. Diese reicht von abstraktem Techno, Electrobleeps- und Beats bis hin zu 60er-jahre-Pop und Easy Listening. Ihre Instrumente sind Theremin, Orgelsounds, Sitar, Lazy-Bass und diverse Analog-Synthies. Jetzt haben die beiden Frankfurter ihre bereits vierte Multimedia-Jam-Session auf CD -Rom herausgegeben, sie nennt sich „Phosphoric Brain Message“ und beinhaltet zum Beispiel eine Online-Video-Konferenz mit Timothy Leary kurz vor dessen Tod, verschiedene Audio-Tracks, einen 250 MB starken interaktiven Teil für Mac und PC mit jeder Menge Sounds, Grafiken und Animationen. Verborgene Click-Punkte und bizarre opto-akustische Mix-Optionen laden zum Surfen, Spielen und Chillen ein. Wer mehr erfahren will – und es loht sich -, kann auch mal auf die Station Rose Homepage zugreifen.
English:
WELL.COM
TO STATION ROSE
Club culture and dance floor with a difference: on the PC! The multimedia duo Station Rose from Frankfurt has been tinkering with multimedia art forms, the amalgamation of music, heartbeat, digital technology and images for over ten years. They use the term “hypermedia” for their work. Elisa Rose and Gary Danner are not a techno duo, and despite their recordings and CD releases, they are more familiar to PC surfers and hackers, Mondo 2000 readers and nighttime internet users. They have already released CD-ROMs and CD-Plus as well as various audio tracks on their own label Gunafa. In principle, her work consists of digital images and their variations and changes, which are generated with their own music. This ranges from abstract techno, electro bleeps and beats to 60s pop and easy listening. Her instruments are theremin, organ sounds, sitar, lazy bass and various analog synths. Now the two Frankfurters have released their fourth multimedia jam session on CD-ROM, it is called "Phosphoric Brain Message" and includes, for example, an online video conference with Timothy Leary shortly before his death, various audio tracks, a 250 MB interactive part for Mac and PC with lots of sounds, graphics and animations. Hidden click points and bizarre opto-acoustic mix options invite you to surf, play and chill out. If you want to find out more - and it's worth it - you can also access the Station Rose homepage.