Bernd Kistenmacher: Celestial Movements

Written by Bradford Warner

last updated 2010-02-19 20:29 CET

When does art become something truly transcendent? Over the ages, music has shown an incredible ability to move beyond the here and now, beyond the material to affect humanity in truly unique way. What exact qualities must come into play to make this possible will no doubt remain solid subjects for discussion, debate and exploration for the foreseeable future.

Music critique

Artist: Bernd Kistenmacher:

Album: Celestial Movements

Playtime: 01:08:00
Record label: MellowJet
Released: 2009

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Therefore it is very rewarding to find an example of contemporary music that carries such transcendent qualities. Bernd Kistenmacher, a veteran musician, composer and producer of contemporary electronic music has accomplished this with Celestial Movements, his first album in more than eight years. Whether Kistenmacher took a creative break from his craft or had been wrestling with how to evolve his sound during this time, it apparently has been worthwhile. Celestial Movements is a triumph of modern music in many ways. It captures a variety of moods, tempos, and ambiances while maintaining a certain unity as a collection of songs. It starts with an awe-inspiring deep space number that is as expansive as it is appropriate. The second track In Face of Saturn may be his finest composition to date melding great sequencer work and beautiful, memorable melody.

Kistenmacher tackles more ambient territory during the middle, but importantly it does not fall into the aesthetic malaise of many modern ambient recordings. In fact, it often feels like a more contemplative period that evolves more energy and motion in the pleasantly paced Eternal Lights only to pay off with the high energy start of Living between Asteroids. Once again, Kistenmacher brings his "A" game as he moves from a high tempo first movement in this track to that wonderfully trance-inducing chord work that has marked his best composing. The mid section of this song is just addictive. But like many or the best constructed albums, Kistenmacher brings this composition full circle supplying an artistic symmetry that is more than simply entertaining or appealing. It feels almost epic inside the reach of this album. The closing song, A Celestial Move represents a denouement that is as fitting as it is poignant.

Perhaps there is something of the sublime in a recording of synthetic instrumentation with very cosmic themes that feels so very human and metaphysical at its core. While many a record has been made highlighting the vast, cold utterly foreign view of outer space, it is truly fascinating to experience a work of art portraying the universe as much more than just the result of the Big Bang or the setting for space opera. Kistenmacher has painted a warm, humanistic and perhaps spiritual portrait of what lies beyond our current home.