WANTED: A wild discussion about speed !
Not the drug… the speed of music of course… tempo… bpm… beats per minute, you know ?
Looking into the folders of my hardrive i see snippets, ideas and grooves with tempo ranging from sedated-spliffed-sleeper to beyond-1996-rave… What is your opinion ?
Make a straight danceable “post-trance” album with 3/4 of the songs between 125-135 and some 90 bpm groove-stuff added ?
You´d like to see me going “broadband” like never before ? Songs like 60, 75, 90, 95, 110, 115, 125, 130, 133, 135, 138, 145, 160 bpm all on one album ? Maybe just in this order ?
Or do you prefer the hard+fast stuff…? “160 is just for warm up”… Well you might know from various sources that i wont do Hardtrance and Gabber anymore 
So that option is highly improbable.
But another discussion i´d like to start is: You know what my songs might sound like downtempo and if the tempo is “danceable”. But what should the fast songs sound like…? I am not much into Hardtrance, i told you, but maybe if all of you resist…  Or are there still lovers of Drum n bass out there ? Make some noise ! Or do you love the breakbeat style like Chemical Brothers or… did you, by any chance, invent an own style of music faster than 140 bpm ?
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PS: I dont promise to do what the majority of you wants… Democracy is inappropriate for music production
16. May 2008 at 08:44
Well, I’m much more into the groovy, slower stuff than into 160+ bpm songs. Personally, I’d go for a mixture of tempo and style as this was a trademark of what you’ve delivered so far and I really like that diversity.
…but, whatever you create, I’ll but it anyways.
16. May 2008 at 09:40
i also always loved the diversity of widescreen and mission horizon (you know with the spliffed bonus versions added). i feel that the danger of 160 + might be to drift into a more cheesy direction like DJ DONNA SUMMER from berlin does with his old school happy rave sound.
but i like the idea of a speed-related evolution during the whole album. maybe you speed it up to the middle to slow down again when it comes to the end (’cause that’s how the nightlife works, eh?!)
16. May 2008 at 10:33
I’m also much more into the groovy stuff (that comprised the drum’n'bass stuff in almost the same manner like the easy listening stuff f.e. somthing you can…).
But i like the idea of one “old school” track (just for the older folks like me)
For me, a diversified album (trance, breakbeat, fast, slow) like the last ones is more interesting instead of a speed related on.
But the bottom line is, that it rocks!!!
16. May 2008 at 11:06
I like the idea of a “Spannungsbogen” within the album. Slow in the beginning and the end, faster musik in the middle of the record. Although that interferes with the option of listening to it in shuffle mode. But I don’t do that anyway
I like to see full albums as one artistic work, which in itself is complete just in the way the musician made it, which includes the track order.
16. May 2008 at 11:24
i don’t think that the “spannungsbogen”-idea really interferes with shuffle-mode-listening beacause every track could be completed as a single-track in itself. so you have both options: listen single tracks or enjoy the complete composition through enjoying the whole album.
16. May 2008 at 11:35
and i have to add that – even though i really loved that on the former rmb-albums – i‘m a bit bored of all these 1-whole-track-mixing-abums out there in these days. could be nice as kind of bonus-track or download-offer or anything,..
16. May 2008 at 12:13
quote:
“”Or are there still lovers of Drum n bass out there ? Make some noise !”"
Noise..Noise… do you hear me making some Noise ???
16. May 2008 at 12:22
I prefer the stuff between 100-130bpm with an expaction in the exact middle of it. But it can scatter under the 100 line as well, like the track “Zeitwand”. I love this one. I think the best option is aiming for the right diversity, like Julian wrote, with mixing some styles together to one great composition.
16. May 2008 at 13:48
Personally I still like the old trance tracks. But now I listen more to other rythms more “slow”. Drum & bass, and downtempo are my prefered.
I like the idea of an album with different speed and the way to increase the speed till the last track. An album can be like a movie. Everyone listening to music can imagine in his head a clip for this track. The tempo will determine the action that everyone of us can create in his mind. The bests in this field in my opinion are the albums “Widescreen” and “Mission Horizon”. I think that something like this can still be a great choice to satisfy not only the fans, but also an other kind of public.
And if you choose the “Crescendo” style for your album, a great trance track would be really welcome if good mixed up with the entire album and with a great melody like only you can find!
PS: Rolf you don’t need to compare a style to another composer (Chemical Brothers). You did enough songs to compare a style to one of your project. And it will be more easy for who follows you from the begin to understand what you mean with a genre. I think the classification of the music in style/genre is quite complex.
16. May 2008 at 15:24
145 onwards - there´s no question for me. rmb stopped being “the almighty” for many people with the releases after break the silence.
with not releasing “Everything” in it´s (now Oldschool) glory and going for it on a more stylish, breakbeat harmony, many people were pi++ed off (but i think thats just exactly what you wanted) and with the “Low Spirit” Electro-Style you drove off people in thousands.
but as your new release isn’t a commercial release, you might just do what you want to do.
16. May 2008 at 16:29
hi rolf,
i love your fast breakbeats, like on everything, killer and also break the silence.
for me the perfect rolfmaierbode album would have one or two ambient tracks between 60 und 90 bpm,
three frast diversify, groovy brackbeat tracks like the trick, everyting cant hide, no women no kids,
two or three slow, goovy techno tracks, without any trance influrence.
maybe two or three fast hard rave / trance tracks. don’t orientate on the normal hadstyle and hardtrance shit!! Creat somting fast (140 and more) diversify new. Like you did years ago with your special hardtrance tracks like reality, spring, fighting for a fine place, everyting the rise and your remix for futur breeze!
two or three trance tracks, they should be fare away from the normal trancestyles! somtheing like you did with shadows or deep down below!
wish you lot of fun and a creativ free head!
17. May 2008 at 00:52
hi rolf,
i would prefer a mix of styles and ideas like it was already used in “widescreen”. The sound was rough, with some wicked sounds and distortion-guitars.
i think a large variation of speed is essential. a few slower tracks for the athmosphere, one or two faster songs for the older fans, thats what i want to hear like i did since 1993.
17. May 2008 at 11:25
I’m a big fan of your uptempo and trance tracks, e.g. Horizon Clubmix or Life is too short RMB Remix. But I would prefer an album with a very broad appeal to tempo and style. Thinking in categories like “faster than 125 bpm” or “hardtrance” is not the best idea, I suggest. If a track is danceable, then it is, no matter what style.
Perhaps you can create a “new” style by mixing existing types of music? What about state of the art breakbeats combined with 70s disco strings and horns?
Have a nice weekend
Chris
17. May 2008 at 12:47
I myself very much enjoyed the change between ambient grooves and breakbeats. BUT: You did great in past - so just go on your own way and don’t try to satisfy other people. Did enough work by order the last month, didn’t you?
17. May 2008 at 13:20
“Widescreen”: perfect, Mission one and two: The moste precious stone in the whole universe!
I like your variety and the slow motions (”shadows” “Break the silence”) so you have time between the steps to show your quality of changing noises, the idea of two albums is good.
Danceable tracks on the singles, and just listening in slate of trance on the album. And I like the really differently interpretations: “Unreality”. I love the rave :”Everything” LIVE on SONIC EMPIRE, and then the completely other versions on your album and singles… you are a genius
Sometimes you can’t experience the real tempo or the change while playing a song. It’s more a perfect way to express an atmosphere. The combination of the instruments, tempo and flow certain the quantity. And both was perfect all the years: Quality and quantity.
Here we can here you have study.
+You see: It is uninteresting what tempo your sessions have. We are still wayting…
+You see: We loving you faster and slower songs likewise.
+You see: It is the kind of your impression which tempo your tracks will be have.
“You” are the artist. “We” are your. It’s now more difficult for you?: Please yourself!
[one-score]
18. May 2008 at 23:42
I totally agree to Tom´s opinion. he totally got the point with his few words! that has been the history of RMB (and therewith your history, Rolf, in not inconsiderable parts) up to today and it has been the history of your fans, too. you were the man of genius in terms of fast, hard beats combined with melodies that couldn´t be copied by other artists because of their wide variety of arrangements! but after break the silence the aspect of melodies had taken a backseat, groove and beats became more and more important for you…
), and that does not ignore the newer fans also. just 2 or 3 rave tracks (not hardcore or gabber) with melodies that will go through my mind for years would satisfy all the “pi**ed off* fans 
and that´s an important point in my opinion: don´t forget the aspect of melodies!
my wish isn´t a new album full of hardest uptempo stuff, my wish is an album that simply doesn´t ignore the old fans (you must hate them in the meantime
A combination of “Mission Horizon” and “This world is yours” - that´s the stuff that a major label wouldn´t allow, but what the fans out there call for (I suppose)…
listen to your earlier works. realize what pieces of brilliancy you had been able to create… and transport them into a modern suit!
19. May 2008 at 11:01
I second Funboy.
Going for a *very* broadband album including 1-2 tracks
with a winking touch of retro style would make up for a
fantastic release imho.
19. May 2008 at 16:24
I agree with Funboy.
“Don’t forget the aspect of melodies. ”
But this post is more about the tempo, so I think we can discuss about melodies later on.
I can say that the tempo can be slow or fast and it will have different effect depending how you will compose the song. The song is a mix of many things together. I can’t say that I prefer 130 bpm. But after, what about a 70 bpm with such impressive bass that take your mind? “Rythhm disease” is an example on how the tempo is brought in first position. But this song is great also for all what is around.
19. May 2008 at 21:51
in my opinion, the remixes of AJP´s (where is he now?) Like A Dream and Kai Tracid´s (don´t care where he´s now) Life is too short are a touch of genius, which didn´t came that often after Spring and Reality. Horizon and Deep Down Below have their very good moments, but after hearing them very (very!) often and very! Loud they aren´t on my List of GENIUS RMB. RMB made damn good cherrypie and a cuppa Joe, but somehow the real Genius of RMB got into hiding and i would prefer to see that coming back, and that only can be achieved by “you were the man of genius in terms of fast, hard beats combined with melodies that couldn´t be copied by other artists because of their wide variety of arrangements!” as funboy said so politely
19. May 2008 at 22:48
Actually I like the styles of “Jupiter Jesus” and “Vierfarbillusion” a lot - those are really nice tracks. Just keep going.
21. May 2008 at 11:52
A good Mix
i am working years on my My World album but i cant finish it 
(Cubase cant handle so much midi tracks)
the voice sample reminds me of the widescreen album:) or Mission Horizon where come all these similar sounding voices samples from ? :). but after all snippets i hope to hear more trance like or melodic tracks on the album then these Techno like Tracks. There not bad but nut so melodic (yet) 
On the widescreen album was a good mix of tempi i think with the right track you can make a track with 150 - 160 of course:) Vierfarbillusion sounds great
21. May 2008 at 19:58
there are some new snippets on the main site…………
21. May 2008 at 20:42
Well, I need some good 120 to 140 bpm tracks for use in my fitness-centre.
22. May 2008 at 11:51
there are several “in the pipeline” with 120-140 bpm
22. May 2008 at 20:16
I’ve got nearly 130 different records: Starts with Terror E.P. , and every song listens brilliant.
I like to work with 124 or 128 bpm. But it depends on the kind of mood.
Funboy is absolutly right. And you have your own style…
14. August 2008 at 20:14
I’ve always liked the old stuff, guess I stayed in 1996 myself.. Especially Troubled (am I really the only one? ;)), Matisse, Chakka Chakka; those songs have a certain type of hyper feel to them without getting too happy or dark (The Time has Come is over the top, but I really like that one too). Another thing I’ve always liked is the complicated sound of your songs; usually the changes in instruments and melodies combined never bore. Few other producers seem to reach this level.
You should make what you think sounds right.
Actually, all the electronic music like (hard)trance, techno et cetera have the name of starting with boom-boom, mixing in one melody and keeping it that way until the record ends (either that or tiesto’s fall-asleep-intermission-stuff). The fast-changing, melodic nature and great interaction between both of your songs really made you stand out! While typing this I realize this is probably the most imporant thing that made me fall in love with your music. Be it 120bpm or 160, for me, music should sound interesting. The bass is just a metronome.
However, that was the 90s. Everyone changes and so do styles. I really have no idea if it would still be fashionable to release such songs, apart from pleasing your old school fans that is
As for drum’n'bass; maybe Remarc’s 2:01, R.I.P. or In da Hood can be an inspiration
19. August 2008 at 01:10
Well, I agree with QdK words 100%. I think that tempo is an important thing, but not the most important. My favourite electronic sound since I listened to it is Chakka Chakka, and I love “crazy stuff” like The Place To Be, There’s Love and No Compromise (this ones made RMB a sooooooo particular band). But I really LOVE some other works like “The Trick”, with amazing strings and a very good use of granulizer, and your last tracks “Vielfarbillusion” and “Stuff like this”, with a very deep use of reverb. I’m a strange man, i don’t like to dance music… i prefer listen to music. In my car, smoking a hookah, in my room… I don’t need to dance, I need to FEEL. (Yes, i feel lots of different feelings with hardcore, too). I cannot feel nothing with some techno tracks used to make people dance. Only dance. Moreover, music MADE to make people dance is always music with expiry date. Music made to make people feel, is music that travel across time without being forgotten.
In three words: Make people feel!
Do whatever you want, you are an average talented producer, you HAVE te abbility to make people cry and smile. It’s a treasure, use it well! That’s what I think, honestly and modestly.
19. August 2008 at 14:08
130 - 140 is enough of that, dum dum songs is history, 150 - 160 bpm is to much, with this speed you can get migraine :D, below 110 - 100 bpm is simple chillout, my suggestion is to keep going like Mission Horizon album, this is a fantastic album with d & b, chillout, electro - techno - trance stuff, for everybody have something!!!
08. October 2008 at 12:02
1. I don’t want your fast tracks to be slowed down!
2. I like hard stuff as long as it’s melodic! When Gabber and Hardstyle/Harddance/Hardtrance/Hardcore gets too mechanical, it’s not music any more!
3. I want you to do Hardstyle or Hardcore or melodic Gabber! I listen to remixes of your songs or semples from them in hardstyle tunes and I wonder: What if RMB starts to produce music like this?! I always imagine it melodic, powerful, surprising, uplifting, just like U used to do it back in the 90’s! RMB was and still is my favorite band and I think no one got even closer to that piece of Haven that I hear in some of your old songs (Spring [this is the best of the best], Reality, Whispering, Redemption, The trick, Passport to Heaven, Chakka Chakka, Matisse, Prince of Darknes, Madame Butterfly, Banjo Love, Our trip tu Mururoa and so on and so forth)!
4. DnB works fine for me too! But I prefer your happy hardcore techno trance rhythms and melody from the 90’s! PURE GENIUS!!!!
08. October 2008 at 13:38
So? What kind of Remixs?
01. November 2008 at 14:59
Auf der einen Seite kann ich natürlich nachvollziehen, dass Du dich als Künstler weiterentwicken möchtest.
Auf der anderen Seite hab ich natürlich ein paar Tränen in den Augen, da die alten, schnelleren RMB Tracks ein teil meiner Jugendzeit waren. Dazu hab ich gefeiert und bin abgegangen.
Also, meiner Meinung nach gehören mindestens 2-3 schnellere Tracks (um die 150) auf jedes RMB Album. So einfach back to the roots maßig.
Wirklich sehr sehr schade, dass die Hardtrance / Rave geschickte für Dich abgeschlossen ist.
Hast Du mal darüber nachgedacht, eine Art Doppelalbum rauszubringen? 1. CD neues Album - softere Tracks, die zweite CD eine Art Tribute an Deine Fans, die nachwievor eben auf Deinen kreativen Hardtrance / Rave / Hardcoresound stehen. Zweite CD mit neuen Rave & Hardtrance Trax..
Ich glaub, das wär der absolute Knaller…So ein Doppelalbum wäre, denke ich ein Selbstläufer…
Wird aber, denke ich leider einer neiner Wunschträume bleiben, oder?
01. November 2008 at 15:56
I’d like to see mix of fast/slow songs, more 90’s Rave, some kickin’ 00’s Trance and some of the songs like Jupiter Jesus etc. I’d like to have another trip to the music like it was done with for example Widescreen album.
Do it for us, your big fans
24. December 2008 at 20:03
Hey there, Rolf! I don’t think the question is about bpm for me, the question is about whole atmosphere of the track. But also i prefer to make music in 100 to 140 bpm. =)
20. March 2009 at 22:30
Was ist das?
21. March 2009 at 20:41
bpm? beats per minute!