Second Impressions…
Id really like to hear what you think about THIRTEEN STORIES after you have listened to it several times…
And what are your favourite songs after some days…
In the meantime i will be enjoying life - thirtyfive 
Id really like to hear what you think about THIRTEEN STORIES after you have listened to it several times…
And what are your favourite songs after some days…
In the meantime i will be enjoying life - thirtyfive
06. March 2009 at 11:25
happy birthday!
hör mich gerade durch die myspace-snippets…
cu later
06. March 2009 at 11:38
Happy Birthday Rolf!
I wish you plenty of success with this album and with your future works. And of course to have this success, I wish you health and happiness in your private life.
06. March 2009 at 11:38
Happy Birthday Rolf!
06. March 2009 at 11:38
Thats’ easy - my favorite is numer 11!
And I’m slowly getting familiar with the rest. Well, I only heard it 2 times now… but I will hear it again in several hours when driving home for weekend.
06. March 2009 at 11:46
Happy Birthday Rolf!
I wish you a lot of love, joy and happiness in you life
I’m still listening to the album. Can’t yet decide what’s my favorite story. Perhaps after listening to the album for another ten times I’ll be able to pick my favorites
06. March 2009 at 11:49
Happy birthday Rolf! Tonight I’ll hopefully listen to 13 stories for the first time and afterwards share my first and second impressions.
06. March 2009 at 12:11
Ich wünsch dir einen schönen Geburtstag!!! Feier schön!!!
06. March 2009 at 12:55
na dann auch ma nen schönen geburtstag von mir !!!
ich kann erstmal nur sagen das sich meine sichtweise noch ein klein wenig geändert hat aber dazu will ich erst noch ein paar tage hören ..
ich kann nur bis jetzt sagen das meiner schwangeren frau dieses “überall nur musik” so langsam auf den geist geht und sie flüchtet .-)
der kleine im bauch bewegt sich sogar bei 7 und 13 , vor allem dann wenn kein rythmus an ist und nur die schönen melodien laufen ..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
06. March 2009 at 13:09
Happy birthday Rolf!
After several times listening, I revise my top faves list to 1 and 7.
Especially “Truth and light” starts to shine really bright now.
Stellarium is just great as it is, but I wished it was just 1-2 minutes longer
pushing it even more. With the myspace samples you already revealed
the climax, which I wouldn’t have done.
So what about you? What are your feelings toward “Thirteen stories” now?
Are you happy about how things turned out - reception, critics, distribution channel, etc…?
Really, I hope this will not be the last release of its kind.
With 35 there might be some stories left to share …
06. March 2009 at 13:35
Happy Birthday…
I’m entering into the ‘great’ 30s in several Days for myself…
—
After listening 5 times in a row today, i have to say my favourite tracks are
4 & 10.
I love the parts with the big orchestra strings, pianos and the other ‘classical’ instruments in many layers, floating through melodies supported by electronical beats & breaks….
—
by the way:
Yesterday I got a mail from someone, who asked my to share the “Thirteen Stories” with eMule or in some other P2P Network.
Maybe he took my mailadress out of this blog.
Who else got such a mail ?
—
06. March 2009 at 13:48
Happy Happy Birthday Rolf! I’m still waiting patiently for the album and when I will get him, I will write my reactions here! Also this month I have also birthday, 27th
06. March 2009 at 13:54
Happy Birthday Rolf!
Ich werde noch das Wochenende brauchen um mich festzulegen. Montag werde ich was dazu schreiben.
@KwA.Productions: I recieved it too … and ignored it. The mail was sent over the contact-form on my page so I think, he visits our webpage over this blog and uses the contact-form.
06. March 2009 at 13:58
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Rolf!
THIRTEEN STORIES war wohl dein Geburtstagsgeschenk an dich selbst?!
Ich habe das Album jetzt wohl sicher 10x oder mehr gehört, auf der Anlage, auf dem PC und mit Kopfhörern und ich muß sagen, daß ich noch immer begeistert bin. Ich bin mir noch nicht ganz sicher, aber ich habe das Gefühl, daß sich Echovalley zu meinem Lieblingstrack entwickelt. Oder Muxed… Die Melodie von To You kommt mir sehr bekannt vor, sie erinnert mich streckenweise fatal an Tay Zonday - Chocolate Rain. Ich hoffe, das ist nur Ko-Evolution!
Ist aber trotzdem ein klasse Song.
Freut mich, daß so viele Leute so unterschiedliche Titel gut finden, daß zeigt, daß auf dem Album wirklich nicht nur 2-3 herausragende Titel sind, die alle gut finden, sondern daß jeder einzelne Track seine Qualitäten hat.
@KwA: I too got a mail like this and sent it to Rolf. I think most people who post links to their pages here have gotten such a mail.
06. March 2009 at 14:41
lol
now i know one wich i can congratulate on my own birthday
H A P P Y B I R T D A Y !!!
06. March 2009 at 14:42
Herzlichen Glückwunsch auch von mir! Ich wünsche dir, dass du mit dem Album den Erfolg hast, den du dir selbst wünscht und den es verdient hat.
Ich habe es inzwischen einige Male gehört und bin immer noch schwer begeistert. Es gibt momentan eigentlich nur ein Stück mit dem ich nicht so viel anfangen kann und zwar 1971/7/4, irgendwie will der Funke da nicht überspringen.
Momentane Favoriten sind 1(was für Vocals, geil), 2,7,8 (geiler Orchesterpart),11,12 (geiler Beat, Sound ab 2:37 wow) und 13. Das kann sich aber von Tag zu Tag ändern, sind einfach zu viele gute Sachen drauf
06. March 2009 at 14:52
Happy Birthday Rolf!
I love your album and I hope that comes not long concert on DVD or Blu Ray:)
keep it up!
06. March 2009 at 15:08
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Rolf
06. March 2009 at 15:39
Alles Gute auch von mir!!!!!!!!!!
06. March 2009 at 15:39
Happy Birthday!!!
06. March 2009 at 15:50
Happy Birthday Rolf!
Mit dem Album scheinst du dir ja selbst das tollste Geschenk gemacht zu haben :o)
06. March 2009 at 15:53
@emule guy
How lame! If you read this: come on on BUY the album. It’s not that expensive! If everybody acted like you, there wouldn’t be ANY releases.
06. March 2009 at 16:13
Happy Birthday, Rolf!!! Vor allem Gesundheit, der Rest kommt von allein…
06. March 2009 at 16:24
Happy Birthday. Alles Gute!
??????
(mehr kritik zum album folgt.)
06. March 2009 at 16:25
(da wo die fragezeichen stehen sollte eigentlich happy birthday auf chinesisch stehen
sorry für doppelpost)
06. March 2009 at 16:31
Allet Jute auch von mir….
Meine Favoriten habe ich ja schon bei den Firt Impressions genannt, die haben sich net geändert…
Challenge
Liquid Rite
Vertigo
Stellarium- Gänsehaut pur
Muxed
06. March 2009 at 17:56
Happy Birthday Rolf. Feier schön
Meine Favourites bisher sind Challenge und For You , nach 3x hören. Vielleicht kommt ja noch mehr dazu im Laufe der Zeit.
06. March 2009 at 18:42
Von mir auch alles Gute zum Geburtstag!
Herzlichste Grüße von Peer
06. March 2009 at 20:22
Na dann wünsch ich dir auch mal alles Gute zum Geburtstag!
Hoffe du kriegst in naher Zukunft ordentlich Erfolg mit deinem Album als Geburtstagsgeschenk
My favourite songs btw.:
Truth And Light
Stellarium
Echovalley
Liquid Rite (especially with headphones =)
To You
06. March 2009 at 20:27
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag Rolf!!!
Meine Favoriten: 2,7,11,3,1,5,4,6,10,12,9,13,8,2,3,4,11,9,10,2,13,5,3,4,1,12….
06. March 2009 at 21:17
Happy Birthday Rolf!
06. March 2009 at 22:12
hey hey…herzlichen glückwunsch zum geburtstag rolf!!!!….hoffe du bist schon fleißig am feiern!!!!!
das album habe ich bis jetzt nur einmal komplett durchgehört (hab es mit dem auto nicht so weit zur arbeit
)
aber das stellarium für mich die absolute nummer eins ist kann ich schon sagen…..der track ist einfach der ober hammer!!!!
truth and light und blinding lies gefallen mir aber auch mächtig gut….die restlichen tracks muß ich erst noch öfters hören um dazu was sagen zu können.
06. March 2009 at 23:30
herzlichen glückwunsch! das album ist echt jeden cent wert! ich habe es jetzt locker 10 mal gehört und ich kann jedem nur empfehlen das ganze mal mit kopfhörern zu machen, da kommt das album doch gleich noch besser rüber.
07. March 2009 at 01:49
Von mir natürlich auch noch alles Gute und die besten Wünsche, wenn’s auch nicht mehr ganz pünktlich zu Deinem Ehrentag ist. - Zum Album: Kann “Davis Schrapel” nur recht geben, mit Kopfhörern kommt das ganze irgendwie gleich nochmal ein wenig schöner. - Das Album ist spitze geworden! Ich werde auch am Montag erst ein richtiges review abgeben, aber nach zwei bis dreimal hören kann ich sagen, daß Track07 und Track13 defenitiv zu meinen Fav’s zählen. Rolf, einfach nur DANKE für solch ein tolles Album.
07. March 2009 at 10:22
Near perfect work!
“Challenge” and “Muxed” be my favourit tracks.
…and Happy Birthday Rolf, i hope it´s not to late.
07. March 2009 at 13:35
Happy Birthday
auch von mir 
@Großer “release” party ;)??
07. March 2009 at 15:14
Von RMB war Spring war das erste Lied was ich gehört habe. Ich war natürlich absolut begeistert und seitdem geht nichts über Musik von RMB, leider auch nicht dieses Album von Rolf M-B. Schade,… ich hoffe wirklich das Ihr euch nochmal zusammenrauft und euer RMB Ding durchziehen werdet jedes einzelne Lied was Ihr damals gemacht habt, ist einfach der Hammer, bis heute kommt kein Lied an Spring, Reality, Deep down Below, etc. ran, es hört sich alles einfach gleich an, Ihr macht den Unterschied.
07. March 2009 at 16:22
Alles Gute auch von mir nachträglich! Hörs grad erst zum 2. Mal, aber sobald sich meine Favoriten herauskristallisieren, werd ichs schreiben. Im Moment bin ich noch von allen überwältigt!
Btw. ich bin fest überzeugt, dass am 4. Juli 71 jemand geboren wurde. Die Babyschreie kann ich als Frau nicht überhören
07. March 2009 at 18:06
@lilacfairy
babygeschrei
haste recht! wenn ich den track höre denke ich immer mein babyphone ist defekt und öffne die türe weil ich denke eines meiner kleinen schreit 
07. March 2009 at 18:11
i am really happy about the sound of rolf
phantastic soundwaves and only the best impressions by listening the record!
all tracks have a own way i think.
the only what i miss is: doctrin of sin, the track is always phantastic, but not seen on the record!
i listen the album by relaxing
memorexx
07. March 2009 at 20:14
Could be the birthday of Rolf’s girlfriend…
08. March 2009 at 00:13
happy birthday Rolf! Have a drink on me.
08. March 2009 at 10:16
Happy Birthday, Rolf! Help me… i want this cd… but I have no friends in Europe and paypal is not supported in Russia…((
08. March 2009 at 11:42
PayPal works in Russia! Get right Visa or MasterCard higher than Electron\Maestro
08. March 2009 at 11:50
Thanx!
08. March 2009 at 12:14
Ersmal alles gute nachträglich
jo, ich hab mir das Album jetzt sicher auch schon 5 oder 6 mal angehört. Am PC, beim Fahrrad fahren, beim Duschen. Kommt irgentwie überall geil xD
Meine 3 Lieblingstracks sind “1971/7/4″, “Vertigo” und natürlich “To You”
Zu meinen Favs zählen auch Challenge und Blinding Lies.
Was früher schon so war, ist (zum Glück) es auch heute noch so:
Deine Alben kann man irgentwie immer wieder anhören und sie werden nicht langweilig oder gehen einem irgentwann auf die Nerven.
Zudem is für jede Laune was dabei, wenn man was schnelles haben will, was trauriges, was langsames oder einfach was elektronisches ^^
Tolle Scheibe, werd ich auch noch in 10 Jahren hören
GreeZ Kristall
08. March 2009 at 20:03
I am also very happy, while listening to the album. I heard it maybe 6 times and IK want more:) My 14 years old brother went along and heard State of Flux and said, that it´s great music! Reminds me the time, when I heard in his age Spring
You can see, Rolf, that also the “next” generation will enjoy your music…
My favourite tracks are… …all !! every single piece of music on the album has sense and I enjoy it very much, thanks for it
08. March 2009 at 22:42
Happy birthday! Still love the album and hope it’s selling better than expected
Having listened to it a lot in the past days, I feel it’s certainly an album that grows on you– for some reason it gets better by listening to it more; most melodies didn’t stick into my head the first time around, however more and more they do now. Maybe because few are actually ‘leading’ a is common in popular music. Also, it seems almost mandatory to listen to the tracks either with good headphones or on the stereo; maybe this has something to do with the mastering? (By no means am I asking to follow the rest in the loudness wars though, the sound is beautiful this way!)
The two other people I ordered the CD for love it as well, definately a hit here
The tracks that stand out as personal favorites are:
Truth and Light: the mixing of samples and structure/arrangement of the track remind me of some very good ‘demo scene’ music of the ’90s. Very dramatic sound, maybe the addition of a low continuous bass would’ve added to the suspense of the track, but it’s fine as it is
State of Flux: as said before, *the* favorite of the album! Love the combination of guitar, buildup, harmonics and strings (as with the other tracks). After listening to the snippet on myspace, I had expected the climax at the end to continue for another 4/4th, but the new theme introduced at 3:45 is actually perfect! Speaking of melody themes, that’s the only thing I’d love to hear more in the tracks: more themes in one song.
Challenge: sensitive and powerful at the same time.
Echovalley: it gives a kind of disconnected feeling, disconnected with reality, especially when the vocal samples are played. Powerful when the samples aren’t played.
To You: when you close your eyes, you can almost envision some couple going through both good and bad times together. All in all, lovely.
Actually, favorites other than the ones mentioned change daily; that doesn’t happen much with other albums. I hope eventually there’ll be more Rolf albums
10. March 2009 at 00:06
a few hours later, with headphones:
i love this album
especially the first half.
absolute favourite track: challenge. its a perfect song!
so many good ideas.
(so many edits)
most fun: all in, i always have to smile when i listen to this track
i like muxed a lot as well, but i need to get used to the second half of that song
low points: still liquid rite and vertigo. starting with the second half of blinding lies, the songs somehow start to overwhelm untill ALL IN comes. Vertigo is especially hard to swallow with the frequent changes in themes, melodies.
11. March 2009 at 18:06
gleich mit TRUTH & LIGHT nimmst du den zuhörer mit auf deine “augenhöhe”, und zeigst ihm was du “siehst”… diese synthie-bassline mit dem beat is so der hammer!!! fettes lied!!!
STATE OF FLUX: die gleichen akkorde mal sanft, mal energisch “zusammengeschmolzen”. GUT!!!
CHALLENGE: das lied hat mich berührt…
das klavier (großartig unterstützt von akkustik-gitarre und bass) symbolisiert das leben mit all seiner härte; wie oft es dich in die knie zwingt. der beat und diese “dreckige” bassline lassen aber keine zeit für selbstmitleid. nein, sie helfen dir wieder auf die knie. schön!
ZWEITER FAVORIT!!!
THE CUBE: nimmt uns mit auf eine reise…
leicht “bedrohlich” am anfang, so melodiös danach.
und als der beat einsetzt, entdeckt man ne menge vom möglichen.
1971/7/4 den kopf voll mit regen… doch alles wird gut.
ein lied, das man “sehen” kann. SEHR GUT!!!
ECHOVALLEY: was soll ich hier sagen, rolf…
die geigen, die percussions, der pulsierende 4/4 beat… BOMBE!!!
STELLARIUM: der anfang… GÄNSEHAUT!!! herrlich…
und danach ziehts dann auch gleich ab. grinsen im gesicht. EPISCH!!!
MUXED: das lied fängt gleich “dreckig” an…
und dann kommt der rolf mit nem orchester und ne saugeilen melodie. LEBENSBEJAHEND!!!
BLINDING LIES: “auf nem delphin durchs universum reiten (für mich der beste begriff, gute elektronische musik zu beschreiben. LOL)”… frei von all dem und weg von jenen, die dich daran hindern wollen du selbst zu sein. GUT!!!
LIQUID RITE: die gläser, die tropfen… MYSTISCH!!! DRITTER FAVORIT!!!
VERTIGO: ich hab höhenangst. aber du hilfst ja ab minute 4:13 diese angst auszuhalten… und lässt den zuhörer fliegen. SEHR SCHÖNE MELODIE, SEHR SCHÖNES LIED!!!
ALL IN: funky… und diese “rotzige” bassline zu bringen is ja schon fast gefährlich. alter, haut das lied auf die fresse.
;-) 
TO YOU: “GANZ anders”. so voller wärme. nach nem stressigen tag, wenn der das herz mal wieder voller sorgen is… hier kann man den kopf anlehen… alles wird gut. ERSTER FAVORIT…
das beste lied, was ich bisher von dir gehört hab.
zum vor freude weinen schön!!!
so herr rolf maier bode, sie liedermacher.
danke für die cd, rolf.
danke für die musik… und die somit geschenkte zeit!!!
respektvoll,
christopher
11. March 2009 at 18:07
an alle… ehrliche musik rockt das herz!!!
12. March 2009 at 22:20
My second impressions… Well.. First songs are amazing, 2nd part of album is quite different. Muxed and To You aren’t my cup of tea for now.
But let me listen this album few times more and we will see. Still I think that it’s great album but quite missess some pure trance songs from RMB years
13. March 2009 at 21:50
Von mir auch mal auf deutsch: das Album ist traumhaft!! Für mich ist es mit Sicherheit das beste Album im Bereich elektronischer Musik, das ich je gehört hab, wenn nicht sogar das Beste überhaupt. Man hört von der ersten Sekunde bis zum letzten Ton, wieviel Arbeit in dem “Werk” (anders kann mans nicht nennen) steckt. Ich war erstaunt, dass das Album doch so schnell ist, ich hatte wegen der ganzen “Rolf ist nicht RMB-Kiste” zum einen einen anderen Sound erwartet, aber auch gedacht, es wäre insgesamt langsamer. Ich bin sehr sehr begeistert, dass bei den meisten Songs ziemlich die Post abgeht.
Wer dieses Album gehört hat, der muss einfach mit dem Kapitel RMB abschließen. Das hier ist anders, es ist einfach eine Entwicklungsstufe weiter, einige hier haben glaube ich erwachsener geschrieben. Ich denke, das passt.
Ich persönlich bin schwer begeistert. Einen Favoriten hab ich ehrlich gesagt nicht wirklich, das Album ist insgesamt eine echt runde Sache.
1. Truth And Light (das fand ich schon den Bringer, als es noch Jupiter Jesus hieß)
2. Challenge: Toller Song, aber ich fand auch den ersten “Entwurf” mit der E-Gitarre ziemlich cool. Trotzdem, das Piano, ein Traum
Bei den anderen muss ich sicher nochmal ein Statement abgeben, wenn ich die CD öfter gehört hab. Vielleicht das noch: To You hätte ich so vermutlich am wenigsten auf dem Album erwartet, dennoch: der Song
passt und er fühlt sich beim Hören einfach nur gut an.
Was mir auch aufgefallen ist, keiner der Songs wirkt unnötig gestreckt,
so wie man das manchmal von anderen Alben des Genre kennt.
Ich könnte noch ewig so weiter machen, aber ich sag einfach nochmal:
Danke und Respekt!!
“Thirteen Stories” ist ein Meisterwerk
13. March 2009 at 22:10
Oh, there is one thing I have to add. I had never expected that the “bassdrum testing” was a part of Stellarium. Genius
16. March 2009 at 00:46
After hearing it several times … I still love all of the songs! But slight variations in preference are building up. The following I like a tiny bit more than others:
Truth and Light - very sexy … literally!
1971/7/4 - I’ve always liked the constancy and variation at the same time - genius!
Echovalley - cheeky, scary, funny and intelligent, I laughed out the first time I heard it.
Muxed - great beat for dancing … I can see myself walking into a club in the beginning.
Liquid rite - I just love the melody and the idea with the glasses, the beginning gives me goosebumps
All in - just rocks!
For you - goosebumps and even tears some time. I can emphasize so much, I’m in the same situation right now … love is great!
I also have a least favorite (doesn’t mean I don’t like it, it just can’t compare with the others): Vertigo - just never warmed up with the bells theme
17. March 2009 at 13:53
MY SECOND IMPRESSIONS
I didn’t write my first impressions because they were only with PC speakers. And then I hesitated to write the second ones because I knew it would become a big post. But now I can use my german report at Ciao as foundation.
I definitely like that you want to tell stories with the songs. Listening to them I have a lot of pictures in my mind, but I will try not to write here too much about it and to wait for your “One week one song” thread.
The sound of your album is overwhelming: Everything is produced perfectly clear, with passion, so varied and detailed. The synths and percussions are changing so often, all the things that happen in the stereo field etc.
There is so much to explore that it will never become boring. And, of course, every song sounds different. (I have to mention that as it’s not granted with other producers.)
I don’t have real favourites to write down, just some songs that I find a bit less great that the rest. But I’ll try anyway.
TRUTH AND LIGHT
It’s amazing what you made out of “Jupiter Jesus”. The new vocals of the preacher fit perfectly here, and the handclaps together with the singing make me think of a crowd that listens to the preacher, claps the hands and sways. Great harmonies, great syths. Here I got goose bumps (Gänsehaut) first.
STATE OF FLUX
The first times I listened to this song I missed the crazy acid sounds and the drums that “Stretching the seconds” had. It’s all a bit softer now, the bassline too. But I think everything fits very well, and now the song can reach a wider audience who likes music for relaxing and dreaming. The harmonies also come out very well now, especially the uptempo part is great. Goose bumps again.
CHALLENGE
I had fallen in love with the heavy e-guitar that this song had some months ago. I liked the contrast of the piano melody to the guitar. But probably it was too heavy and didn’t fit to the arrangement. Maybe it will fit somewhere else. (I know this painful process a little from my own tracks.) Anyway the result sounds good.
THE CUBE
Another Masterpiece! Some of the sounds and instruments remind me of middle-age music (is there a lyra?). In my mind I see a middle-age market, or a science-fiction version of it, with fire-spitters and strange-looking people selling strange-looking things. The beat that starts later is great. It becomes even greater in the break when the sad oboe (?) appears, and then those wishful violins with the heart-breaking harmony!
I’m just carried away! (Again I have to say that those “classic” instruments like violin, oboe, piano etc. sound very realistic.) It’s like a movie soundtrack with orchestral instruments and a modern beat, and anyhow it all fits together as if it’s natural.
I forgot: Goose bumps again. Maybe it’s because I sometimes listen to great orchestral soundtracks or emotional classics. I often asked myself what it would sound like when you mix classic melodies with modern elements. Now I know one possibility.
1971/7/4
seems to refer to the birth of someone. I guess the birth was on a day with bad weather and somewhere in the carribean sea (just a joke ;)). I had to get used to the beat, but it fits here as it sounds a bit like disco music of the 70’s. Another nice song.
STELLARIUM
is one of the songs that remind me most of old RMB times (many RMB-like elements), but it sounds fresh nevertheless. For example it’s slower, and the bassdrum is more in the background. A wonderful piano harmony which is completed by a great lead synth in the second part. Goose bumps another time.
LIQUID RITE
I like the glass athosphere here and the uptempo beat. The bassline really makes me think of a ride. The synth that starts at 4:00 is nice, too.
VERTIGO
The combination of the bell synth and the crazy percussions is great. A bit in confusion at the beginning, then becoming faster and more harmonic. Those staccato strings just make me jump out of my seat and dance! There are SO MANY elements at all that are introduced in several breaks, pushing it more and more. GREAT! Anyone who doesn’t get up and dance must be a fool or deaf. I got no goose bumps here, but only because I can’t get these while dancing.
ALL IN
is another one with endless energy. You can hear the sounds of a poker game. I know that simple piano melody from an old song, but which one? The percussions are very crazy and varied again. I like the strings, and, of course, the bassline which changes to a beast. It’s distorted, dirty and ready to be released! WOW! I would like my car to sound like that. In this case the goose bumps come via the bass frequencies if you’ve got the right speakers.
TO YOU
is the perfect ending for this masterpiece album. The calm piano melody, the decent singing and the strings invite to dream. Wonderful.
Once again: There is NO SONG that i DON’T LIKE.
SONGS I MISS
There are two songs from the snippets which I wished to have on the album: Classic Trance (maybe it was too classic?) and Finale. But that’s not a big problem, even if you will never use them. Because now I’m sure you will make many other great songs.
CONCLUSION
That’s easy: The album is a JEWEL. Only some tracks remind me very much of old RMB times. And that is alright, because your new style is ingenious the way it is, and it’s up to date.
More than that - I think it could be TREND-SETTING. That would be very good for the electronic music community - having more EMOTION and ENERGY.
18. March 2009 at 07:26
There is one thing I forgot: This great album just HAS TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE!!! That’s the only way. No one who likes electronic music (or good music in general) should miss that. Otherwise it would be like a beautiful flower standing somewhere in the desert, and only few people have the chance to see it.
24. March 2009 at 17:48
so, hab jetzt endlich die zeit gefunden bzw sie mir genommen, das album einige male durchzuhören. denn einfach mal auf die schnelle durchhören geht gar nicht, für musik brauche ich meine ruhe damit ich mich nur auf die musik konzentrieren kann und nichts anderes stört.
eine der wenigen alben die man komplett durchhören kann, es ist kein track dabei der schlecht ist, sodass man ihn überspringt, sondern man hat seine favoriten die man öfter hört.
track 2 ist wohl mein liebling auf dem album, ganz knapp dahinter dann 1 und 11.
bei track 11 könnte die bassdrum etwas lauter sein, die geht meinem empfinden nach etwas unter.
bei den tracks, bei denen das typische RMB feeling aufkommt *freu*, könnte es meinem geschmack nach noch etwas mehr “abgehen”: ich wippe da mit als würde eine bassdrum auf jedem viertel schlagen aber eigentlich ist es eine art breakbeat. da bietet es sich meiner meinung nach einfach an, noch eine bassdrum wie zu guten alten spring oder experience zeiten drunter zu legen.
auffällig sind die spannungsböden, die tracks fangen ruhig an und nehmen mit der zeit fahrt auf, sowas gibt es selten, gefällt mir richtig gut.
fazit: album des jahres würde ich mal behaupten, was sollte dem denn bitte das wasser reichen!?!?!
alles gute nachträglich
Olli
27. March 2009 at 07:32
Well, my second impression are a bit changed with respect to the first one. I would say that songs that I liked less at the begin are beginning to come in my mind always more and more. That’s good.
My favorite songs are “Stellarium” and the surprising “To you”.
“Stellarium” is a mix of energy that remembers me old time but it is so actual and good song to listen now all the time. I like this sound (I’m not expert and so I don’t know how to call it) like metal-wood tube or something like this that appeared for first time to me in “RMB - Inbetween” that after became “Shadow”.
If somebody understood me, what is the name of this sound??
And for Rolf, which is the reason why a song change title during its production? In your album “Thirteen Stories” we knew some songs with other titles (the most famous “Jupiter Jesus”, for example, that becames “Truth and Light”)?
The last song “To you” gives a lot of emotions everytime. First time because it was the biggest surprise and very nice surprise, and the other times because we feel it like it is a present for us “To you”
But I expect that this “you” is more for somebody else than for us that follows you Rolf from the begin.
But I like to think that this “To you” is for me too
Good job Rolf!
Ah, I was forgetting…. I miss something in this album. It is good vocal, vocal from a nice voice like it was in many of your past production. But I understand that it can be some reason other than the making music in itself which makes you to leave vocal for this album.
Now I wish you a lot of success with this album, and that for the next one you could use a good vocalist
I also hope that you could tell us later on how is going your business
27. March 2009 at 08:57
@cris80dr:
In the case of “Truth and Light” it’s quite easy to guess why the title changed. When it was still “Jupiter Jesus”, it didn’t really have a story to tell. So Rolf searched for other vocals that would fit better (he mentioned somewhere in the blog). He found the voice of the preacher (”…I see the darkness behind you…” etc.), and that suits the handclaps and the background singing of a crowd.
Now it tells the story of a preacher and a crowd that listens to him and sways (or something like that). And as the preacher shouts “…for I am the truth and the light…”, this is the new title.
28. March 2009 at 21:21
For me “Challaenge” is the most emotional song on the album. But if you look at the musical aspect only (concept, structure, harmonism, etc.) then I’d say “All in” is on the top.
03. May 2009 at 17:38
So, after a long time of listening minimum once a day to 13 stories I can definitely say, that “Truth and Light” and “Challenge” are my favourites.
The only song that I don’t like so much is “1971/7/4″.
BTW: Rolf, in case of planning singles, for example from “Challenge”, please put the “guitar version” on it, pleeeeeeeeaaaaaassssseeeeee
11. May 2009 at 12:30
Listen since 3 days on and on and still find some small pieces of sound which i never heard the days before.
The best cd i bought since 10 years (in electronic music) and that without hearing one of the songs before.
Will there be a vinyl-version of that because i love vinyl and collect as much as i can and that thing should probably at my collection.
Hope there will be more music like.
Greetings
Alexander
26. June 2009 at 20:56
Hello,
I’m happy to have found this blog, rather by accident. I was reminded of a very good time
I’m also loving the insights into the music production process.
Now to the album:
I’ve been listening to 13 Stories for a while now, both and speakers and headphones but I can’t say I’m impressed. This being my first comment I feel a bit bad about the amount of critique I’m gonna write about the album, but its honest. Before someone labels me as troll, i’m not. Also, I listen to a lot of different music…
Truth and Light
I like the concept, but the beat is plump and has been heard many times.
State of Flux
The intro promises an interesting song, but as the track develops its completely empty and average, I didn’t feel touched at all. The breakbeats at the end don’t really help.
Challenge
I like the slightly detuned synth. I feel the bpm is a tad too low. There is too little devolpment in the track. The beat parts remind me of some Underworld tracks, but this one doesn’t reach their level.
The Cube
The first time i heard it I was like “oh god, thats the cheapest acoustic guitar sample I evar heard”. It really sounds like an unprocessed sample straight out of Reason… The melody is really depressing and has nothing going for it except the somewhat unusual chord change, but that one is repeated ad nausea. The beat isn’t fresh either. But I liked the outro.
1971/7/4
Nice idea, the track builds expectation but then after the first minute you realize you’re not going to get anything special. Its sad because I feel there was a lot of potential but only like 30% of it was achieved. The intermezzo at 2:30-2:55 is really beautiful, but then the cheesy dance beats bordering on distasteful ruin everything.
Echovalley
Speaker sounds like from KLM airlines
I like the track/ideas. There could be more variation though.
Stellarium
The only track with hymn qualities and probably the track this album will be remembered for. Productionwise I feel it is overcompressed and focused a bit too much on the bassline. Again I think not all potential of the idea was realized.
Muxed
Good, something different. Unfortunately the bass doing nothing except jumping octaves is really annoying. The emotion of the orchestral intermezzo is superficial and dishonest. The hard and rythmic cutting of the orchestral channel at the end is cool but this has been done so much better by others…
Blinding Lies
Love the main synth! (how did you create it?) The beat with the shuffled timing is cool, but in general the rythm part of the song could use some more variation. IIRC a while ago there was another version of this song on the homepage that I liked more.
Liquid rite
I like the glassy percussions and textures. The beat is much too straight for my liking and the melody is kinda dull and set back in the production.
Vertigo
Some nice bits in the melody, but I feel the rest of the experiment wasn’t very successful…
All In
Some very cool ideas in there. The track itself does not stand out but I like it.
To you
A beatiful melody defaced by a kitsch production. The melody itself could have been devolped further.
To sum it up I think the album lacks drive and creativity. The tracks are well produced, but sober and not very original. I would almost say the album seems to have been created in some sort of midlife crisis. Considering the fact that you produced the whole album indepently without marketability in mind, it’s strange that the album is so “well behaved” and that you didn’t use the opportunity to explore much more uncharted territory. I can’t relate at all to other reviewers statements like “eins der derzeit wohl innovativsten Alben der Electroszene”. Well maybe if you’ve only been listening to trance or other techno subgenres for the last 10 years…
I know you listen to stuff from artists on the Warp label and others… I would love to hear music from you inspired by one of those crazier producers!
It’s interesting to note that lots of bands or music producers that used to be very cool and original are having similar issues. I wonder if this has something to do with the shift to mostly software based tools affecting the creative workflow (altough they technically are much more powerful), or maybe its a reflection of something bigger and more philosophical…? I can’t demand and answer from you, Rolf, but I would surely be interested in hearing your opinion on this.
Best regards
27. June 2009 at 16:41
An interesting statement. Sad but interesting. So, from your point of view, what would be a good album at the moment?