Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films (Interlink Audio)

Originally known as Arsenal, Artridge was the brainchild of Robin Pleil
and Christoph Mainz. At their origin there were other contributors but
after internal bleeding, the duo decided to go on their own forming
Artridge. Both members have not only experience as session players
but Pleil himself is also a photographer and video maker. This project
has all the elements to be called experimental. These young and
talented artists possess an extensive knowledge in modern music
technology and recording art. Their music is melodic, pleasant, symphonic,
psychedelic and even jazzy such as on the closing track. Emotion is
also to be included in the description since the mood could be calm
most of the time, at other moments dark & ambient like on Exile and
Omsk or playful. The vast experimentation with keyboards and electronics
make this music simply a pleasant hearing experience whether you like
your décor to be painted with string arrangements or a multitude of
funny sounds. The production is excellent which helps keeping your
attention on the cool scenery while not being taken off road with a
bad recording. Three of the eight tracks last more than ten minutes.
Delos, One Way, Slight Return and Disposition figure as amongst my
favourites with their industrial and vox samplings, good beat, organ,
acoustic guitar and nice symphonic passages. Need not looking any
further, a pleasantly melodic / experimental work is there for your ears

(Denis Brunelle/Darklife)

http://www.darklifezine.de/dlzineX_specialreviews.html

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films

urban renewal ****

By Vivien Weimar

“It’s amazing what you can do with three chords or more!” is a modest
statement from a band that deserves to be anything but. Artridge is
comprised of current Berlin residents Christoph Mainz and Robin Pleil, who
formed the group after the dissolution of their previous band, Arsenal.
Described as “Industrial Chamber Music”, Artridge’s sound is more like a
soundtrack for urban living. “Mod Rat” invokes the mood of New York’s lower
East Side jazz clubs, with its Bossa Nova bassoon and smoky piano,
while instantly distinctive “Exile,” with its strong guitars and upbeat quality,
reminded me of Quadrophonia-era London. One might assume “Omsk” to be
stark and hard given its Russian nomenclature, but the track’s driving
drumbeat is the most straightforward EBM single on the album. “Conclusion”
and “Delos” are varying versions of the same piece; with its futuristic
attempts and seemingly dated computer sounds, the former resembles
Kubrick’s classic 2001: Space Odyssey, while the modern touches of "Delos"
(almost) arrive at a dancefloor level. It’s clear that any band that starts their
album with a 12-minute opus titled “Conclusion” is not interested in following
traditional musical designs (or else just has a healthy sense of humor).
As the title indicates, Finished Soundtracks of Unshot Films is a collection of
songs that could be used to score various pictures, but is really meant to
produce cinematic images in the listener’s own mind.

DOWNLOAD THESE: “Delos (On Way, Sight Return)”, “Disposition”, “Mod Rat”

(Vivien Weimar/SATP)

http://www.sickamongthepure.com/files/2005/06/reviews/artridge.html

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films
Interlink Audio

Shunning predictable rhythmic patterns in favour of an elaborate musical brawl,
this full-length debut successfully captures the soundtracks to schizophrenia with
a flourish absent from these Germans' previous efforts (under the name Arsenal).

Bite-sized electro-magnetic riffs and snatches with acoustic instrumentation are
forever interrupted and intertwined by a duo that snarls at the very mention of logic.
Lush classical orchestration and electronic processing walk hand-in- hand, re-opening
wounds that the deranged instrumentals mirror with disturbing accuracy.
"Finished Soundtracks..." is an electrifying listen.

(Merje Lõhmus/GIAG)

http://www.giag.lv/english/rev- ARTRIDGE-Finished_Soundtracks_For_Unshot_Films-CD.htm

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films
Interlink Audio

Artridge ist in Gestalt von Robin Pleil und Christoph Mainz der harte
Kern, der nach dem Ende von Arsenal im Duo weiter machte. Mainz hatte
zuvor in Amsterdam Literatur studiert, Pleil als Fotograf und
Videokünstler in New York gelebt. Inzwischen waren sie der Attraktion der
Bundeskapitale Berlin gefolgt und produzieren dort Wildstyle-Electro. Auf
ein Laufband aus geradlinig dahin rollenden Beats mit Zwitscherinjektionen
wird ein ausgesuchtes Sammelsurium von Lärm gehäuft - ein urbaner
Sperrmüllberg aus Musique-concréte-Brocken, hollywoodorchestrale Loops mit
pathetischen Strings und dunkel drohenden Bläserostinati als Korngold-
Goldenthal-Fusion, dann Noise über scheppernden Drums, Bassgeknurr und dem
Ticken eines Weckers, der umbricht in helles Orgelriffing, gefolgt von
Hardrockschüben mit Gitarrengewichse, als ob man aus Versehen in The
Director‘s Cut von Fantomas geraden wäre. Artridge lieben es
maximalistisch, sie lieben es manieristisch, eklektisch, plunderphonisch
und lustvoll zu schwelgen in der Fülle und Bizarrerie einer Soundwelt, die
mit flatternden Haaren vom Teufel geritten wird. Rockenden Electro- Stomps
geht unterwegs der Sprit aus und sie eiern im Leerlauf talwärts, immer
noch von der Gitarre gepeitscht. Im Gummistiefel-Dub werden Eisenstäbe
über den Hof gekickt. Die vorletzte Etappe ist dann ein tränenschweres
Largo, aber unter den Geigen und den rollenden Pauken zappelt weiter eine
quirlige Ungeduld, die lieber wieder etwas Action hätte. Doch auch das
finale ‚Mod Rat‘ säumt dann noch einmal mit Jazzbesen, Piano,
Bassklarinette und Strings eine Orienttristesse mit Trauerrand ein, dass
man sich wie ein englischer Patient vorkommt.

(Rigobert Dittmann /Editor)

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films
Interlink Audio - Category : Trance

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that some things simply are not meant to
be. Such was the case for the Berlin band Arsenal, which broke up in 2003
after a less than favorable release and legal issues. Two members of this
ill-fated band, Robin Pleil and Christoph Mainz, went on to form Artridge
with the intention of making music without the restrictions and
limitations of fitting into any one scene. Going back to basics and
employing a soundtrack-like mentality towards the formerly divided city,
Artridge’s music combines modern sound design with organic progressions
that veer into seemingly random directions at will, much like one’s
emotional state can shift from hot to cold, passionate to indifferent,
raging to soothing. Cinematic in its scope, and dynamic in its
arrangements, Finished Soundtracks For Unshot Films lives up to its title,
producing backgrounds and soundscapes best suited for filmic incorporation.

There are heavy traces of varying types of electronica at work in these
eight tracks, three of which exceed 10 minutes in length and go through so
many musical permutations that they recall the late great Coil in their
longer more electronic-tinged moments. From the opening arpeggio drones of
“Conclusion” and its accompanying sister track, “Delos – One Way, Slight
Return,” the tracks segue into counter-rhythms and a series of electronic
blips and scattered beats that could stand up to much of the old school
EBM. The rock-and-roll guitar histrionics coupled with the deep droning
bass during the first and last portions of “Exile” would make for good
background music for a club or concert scene, while it slows down into a
psychedelic head trip of distorted vocal samples and jazzy chords in the
middle. “Infusion” actually stands against much of today’s cinematic
symphonies with its wide array of string sounds and alternating themes.
The same can be said for “Omsk,” which begins with a series of punchy bass
effects, groovy beats, and occasional stabs of guitar-like noise; carrying
on into variation after variation for well over twelve minutes, the track
stays interesting and holds the listener’s attention. “Disposition,”
another twelve minute epic, is much more restrained with a quieter mix of
string arrangements and electronic chimes; there is rhythm present, but it
kicks in after the first three minutes, allowing the listener to be lulled
into a restful state before picking up momentum again. Closing out with
“Mod Rat,” a track that recalls Angelo Badalamenti’s jazzy noir scores for
David Lynch films, but with a grainier quality stays grounded in its
electronic foundations.

Artridge have showcased a knack for creating true soundtrack music; the
variety of sounds and styles portrayed instills images in the listeners’
heads, giving indications of background music to a story that does not yet
exist in any visual sense. Described as “contemporary industrial chamber
music,” Artridge’s sound is appealing to the audiophiles in search of ear
candy, as well as the scholars who would argue that film score composers
are the last of a dying breed of classical musicians. Artridge have the
grasp of music theory and the technical know-how of modern production,
making for a gripping combination that will hopefully guarantee the band
some level of recognition in the world of music; it would not be
surprising to see them actually contributing music to films in the
foreseeable future. If you are a fan of film scores, particularly those by
Angelo Badalamenti and Tomandandy, or if you enjoy the improvisational
electronica of Coil or Download, but without the abrasion, then pick up a
copy of Artridge’s Finished Soundtracks For Unshot Films.

(Ilker/Asst. Editor - ReGen Mag)

http://www.regenmag.com

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films
Interlink Audio - Format Reviewed: CD

There are two kinds of underground musicians: those who want to be less
underground than they currently are, and those who want to make film
soundtracks. Berlin duo Artridge (Robin Pleil and Christoph Mainz) take
the second type one step further, scoring movies that don't even exist.
Whether or not the album title is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, Finished
Soundtracks for Unshot Films is right on -- the music is superlatively
cinematic, suited to a performance in which the visual component would
most likely take center stage (after all, no one really wants to look at
two guys fiddling with laptops). However, it stands on its own quite well,
too. Pleil and Mainz are quite the dilettantes, with backgrounds in
photography, video, writing and theatre as well as music. This explains
their attitude that music is just a small part of the process of making
and experiencing art, as well as their expressed desire to collaborate
with visual artists.

The plurals in the album title aren't accidental, either. Finished
Soundtracks isn't a unified chunk, but eight discrete pieces with wildly
differing moods. "Conclusion" begins the record (heh) all low-key bleep-
and-squiggle, developing into a hypnotically clinical downtempo
soundscape. Right on its heels, "Infusion" brings in the heavy orchestral
artillery. Later on, "Exile" features rippingly distorted guitars, echoing
like soundcheck in a cavernous club; "Omsk" gives us a dreamy car-chase or
climactic hacker scene; "Tube" is digital dub with the reverb-soaked
sounds of metal pipes being dropped on concrete. If all these pieces were
in one flick, it would be Slackers-schizophrenic -- but Artridge pull off
each style with equal aplomb. The effect of all these disparate styles is
more refreshing than aimless: as soon as "Infusion" (definitely Finished
Soundtracks' most soundtrack-ready cut) has traveled through tension and
conflict to its appropriately Hollywood resolution, "Delos (One Way –
Slight Return)" lets you rock out with the record's first slammin' beats.

At first listen, it seems as if Pleil and Mainz haven't paid nearly
enough attention to song order and flow (the noirish "Mod Rat" probably
isn't the best choice to wrap up the disc). But then, movies don't drop
off right at the climax -- they ramp you down gently. Finished Soundtracks
is scattered, but it does a good job of putting each "character" into its
own box.

(Sarah Zachrich/Splendid)

http://www.splendidmagazine.com

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films (2004

From Aural Innovations #30 (February 2005)

Artridge are an improvisational group from Berlin, Germany featuring
musicians originally from Australia (at least one). The music has a very
experimental industrial feel while maintaining a certain forward moving,
vital energy that sort of sucks you along but never lets you down. Check
it out!

(Scott Heller/Aural Innovations)

http://www.aural- innovations.com/issues/issue30/artridge.html

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films

The title to this album describes the sounds contained within to one hundred
percent accuracy. Dark atmospherics and subtle droning soundscapes combined
with upbeat electronics and elements of brass and stringed instruments make for
a relaxed and enjoyable background music listening experience. Place this album
in a digital art show setting as a soundtrack to an aspiring film artist's representation
of the injustices involved in Eminent Domain and you would have a perfect match.
"Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films" is very well-made and is in a constant
fluctuation in tempo and attitude, which is more than anyone could ask for in
a score. With the variety of musical styling, original sampling, and very competent
production, the final score for this album is a four-and-a-half out of a possible
five habanero peppers. [9/10]

(Crippled.Hope/Connexion Bizarre)

http://www.connexionbizarre.net/reviews/r_artridge_finishedsound tracksforunshotfilms.htm

Legacy | Ausgabe 35 [D]

ARTRIDGE: "FINISHED SOUNDTRACKS FOR UNSHOT FILMS"

Filmmusik zu sein, ist wohl ein Wunsch oder ein Gedanke, der mit der unterschiedlichsten Musik verbunden wird, die nicht von Beats und Breaks vorangetrieben wird. Hängt wohl damit zusammen, dass der Konsument heutzutage musikalischen Werken gerne einen konkreten Nutzen zuschreiben möchte. Und wenn eine Musik schon nicht tanzbar ist, so muss sie doch zumindest einem anderen, offensichtlichen Zweck dienen, und sei es, dass sie dabei hinter eine andere Form der Kunst tritt. Und gerade Filmmusik ist doch das Genre schlechthin, wo mit Tönen ganz einfach und subtil Bilder entstehen können, wenn diese auch zumeist mit einem bestimmten Werk verbunden sein mögen. Bei ARTRIDGE verhält es sich anders, hier ist die Musik weit vor dem Film entstanden, diese Musik kann noch gehört werden und der Hörer kann sich dabei fragen, zu welcher Art von Film die Klangwelt wohl passen könnte. Auch eine Art der Interaktion. Musikalisch sind ARTRIDGE jedenfalls weit gefächert. Angefangen bei schwebenden, von Bläsern getragenen Stücken, die in wirrer, nervenaufreibender Elektronik enden; verzerrte, arg aufdringlich schraddelnde Gitarren, die eine sich gerade entwickelnde Beat-Passage zerstören oder eine sonore Bassschleife, hier wird drauf losgejammt. Musik zum Hören und Drehbuchschreiben.
14 Punkte

(SK, Legacy)

http://www.legacy.de

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films

The blah blah blah of the press release ends with the splendidly redundant phrase "perhaps giving new meaning to the term contemporary industrial chamber music." Now don't get me wrong, I've written one or two ahem odd things myself and I've been slated for it. I saw some postings on the web recently saying that I'd said a band sounded like Radiohead caught in the school music room with their pants down and asking what the fuck I was talking about. This far removed from the fact, I've got to wonder myself. I'm pretty sure the now blindingly obvious and rather unsavoury interpretation wasn't the one I was after. But back to the point - just what are Artridge trying to say?

So let's forget that I've never been exposed to the old meaning of the term contemporary industrial chamber music; if I had to guess what the new meaning was before listening to the record, I'd go for something at that dark Goth/techno interface with arty and classical pretensions. And I'd be wrong/wrong with wrong and wrong. What Artridge have got is mostly mellow machine mood music. It's the sound computers make inside, for themselves, overnight during backup runs, when the processor has the free time to listen to its surroundings and reflect them back. It's the gentle pulsing of electron flow, encoded information and fragments of external interactions. It's the whirr of drives and sometimes the crunching collision of heads crashing onto a disk. It's long and drowsy and drawn-out because time means nothing to a solid state device, even though its clock is always ticking.

So I still don't know what Artridge are trying to say, but I'd say they've no need to try saying it. The music is doing it for me on its own

(Jim/Editor Robotzine)

http://come.to/robots

Aural Pressure [UK]

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films

The slow-building 10-minute intro track on Artridge's new CD "Finished
Soundtracks For Unshot Films" is called 'Conclusion', which might give you
some advance warning of this two-man band's quirky, off-kilter approach.
Spacious and ambient for the first half, towards the end it acquires a
scratchy bass-line, the squeal of an unhinged oscillator, gentle chords on
a keyboard and a minimal, motoric rhythm that reminds me somehow of Steve
Reich. Based in Berlin having done stints in New York and Amsterdam,
Artridge sound appropriately urban and unplaceably cosmopolitan, like the
familiar flow of human traffic around any major western conurbation you
could care to mention. The press release claims that they give "new
meaning to the term 'contemporary industrial chamber music'"; I wasn't
aware there was an old meaning to the term, it being a neologism as far as
I know, but let's not pick hairs - as the album continues, I begin to see
what they mean.

'Infusion' flowers into an orchestral string arrangement and begins to sound like
Jim Thirlwell's Steroid Maximus or Manorexia projects, in their quiet moments at
least, minus the big-band brashness and the seventies car-chase sleaze -
although by the end there's a hint of Alexander Balanescu or Ekkehard Ehlers in
the mix.

'Delos' revisits 'Conclusion' but brings to it a brief twist of lo-fi dancefloor jive
before stretching it out into a repetitive clockwork rhythm and depositing
it somewhere in jazz territory.

'Exile' is a homage to the guitar, an affectionate pastiche of RAWK, which breaks
down half-way through so the chugga-chugga power chords can let a bluesy solo
and some fragments of spoken lyric bleed through. If this were a record,
"Omsk" would signal the start of side two, breaking completely with the sounds
of "Exile" and leading gaily along a skippy, funky drumbeat and duelling basslines
into a strange construction of warbling analog sounds, throbs of bass and heavily
processed jangles of guitar. Nice if perhaps somewhat over-long at 13
minutes, it would have a little more punch if it was a little shorter.

'Tube' is a brief Pole-ish dub interlude with a clangy industrial sheen, while
'Disposition', another long one, finds us back in orchestral arrangement territory
and really begins to live up to the promise of filmic soundscapes in the album title.
This for me is the centrepiece of the album, demonstrating a knack for harmony
and juxtaposition of timbre and texture, and an incredible ability to weave subtle
melodies out of the interplay of different fragments played on different instruments.

After 'Disposition' plays out, 'Mod Rat' comes in with a blue piano, soon joined
by lush strings and a syncopated drumbeat - and perhaps something akin to
an oboe, be it made of wood or electronics. This is like the musical equivalent of
some smoky after-hours basement bar, seeing us through the long hours after the
orchestra has gone home.
My only concern is that there should have been something more climactic here,
that they should have pulled out all the stops for the final reel, as it were. As it is,
the narrative draws to a slightly unsatisfying close, and as the credits roll the
audience are left wanting more - here's hoping the sequel is in the works already.

(Andrew Clegg, Aural Pressure)

http://www.auralpressure.com/review/a/artridge_finished.html

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films

Artridge - "Finished Soundtracks For Unshot Films" CD - The duo of
Robin Pleil and Christopher Mainz constitute ARTRIDGE, and this debut
release is quite an impressive start indeed. Much can be gleaned from
the title, as this disc contains 8 well-developed tracks of evocative
and modern electronic-based soundwork. ARTRIDGE's grooves cover all
kinds of ground, from post-industrial to cinematic/classical to
trip-hoppy, and often display a playful, experimental edge that keeps
them from fitting comfortably into any certain classifiable style or
genre. The production is masterful, compositions are strong, sometimes
song-based and other times rhythm-oriented, but all of 'Finished
Soundtracks' is polished and well-conceived. A highly enjoyable release!
(Interlink Audio)

(Todd Zachritz/Godsend Magazine)

http://members.evansville.net/tgodsend/latest.html

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films

"...Relieving themselves of the heavy weight of their other
collaborators, Mainz and Pleil took their toys to another location and
piled together the things they had in common -- the contemporary, the
industrial and the chamber music -- to build, well, invisible
soundtracks..."

Snapshot Full Review

(Mark Teppo, Igloo Magazine)

http://igloomag.com/doc.php?task=view&id=915&category=re views

SHEDEVINE [E]

ARTRIDGE: "FINISHED SOUNDTRACKS FOR UNSHOT FILMS"

The music: experimental soundtracks for this work by "Artridge" but not
only that, in some cases this definition is very clear, but there are
other moments (more or less the half of the record), where the music can
visit any musical place and leaves momentarily the field of soundtracks or
soundscapes; you can find for instance guitars and a lot of different
musical surroundings, there is a continuous electronic framework and this
electronic body holds all the musical architecture of ARTRIDGE up, since
the proposal of this cd is basically that: crystal, steel, concrete,
fibre..."maximalist" sound structures where light falls their surface at
a strange and experimental angle, creating extense zones where
clarity is not very abundant, all this depicts a kind of crepuscular
sonorous large city, practically nocturnal and certainly sombre, the
lights and neons are brought by the electronica, which can go from
underground techno to more experimental, idm or almost industrial
resources; the rest of urban details are uncountless, since the diversity
of the music is notable: all types of sound processing and experiments
via electronica or guitars, orchestral arrangements, ambient and
atmospheric music, havens of tranquillity, contemporary classical music
and much more (some surprising and unexpected, like the jazz background
of the last track).
I want to point out that ARTRIDGE is experimental but its forms are
musical. Very interesting musical constructions, the guitars in the
fourth track does not totally convince me, sometimes they seem a little
out of place, but the rest is very, very stimulating.

Label: INTERLINK AUDIO www.interlink-audio.net

GLOBAL GRADE: 8,7/10

(Héctor Noble Fernández, Editor SHEDIVIDE)

Spanish Language Version

http://www.shedivine.com/castellano/criticas/artridge.htm#finish edsoundtracks

Re- Flexion [D, CH]

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films (interlink audio)

Der Albumtitel „Finished Soundtracks For Unshot Films“ sagt viel über
die Musik von Artridge aus und genau so muss man sich das Album
vorstellen. Wisst ihr, was ich meine?
Ich beginne ein wenig früher in der Geschichte von Artridge. Robin Pleil
und Christoph Mainz stammen vom Berliner Projekt Arsenal und verfolgen
seit 2003 mit Artridge ein neues, erfolgreicheres Ziel.
Die acht Songs auf „Finished Soundtracks For Unshot Films“ bewegen sich
zwischen zwei und zwölf Minuten, sind instrumentell, experimentell,
elektronisch, innovativ, orchestral, psychedelisch, verspielt, komplex
und vielschichtig, um nur einige passende Adjektive zu nennen. Artridge
bezeichnen ihr Musik selber als Contemporary Industrial Chamber Music,
was das genau heissen mag, kann ich nicht erläutern.
Das Duo kreiert sphärische Soundkollagen, abwechslungsreiche
Klangteppiche, rotzige Gitarrenriffs, mystischen Sprachsamples und ruhe
Streicherpassagen. Eine genaue Bezeichnung fällt schwierig, denn wenn
man meint eine Stilrichtung gefunden zu haben, wird man mit dem nächsten
Song wieder enttäuscht. Die Musik verschmilzt mit Kunst und lässt dem
Zuhörer viele geistige Vorstellungen zu und ihn in eigene
Phantasiewelten eintauchen. [......]
Anspieltipps sind „Conclusion“ und „Exile“.
Wer sich Zeit nimmt, um in die Welt von Artridge einzutauchen, wird mit
den unterschiedlichsten Facetten belohnt und kann sich in den
entstehenden Bildern richtig entspannen und erholen.

(Marco Meier, re-flexion)

http://www.re- flexion.de/alt/kritiken/2005/2005-01/artridge-finished/artridge- finished.htm

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films

Polish language review

(Angelica Litteri & Malgorzata Genca, Kultura Industrialna)

http://terror.org.pl/~i- radio/press/reviews/412.htm

Smother [USA]

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films (interlink audio)

A fitting title to say the least, “Finished Soundtrack for Unshot Films” has
expertly captured the various moods and sounds of Berlin. Layered with
an obsessive compulsive desire for perfection it’s almost a wonder that this
album was able to be released without at least a thousand “scratch” tracks
on the wayside. Never an alone drone, the music is sculpted in such a way
that to utter minimalism would be a mistake for there’s just too much going
on in the background.
Quite frankly this album is going to be the currency of the electronic world
in the very near future.

(J-Sin, Editor Smother.net)

http://www.smother.net/reviews/techno.php3?ID=264

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films

"...Speedy Gonzales would get envious..."

Snapshot Full Review

(Montoya Burlesque, Mouvement Nouveau)

http://www.mouvement-nouveau.com

Moderne Klangkunst [D]

Artridge
Finished Soundtracks For Unshot Films (CD, 2004)
SX Distribution - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films (interlink audio)

Experimentelle, halb elektronische, halb akustische Filmmusik für noch nicht
existierende Filme bzw. für jene, die im eigenen Kopf ablaufen, erwartet einen
auf diesem Album der Wahlberliner Robin Pleil und Christoph Mainz.
„Conclusion“ bietet zirpende und quietschende Maschinenmusik, die in „Delos“
u.a. um Schlagzeugelemente erweitert wird, „Infusion“ strapaziert mit monotonen,
dunkel brummenden, endlos sich wiederholenden (Streich- )Orchesterpatterns,
„Exile“ liefert teils psychedelische, teils bretternde E- Gitarren und Schlagzeug-
Geknüppel, in „Omsk“ treffen E-Gitarrensamples auf hektisches Bass-Spiel und
treibende Perkussion, benetzt von elektronischen Flächenklängen und Effektsounds,
„Disposition“ verknüpft u.a. Kammerorchester, träumerische Gitarren und vertrackte
Perkussion miteinander und „Mod Rat“ kombiniert melancholischen Bar-Jazz mit
filmtypischem Streichorchester. Ein interessantes Album, in dessen bis zu 13 Minuten
langen Stücken viel Verwertbares für tatsächliche Filme steckt. Also, Produzenten
und Regisseure: Hört einmal rein!

(Falk Lenn, Moderne Klangkunst)

http://www.moderne- klangkunst.de/Rezensionen_Ausgabe11.htm

Tesselate [GB]

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films (Interlink)

"Conclusion" takes a minimal stance, rattling tiny bells off its
shoulders and knees, and jumping up and down like a rabbit with mechanical
legs giving off a processed natural sound that spreads into the sky in a
form of acoustic shapes.
Thunder like crackles rip from ear to ear as the jingly jangle melody
continues to ripple around and slightly transforming itself backwards and
forwards from machine to organic. This is 10min 42 seconds of evolution,
full of so much, you just have to hear it. Quality.

"Delos - One way, Slight Return" takes a heavier angle, with a crunch
glitch beat and pipe like smashes all over the place, creating a hugely
rich atmosphere that you can't not nod along to, whilst "Exile" opens with
a heavy electric guitar and rock drums, with static rainfall and smokey
flybys from helicopters, high in the smog laden sky above. It reminds me
of a game soundtrack to a hyper fast paced fps, with some major weapons.

"Tube" rocks and skips on the spot, like a massive spongey frog with a
belly ful of stones and diamonds, and then reveals a glass clattering bell
smashing flipside that catches you unaware, and causes visions of
manufacturing plants surrounded by high razor wire fences, to somehow pop
into your mind. Visually rich track.

"Disposition" takes the other side of the coin with a happy characters themetune,
full of grinning audio and smirks, but it soons develops more of an epic sound to it.
Growing in stature with violin and cascading drums and miami style callings, this
really could be the soundtrack for a film. Reminding me of a Novel 23
track, so rammed with sound that your head looks around like eyes on the
end of storks, just trying to soak it all in. 12 minutes of audio skill.

"Artridge - Finished soundtracks for Unshot films" is exactly what it
says, and I think even if you hadn't seen the title of the release, you
would still envisage footage to this music. Really amazing stuff,
especially "Disposition". Definitely worth checking out.

(Sam Millen, Editor Tesselate)

http://www.tesselate.me.uk/reviews/issue19b/artridge_review.htm

ChainDKL [I, CH, USA]

ARTRIDGE

Artridge is a musical project coming from Berlin.
FINISHED SOUNDTRACKS FOR UNSHOT FILMS (a very evocative title, indeed)
is their second full lenght and contains eight excellent examples of well
done sound constructions.
The instrumental tracks carry so many musical genres and sonic solutions
that is impossible to file them under a specific one. For this reason it's the
best thing naming them: soundtracks. Since there isn't a visual counterpart
there's a little text on the inside cover which refers to a girl who sits on a
wall looking to the sea thinking about what it has to come. This could be a
little hint about the emotions underlined by the sixty minutes of music you can
find into the CD. Anyway, musically Artridge blend in a perfect way elements
of classical music (piano and strings) with ambient or industrial elements just
to compose jazzy / ambient / industrial suites which are really full of colors.
Tension, romanticism, fear, each emotion has been covered so well that you
won't realize that there are no images.

(Maurizio Pustianaz, Editor ChainDLK)

http://www.chaindlk.org/reviews/reviews.php3?id=1581

Amazing Sounds [E]

ARTRIDGE: "FINISHED SOUNDTRACKS FOR UNSHOT FILMS" Interlink

"Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films" de Artridge, integrado por ocho
composiciones, es música electrónica cuyo estilo fluctúa entre el Tecno
y el Cósmico. También se perciben rasgos pop, y algunos toques étnicos.
Artridge demuestra en este CD una buena dosis de imaginación.

"Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films" by Artridge, which has eight
compositions, is electronic music whose style ranges between Industrial
and Neoclassical. Some Ambient traits are also perceived, as well as some
experimental touches. Artridge show in this CD a good dose of imagination.

(Alejandro Hinojosa, Amazing Sounds)

http://www.amazings.com/reviews2004.html

Whisperin and Hollerin [UK]

ARTRIDGE: "FINISHED SOUNDTRACKS FOR UNSHOT FILMS" Interlink Audio

(...)... Where that album was music for one imagined film this works as a sampler
CD with each track demonstrating different stylisations rather than an
overarching listening experience composed for one visual narrative. Tracks
such as ‘Conclusion’, ‘Delos’ and ‘Omsk’ place a heavy emphasis on looped
electronic beats and sound-waves whereas synthetic and organic sounds are
merged well on ‘Infusion’ and ‘Disposition’, the latter being a desirably
effective and affecting piece of music. On the jazzy ‘Mod Rat’ the music
discards nearly all artificiality for a ‘real’ orchestrated arrangement.

There is too much going on for this to be merely ‘ambient instrumental’
and the electroclash of ‘Exile’ soon wakes you rudely from whatever
reverie the first half of the album may have instilled: in a rare moment
of purposeful clarity from their press release they themselves use the
term “contemporary industrial chamber music” which is pretty much on the
mark. Artridge just about manage to maintain interest from start to finish
by putting enough tone and texture into their music that you don’t
actually feel its impact is lost by not having the fictional visual
accompaniment.

I hope Artridge do succeed in garnering interest from visual artists as
they demonstrate an ability to create a range of pieces that could
accompany images that move across the genre-spectrum from the abstract to
the actual...(...)

(Different Drum, Whisperin and Hollerin)

http://www.whisperinandhollerin.co.uk/reviews/review.asp?id=1873

Elect(Ro)tation [D]

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films (interlink audio)

Berlin vor ein paar Jahren. Einige Musiker vereinen sich aus aller Welt
um in der Hauptstadt ihr Musikprojekt "Arsenal" aufzubauen. Nach langen
Diskussionen, fehlgeschlagenen Releases und keinem klaren Ziel, wird das
Projekt 2003 verworfen, doch gleichzeitig etwas neues auf die Beine
gestellt.
Als "Artridge" bleiben Robin Pleil und Christoph Mainz zusammen
und produzieren einen eigenen Style, der von ihren eigentlichen
Orientierungen stark beeinflusst wird.
Die Soundkonstrukte sind dramaturgisch aufgebaut und man muss das
Ensemble aus akustischen und digitalen Audio-Kollagen schon durchhören
.
Im Bereich der experimentellen elektronischen Musik ist die Platte eine,
die tatsächlich "komponiert" wurde.

(Don, Elect(Ro)tation)

http://www.electrotation.de/reviews/review-artridge- d.html

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films

First, there’s the meeting of 2 men in Berlin. Next, there’s the idea to
set up a kind of musical collective, including a few more artists. Then
comes the name Artridge and last, but not least, there’s the thinking about
a kind of concept where you can find the purpose in the title of their album.
Artridge explores different musical grounds and influences, but always
keeping the soundtrack idea in mind. It all starts with the pretty cool
“Conclusion”, which sounds like a remarkable source of diversity in sound
where ambient atmospheres and industrial elements have been mixed together.
You easily perceive the soundtrack idea and writing on most of the tracks,
“Infusion” and the more neo-classical minded “Disposition” being both
acceptable pieces in this genre. We still get a few surprises like the
heavy guitar riffs on “Exile” and the definitely more electro minded
“Tube”, which is one of my favorites. It ends in a lounge way with the “Mod rat” -
piece. You often get a movie and then the music while this is just the opposite!
I’m not getting wild of Artridge, but this album can definitely serve for a
movie soundtrack picture! Good luck guys!
[Rating 5/6]

(Derange Psyche/Side Line Magazine)

http://www.side- line.com

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films

The title of the debut-album by Artridge is one that gives a clue what is
to be expected. And like some movies, one is not always sure what is to be
expected next during this imaginary film score. Artridge fuses different
atmospheres and styles in each song. The music can suddenly change it's
characteristics, the instrumentation can be completely different all of a
sudden.
Orchestral themes interchange with dark, pulsating electronic
atmospheres, vocal samples turn up all of a sudden and noisy guitars can
be heard as well.
It's clear that Robin Pleil and Christoph Mainz have been longer active
in the music scene. Both Artridge members have been involved in Arsenal
previously...(....)

(Paul, Phosphor Magazine)

http://www.xs4all.nl/~phosphor/newreleases.html

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films

Abseits der ewig gleichen und nach Schema F ablaufenden Klang- und
Rhythmusstrukturen der elektronischen Musik, haben Artridge mit ihrem Werk
ein sehr komplexes und vielschichtiges Werk auf die Beine gestellt. Schon
der Titel weist darauf hin. Ihre acht Songs, die zwischen zwei und zwölf
Minuten dauern können, bieten die Vorlage für noch gar nicht produzierte
Filme. Es könnten die Filme sein, die unser Kopf selber produziert, das
Kino des geistigen Auge. Und Artridge setzt alles daran, über die Musik
ein Bild vor diesem Auge entstehen zu lassen. Dabei wird alles
zusammengesetzt was geht. Egal ob Streicher („Infusion“) oder
psychedelische Gitarren („Exile“). Sicherlich wird es dem einen oder
anderen etwas zu schwer werden. Das liegt natürlich daran, dass diese
Lieder ein hohes Maß an Aufmerksamkeit verlangen und nicht einfach
nebenher angehört werden können. „Finished Soundtracks For Unshot Films“
wird aber seinen – zugegeben nicht überschwänglich großen – Fankreis haben.

(Daniel Dressler, Elektrauma)

http://elektrauma.de/rezensionen.php4?KritikNummer=738

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films

With backgrounds in video-making, photography, literature, theatre and
session playing, Robin Pleil and Christoph Mainz are more equipped than
most to make credible soundtrack music. Wisely dismissing their previous
name of Arsenal they now record as Artridge and have moved to Berlin as
part of the process. It's possible to hear the history of this previously
war-torn city in the doomy atmospheres of 'Infusion' but this album
doesn't concentrate on any one particular style or mood amongst its eight
evocative pieces. 'Delos' cries out for a futuristic horror comission
whilst a couple of orchestral pieces are reminiscent of another act
hellbent with sounding cinematic, In The Nursery. Only 'Exile', with its
use of dated heavy metal guitars disappoints but the deployment of some
brutal chords to interrupt the smooth techno on 'Omsk' more than makes up
for this failing. For a collection of fairly disparate pieces of music the
whole project hangs together very well, even given the absence of visuals.

(Jon Leonard, music reviews)

http://www.leonardslair.co.uk/

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films (Interlink Audio)

„It’s amazing what you can do with 3 chords – or more!“

Eigentlich ist ja bliepiges Elektronikgefrickel so überhaupt nicht meine
Baustelle. Vielleicht liegt das am Trauma, das eine gar grauenhafte,
uralte VANGELIS-Platte bei mir ausgelöst hatte, bei der man wahrscheinlich
vollkommen abgespaced hätte sein müssen, um bewusstseinserweitert zu
erkennen, dass da nicht einfach nur die Katze versehentlich im Tonstudio
über ein paar Tasten und Knöpfe gelaufen ist. Doch ARTRIDGE, bestehend aus
den Wahlberlinern Robin Pleil und Christoph Mainz, könnten da genau die
richtige Medizin mit ihrer „contemporary industrial chamber music“ bieten.
Der Amsterdamer und der New Yorker pendeln irgendwo zwischen Elektronika,
neubautigen Klangcollagen, rotzigen Gitarrenriffs und Neoklassik und
kreieren Soundlandschaften, die dem Albumtitel gerechter nicht werden
könnten. Kopfkino. Das Konzept der ungefragten Filmmusik ist zwar schon
von IN THE NURSERY bekannt, allerdings existieren bei ARTRIDGE diese Filme
bis dato nirgendwo außer in der Phantasie des Hörers. Und sie sind
teilweise verschieden wie Tag und Nacht!

Zwar beginnt der epische Einsteiger „Conclusion“ auch eher blubberig-
fragmentarisch, doch nach viereinhalb Minuten wird der Sound flüssiger und
regelrecht eingängig, leitet über in ein Motiv, das im dritten Track
„Delos – One Way, Slight Return“ noch einmal aufgegriffen wird. „Exile“
wartet dagegen mit fast schon punkigen Riff- und Drumkaskaden auf, von
Elektronik ist hier nur wenig zu hören. Shadowrun meets Matrix.
Sprachsamples verleihen dem hektischen Grundrhythmus noch das letzte
Quäntchen Abgedrehtheit. Im 12minütigen „Omsk“ treffen virtuoses Bassspiel
und funkige Gitarren auf ein rhythmisches Grundgerüst, das fast schon an
Drum `n Bass erinnert, und machen es zu fast schon tanzbaren Zugfahrt
durch zuckende Neuronenwälder. Deutlich stringenter zeigt sich das überaus
knappe „Tube“, in dem tatsächlich ein Stahlrohr die klangliche Hauptrolle
zu spielen scheint, und das daher entfernt an Blixa Bargeld und Co.
erinnert. Wie schon im zweiten Stück geht es auch bei „Disposition“
neoklassischer zu Werke, wo Cello und Kesselpauken auf triphoppiges
Ambiente treffen und den synthetischen Aufbau mit einer ganz eigenen Prise
Bombast würzen. „Mod Rat“ bietet vertrackt- melancholisches Pianospiel zu
jammernden Streichern. Loungiger Barjazz of the future, dann ist die CD
vorbei, die Filmrolle abgespult, das Licht geht an und man möchte am
liebsten per Repeat-Taste noch eine Kinokarte lösen.

(Antje Wagler, Terrorverlag)

http://www.musik.terrorverlag.de/musik/rezensionen/index.php?sel ect_cd=1658&kategorie=industrial

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks For Unshot Films

De tweede cd van Artridge laat een gevarieerd geluid horen. Van traditionele industrial soundscapes tot aan fijne beats via neo-klassieke melodien. En dat alles wel in een erg fijn jasje. Het geheel instrumentale album weet je mee te slepen op een fijne rit door mooie rustige dalen en langs uitgebreid vervuilende industrietereinen.

Artridge begon ooit als Arsenal maar is in de loop van de tijd dus van naam verandert. Dit vooral omdat de twee heren die Artridge vormen het niet eens konden worden met de rest van de Arsenal-bandleden over hoe verder te gaan met de muziek. Dit is dus alweer het tweede werkje van dit duo, het eerste ken ik helaas niet. Maar deze schijf maakt zeker hongerig naar het voorgaande werk.

Het is zo'n totaalplaat waarbij de verschillende nummers wel te onderscheiden zijn, maar niet los van elkaar zien. Favoriete nummers heb ik op dit album dan ook niet.

Het is ook zo'n album waar het onmogelijk is om de muziekstijl te omschrijven. Al hebben de heren zelf een leuke poging gedaan met de titel van dit album, dit is echt de beste beschrijving, filmmuziek, maar dan wel voor een erg tragische film.

Kortom een plaat die bij de eerste keer luisteren geniaal klinkt en dan nog verder groeit, deze gaat de komende tijd nog wel veel in mijn schijfjesdraaier te vinden zijn.

(Jaap Kaminga, Ik Echt)

http://ikecht.web-log.nl/index.log?ID=1145536

Artridge - Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films (Interlink release)

Der Titel des Albums von Artridge ist Programm: "Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films" nennt sich der Silberling und genauso klingt er auch. 8 Tracks unterschiedlicher Länge wobei 3 Titel mit einer Spielzeit von über 10 Minuten daherkommen und im Kopf des Hörers immer wieder auf's neue Bilder und Bildsequenzen entstehen lassen.

Die einzelnen Tracks hier auseinanderzunehmen würde eindeutig zu weit führen. Zu unterschiedlich sind die Strukturen selbst innerhalb der einzelnen Songs. So bleibt mir nur ein bißchen zu versuchen, den Stil von Artridge zu charakterisieren, wobei der Begriff Soundtrack es noch am besten trifft, elektronisch, experimentell, avantgardistisch, ruhig. Es ist kein Industrial, nichts zum Tanzen und erfordert - will man richtig in die Welten von Artridge eintauchen - ruhige Momente und einen entspannten Geist (wobei es sich durchaus auch zum Autofahren eignet *g*).

Die Soundlandschaften dieses Albums sind vielschichtig und man könnte sie fast als psychedelisch beschreiben. Auf jeden Fall wird "Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films" auch nach dem zig-ten Hören nicht langweilig. Ans Herz legen kann ich es aber nur Liebhabern von Soundtracks oder experimenteller Musik à la Male Or Female. Vor dem Kauf: Probehören!

(Florian Meyer, Medienkonverter)

http://www.medienkonverter.de/kritik.php4?KritikNr=964

Artridge – Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films (2004) Interlink Audio

Wer kennt „Artridge“ aus Berlin? Ich habe den Namen „Artridge“ einmal vorher von einem Promoter & Großhändler gehört, der mir den Crossover aus Industrial Electronica, Ambient und Neo – Classical empfohlen hat, bloß ich hatte keine Hörbeispiele und somit war das Thema „Artridge“ für mich vom Tisch!

Bis mich ein Umschlag von dem Label „Interlink Audio“ aus Berlin erreichte, welcher als Inhalt das neue Album „Finished Soundtracks for Unshot Films“ von „Artridge“ hatte, mit der Bitte dieses Werk zu rezensieren und im Feindesland einzustellen. Endlich Hörbeispiele um dieser Crossovergeschichte auf den Grund zu gehen, die mir empfohlen wurde.

Das Projekt „Artridge“ war ursprünglich unter dem Namen „Arsenal“ geboren worden und ist dann im Laufe der Zeit in „Artridge“ umbenannt worden. Das Projekt „Artridge“ besteht aus den Soundkünstlern Robin Pleil und Christoph Mainz, die auch in diversen anderen Musikprojekten ihre Kreativität unter Beweiß stellen.

„Artridge“ ist ein rein instrumentelles Musikprojekt ( in diese Art von Musik würde auch irgendwie kein Gesang passen), welches seinen Musikstil als „Crossover aus Industrial Electronica, Ambient und Neo – Classical“ beschreibt. Zum Einsatz kommen herkömmliche Instrumente wie Gitarren, Bässe, Schlagwerke und elektronische Elemente.

Jede Band / jedes Projekt muß ja in heutiger Zeit in irgendeine Schublade gepackt werden, bloß das gestaltet sich bei „Artridge“ recht schwierig, weil die Musik oder Kunst, nicht so leicht einzuordnen ist. „Artridge“ ist eine Mischung aus Massive Attack, Ambient Soundcollagen, Drum and Bass, handgemachten Rock / Metal / Punk und Noise beschreibt es wohl ganz gut. Eine geniale und gleichzeitig sehr abgefahrene Kreuzung aus unterschiedlichsten Bereichen erwartet den Hörer und lässt dieses Werk zu einem unvergesslichen Hörerlebnis werden.

Hier einen Anspieltipp für Euch herauszusuchen gestaltet sich recht schwierig, das ganze Album ist ein Gesamtmeisterwerk zu sehen und jeder Track ist ein Teil davon. Meine persönlichen Favoriten sind „Conclusion“ und „Exile“.

„Conclusion“ lebt von Massive Attack Einflüssen und ist von den Grundzügen her elektronischer geraten, als andere Tracks auf dieser Veröffentlichung, die erzeugte Klangwelt lässt den Hörer in unterschiedlichste Welten abtauchen je nach Stimmungslage.

„Exile“ hingegen ist geprägt von Gitarrenriffs & Schlagwerken, wie sie auch im Punk- und Metalsektor verwendet werden. Der elektronische Anteil in diesem Track ist sehr minimal gehalten und beschränkt sich fast ausschließlich auf Sprachsamples und ein paar Hintergrundsounds.

Die unterschiedlichen musikalischen Verknüpfungen auf dieser Veröffentlichung, lassen dieses Werk zu einem Highlight im Jahre 2004 für die Freunde der experimentellen Musik / Kunst werden. Die Soundcollagen entwickeln zum Teil Ohrwurmcharakter und entführen den Hörer in eine andere Welt.

Fazit: Für Freunde der experimentellen Musik / Kunst ist dieses Album ein absoluter Pflichtkauf. Durch die musikalische Bandbreite dürften auch noch einige andere Käufergruppen angesprochen werden, wie die Massive Attack Hörer, Drum and Bass Hörer und die Leute die auf innovative Kreuzungen aus Rock, Metal , Punk und Elektronik stehen. Hörbeispiele findet Ihr auf der Webseite von „Artridge“. Genial!

Bewertung:

Innovationspunkte: 15 / 15 Punkte

Gesamtpunkte: 15 / 15 Punkte

(Raphael Feldmann, Feindesland)

http://www.feindesland.de/Reviews/Artridge- FinishedSoundtracksForUnshotFilms2004.html