Merry X-Ambias to All

Staying with Namlook While Playing the Bills

Continuing on from the twelve days of Namlook, here's a colossus 6xCD set gifted to you all, my Frenz, from Bill Laswell & Pete Namlook...

The partnership here began after Pete discovered that Laswell had used samples from early Fax releases in his own projects. What started as a straightforward exchange quickly evolved into a mutual admiration.

As to their intial collaborations, Laswell sez
     "We began sending music back and forth, from Frankfurt to Brooklyn and back, This led to multiple collaborations, including other series like Psychonavigation and The Dark Side Of The Moog."  

When Laswell & Namlook first joined forces, both were already established figures in the music industry. Laswell, based in New York, was a renowned producer with a diverse client list that spanned multiple genres. He had also founded the Axiom label in 1989, contributing to groundbreaking work in Ambient, Dub, & world music. Namlook, a native of Frankfurt, was a key player in the Ambient techno scene as well as being the founder of the label FAX +49-69/450464.

The Outland series represents a fusion of the duo's distinct musical styles. It explores sound as a medium for emotional & contemplative experiences. Laswell's signature basslines / experimental soundscapes blend with Namlook's ethereal textures & complex sonic layering. Each album offers a unique auditory experience, ranging from Ambient tranquility to cosmic intensity.

Laswell recalls the inception of  Outland during an Asian tour with his friend Akira Sakata:                         "I managed to record a lot of traditional Mongolian music, which is heavy drone singing, the ultimate Ambient. I brought these recordings to Pete in Frankfurt, & that was the origins of Outland 1",  he sez. 

 

Bill Laswell & Pete Namlook - Outland 6xCD, Cold Spring CSR327DX, 2023.

Outland CD1: From the Earth to the Ceiling

From the Earth to the Ceiling Parts 1 - 12

 

 

     

Spanning five albums released over a thirteen-year period starting in 1994, this 6xCD box set from Cold Spring serves as a tribute to the creative chemistry between Laswell & Namlook. The set houses the five Outland albums along with a new sixth album, Blackland, featuring dense, bass space drone compositions by Laswell.

 

Outland CD2: African Virus (Electronic Sonata with a Cold, Loved by Nature)

African Virus Part 1    
African Virus Part 2    
African Virus Part 3    
African Virus Part 4    
African Virus Part 5    
African Virus Part 6

 

 

 

Since I'm sharing these, I might comment on these CDs. Give them a chance. If you've stuck with the twelve days of Namlook, then you kinda know what's going on. But give 'em a chance. In my opinion, Pete found out Bill was using some of Nam's samples & just wanted them to work together. Everybody & their uncle wanted to work with Bill, fer Crisesakes.  It appears that while Bill was touring Asian he got into Mongolian drone. He gave Pete the recordings & turned him loose. So CD1 is almost Namlook XIII (if there wasn't already one, but you know what I mean). I think Bill tried to insert his own bent on the proceedings after that. CD2 has a bit more Bill. But give 'em a chance.

 

 

 

Outland CD3 -

Definition of Life    
The Question of Containment    
Keeper of the Purple Twilight    
DSTC

 

 

 

     

By the first track of CD3, “Definition of Lfe” you'll realize that now Bill is conducting.

 

Outland CD4 -    

The Old World    
East Meets West    
Our Small Blue World    
Bella Prime    
Physical Transformation    
African Dub    
East Leaves West    
DSPill

 

 

     

From that point on it just gets better, culminating in the final truth that rounds out CD5... “The Origin” (at last!).

 

 

Outland CD5 -

Outland Exploration   
An Intelligent Force    
Object Approaching    
N-Dimensional    
The Origin

 

 

   

& then outward into Blackland, back to the CD1-style single track (39+ minutes) as (& here I sing the praise, hallelujah) only Bill Laswell can. What more of a tribute to Pete Namlook than completing the circle, bringing it back to the beginning. Sublime. 

Outland CD6 - Blackland (Bill Laswell - producer, bassist, effects) 

 

 

Miss ya, Pete & stay well as you may, Bill. With love. Give 'em a chance.

Merry X-ambias to all.
NØ

The Twelve Days of Namlook: The Twelveth Day

On the twelveth day of Namlook,
Pete gave to thee (finally)
Britains most easterly point,
Gaseous passing airwhales,
A mon-o-lith
The gate to the Milky Way,
(Yes that same ole same ole Milky Way)
Blow all the fuses,
Subharmonic interference,
The caves of Cubik,
Re-al-i-ty,
A lost power supply.
Some aliens in his suitcase,
The Dutch Side of the Milky Way,
& an astrogator in a pear tree.

 

 

Pete Namlook - Namlook XII, Fax +49-69/450464 PK 08/134, 1997.
decryption code in comments

Intro - Britains Most Easterly Point
Live at Lovefield Festival - 
Part I    
Part II    
Part III    
Part IV    
Part V + VI    
Part VII    
Part VIII    
Part IX + X    
Outro - Subharmonic Invocation of the Dark Spirits

Recorded live at Lovefield Festival (mostly). 

 

 

 

Merry X-ambias,
NØ

The Twelve Days of Namlook: The Eleventh Day

On the eleventh day of Namlook,
Pete gave to thee
Gaseous passing airwhales,
A mon-O-lith
The gate to the Milky Way,
(Yes, the same ole Milky Way)
Blow all the fuses,
Subharmonic interference,
The caves of Cubik,
Re-al-i-ty,
A lost power supply.
Some aliens in his suitcase,
The Dutch Side of the Milky Way,
& an astrogator in a pear tree. 

 

 

Pete Namlook - Namlook XI, Fax +49-69/450464 – PK 08/113, 1996.
decryption code in comments

Passing Airwhales -    
Airwhale I    
Airwhale II    
Airwhale III    
Airwhale IV
Airwhale V    
Airwhale VI    
Airwhale VII    
Airwhale VIII    
Airwhale IX    
Airwhale X    
Airwhale XI

Performed & composed live at Interference Festival/Love Parade in Berlin on July 8th, 1995 from 4.30 to 5.30 am.

 

 

Merry X-ambias,
NØ

The Twelve Days of Namlook: The Tenth Day

On the tenth day of Namlook,
Pete gave to thee
A mon-O-lith
The gate to the Milky Way,
(Yes, the same ole Milky Way)
Blow all the fuses,
Subharmonic interference,
The caves of Cubik,
Re-al-i-ty,
A lost power supply.
Some aliens in his suitcase,
The Dutch Side of the Milky Way,
& an astrogator in a pear tree. 

 

 

Pete Namlook - Namlook X, Fax +49-69/450464 – PK 08/100, 1995.
decryption code in comments

Monolith Parts I - XII

Recorded & composed live at Global Warming, Ft. Lauderdale on December 3rd, 1994 from 1.00 am to 2.00 am.

 

Merry X-ambias,
NØ

The Twelve Days of Namlook: The Ninth Day

On the ninth day of Namlook,
Pete gave to thee
The gate to the Milky Way,
(Yes the same ole Milky Way)
Blow all the fuses,
Subharmonic interference,
The caves of Cubik,
Re-al-i-ty,
A lost power supply.
Aliens in his suitcase,
The Dutch Side of the Milky Way,
& an astrogator in a pear tree. 

 

 

Pete Namlook - Namlook IX, Fax +49-69/450464 – PK 08/97, 1994.
decryption code in comments

The Gate to the Milky Way Parts I - XII

Recorded & composed live at the Melkweg in Amsterdam on October 8th, 1994 from 00:30 am to 1:30 am.

 

 

Merry X-ambias,
NØ

The Twelve Days of Namlook: The Eighth Day

On the eighth day of Namlook,
Pete gave to thee
Blow all the fuses,
Subharmonic interference,
The caves of Cubik,
Re-al-i-ty,
A lost power supply.
Some aliens in his suitcase,
The Dutch Side of the Milky Way,
& an astrogator in a pear tree. 

 

 

Pete Namlook - Namlook VIII, Fax +49-69/450464 PK 08/97, 1994.
decryption code in comments

Blow the Fuse Part I - VII

Recorded & composed live at the Fuse in Brussels on October 1st, 1994 from 00:45 am to 1.35 am.

 

 

 

Merry X-ambias,
NØ

The Twelve Days of Namlook: The Seventh Day

On the seventh day of Namlook,
Pete gave to thee
Subharmonic interference,
The caves of Cubik,
Re-al-i-ty,
A lost power supply.
Some aliens in his suitcase,
The Dutch Side of the Milky Way,
& an astrogator in a pear tree.

 

 

Pete Namlook - Namlook VII, Fax +49-69/450464 – PK 08/93, 1994.
decryption code in comments

Subharmonic Interference - 
Interference I    
Interference II - III    
Interference IV    
Interference V - VI    
Interference VII
Interference VIII - X    
Interference XI

Recorded & composed live at the Interference Festival in Berlin on July 3rd, 1994 from 9.00 am to 10.00 am.

 

 

Merry X-ambias,
NØ

The Twelve Days of Namlook: The Sixth Day

On the sixth day of Namlook,
Pete gave to thee
The caves of Cubik,
Re-al-i-ty,
A lost power supply.
Some aliens in his suitcase,
The Dutch Side of the Milky Way,
& an astrogator in a pear tree. 

 

 

Pete Namlook - Namlook VI, Fax +49-69/450464 PK 08/92, 1994.
decryptde in comments

The Caves of Cubik Parts I - VII    
The Caves of Cubik Parts VIII - XI    

Recorded & composed live at Cubik, Berne / Switzerland on May 28th, 1994 from 1.00 am to 2:00 am. The music of this CD is dedicated to the caves at the Cubik-Event, Berne. A gloomy atmosphere was created by the vast & dark surrounding. Wire-mesh seperated the audience from Pete & gave him the feeling of being an exotic animal making strange noises in its cage surrounded by spectators.

 

 

 

Merry X-ambias,
NØ

The Twelve Days of Namlook: The Fifth Day

On the fifth day of Namlook,
Pete gave to thee
Re-al-i-ty,
A lost power supply.
Some aliens in his suitcase,
The Dutch Side of the Milky Way,
& an astrogator in a pear tree. 

 

 

Pete Namlook - Namlook V, Fax +49-69/450464 PK 08/90, 1994.
decryption code in comments

Reality (Part 1)    
Reality (Part 2)    
Reality (Part 3)    
Reality (Part 4)    
Reality (Part 5)    
Reality (Part 6)    
Reality (Part 7)    
Reality (Part 8)    
Reality (Part 9)    
Reality (Part 10)    
Reality (Part 11)    
Reality (Part 12)

Recorded & composed live at Wembley, London on April 10th, 1994 from 1.30 to 2.40 am. 

 

 

 

Merry X-ambias,
NØ

The Twelve Days of Namlook: The Fourth Day

On the fourth day of Namlook,
Pete gave to thee
A lost power supply.
Some aliens in his suitcase,
The Dutch Side of the Milky Way,
& an astrogator in a pear tree. 

 

 

Pete Namlook - Namlook IV, Fax +49-69/450464 PK 08/89, 1994.
decryption code in comments

Power Supply Parts I - IX

Recorded & composed live at Kings Street Garage (back of Townsend), San Francisco on March 27th, 1994 from 1.30 am to 2.20 am.

Pete sez:
     "The music of this CD is "dedicated" to the missing 220V power supply, the broken EMS synthi which I dropped during the setting-up of my equipment, the SE-1 which instantly created its own sounds during the live recording and the Studio 440 with 2 faulty pads and a disk drive which had to be convinced to cooperate."

 

 

Merry X-ambias,
NØ

The Twelve Days of Namlook: The Third Day

On the third day of Namlook,
Pete gave to thee
Some aliens in his suitcase,
The Dutch Side of the Milky Way,
& an astrogator in a pear tree. 

 

Pete Namlook - Namlook III, Fax +49-69/450464 PK 08/88, 1994.
decryption code in comments

Aliens in My Suitcase - 
Intruder 1
Intruder 2 / Intruder 3
Intruder 4    
Intruder 5    
Intruder 6    
Intruder 7    
Intruder 8    
Intruder 9

 

 

 

Merry X-ambias,
NØ

The Twelve Days of Namlook: The Second Day

On the second day of Namlook,
Pete gave to thee
The Dutch Side of the Milky Way
& an astrogator in a pear tree. 

 

Pete Namlook - Namlook II, Fax +49-69/450464 PK 08/84, 1993.
decryption code in comments

The Dutch Side of the Milky Way Parts I - IX

 

Recorded & composed live at Melkweg, Amsterdam on October 31st, 1993 from 1.55 am to 3.09 am. 

Pete sez:
     "The sound of this CD is dedicated to the room and the sound system at the Melkweg. Don't be shocked if you are not able to hear the low-end frequencies of the bassline and drumming.
An important reason for the very low frequencies was my intention to let the audience feel the music instead of pure listening. To listen to this low frequency in your environment you need enough range for 20-45 Hz."

 

 

Merry X-ambias,
NØ

The Twelve Days of Namlook: The First Day

For the Twelve Days of...I will be sharing a set of controvesial improvised compositions by Pete Namlook. Namlook is a hype-productive composer (Discogs lists more than 125 releases, 200 is probably closer to the total including collaboration, probably more). He is one of the leading instigators of "ethno-trance," or music for urban meditation. He is arguably the best/worst of the new wave of ambient house artists. 

 

Namlook was born Peter Kuhlmann in Frankfurt, Germany on November 25, 1960. He was active from the early 80s through the early 2010s. He died November 8, 2012. Other than solo projects & myriad collaborations, he has been a member of such outfits as Dreamfish, From Within, & Fires of Ork.

If most artists in contemporary electronica are like islands unto themselves, turning out tracks in relative anonymity, Pete "Namlook" Kuhlmann was a whole continent. A dizzyingly prolific composer who steadily built up an entire industry around his Frankfurt-based Fax label, Namlook's name was inextricably linked with the post-rave resurgence of ambient music. Many of his collaborative recordings with the likes of Mixmaster Morris, Tetsu Inoue, Klaus Schulze, Bill Laswell, Richie Hawtin, Geir Jenssen, Dr. Atmo, Burhan Ocal, Atom Heart, Jonah Sharp, Charles Uzzell-Edwards, & David Moufang, among many others, number among the most lauded, the most influential in new ambient.

Although Namlook got his start releasing quasi-new age (as Romantic Warrior) or hard trance (as Sequential, 4Voice, Escape, Deltraxx, & a host of others), he / his label Fax became synonymous with new Ambient after the label formed in 1992. Fax helped give shape to Ambient's new school by allowing the artists to freely experiment while making a living from their music. (Fax's label structure conferred the majority of its profits to its artists).  Countless Fax releases, particularly those dating from 1993 / 1994, are considered classics of contemporary electronic Ambient. Namlook was criticized for adopting a quantity-over-quality approach but the music stands on its own.

Musically, Namlook drew most recognizably on the synthscapes of artists such as Klaus Schulze & Hans-Joachim Roedelius, combing the droning electronics of those artists with, depending on the project or collaborator, ethnic instrumentation (tabla, tambouri, oud), environmental samples (rain, voices, arriving / departing trains, wildlife), sweeping electronic treatments (the bubbly undercurrents of Dreamfish or the drifting synthetic landscapes of 2350 Broadway), or minimal acoustic / electronic rhythms (jungle, electro, techno, & trance). His collaborations arguably outdid his solo recordings, although a few of his solo works are among Fax's finest. 

Onward...

On the first day of Namlook,
Pete gave to thee
An astrogator in a pear tree.

 

Pete Namlook - Namlook I, Fax +49-69/450464 PK08/78, 1993.
decryption code in comments

Astrogator Parts I - VII

Recorded & composed live at XS, Frankfurt on May 31st, 1993. the music originated instinctively whilst being played live. There was no concept for the composition before, only a kaleidoscope of sound stemming from the given instruments. The pictures & images which were shown on a white screen using a videobeamer had an inspiring effect on the birth of the composition.

 

 

Merry X-ambias,
NØ

S.H.A.D.O. Sounds

Heading into the Twelve Days of Namlook, I thought the segue from these shares to the 12 was obvious. Back in June when I was on a Various Artists jag, I shared some Ambient Dub volumes. Frenz of NSS Richie Muster inquired about one of the artists featured on three of the four volumes, the Higher Intelligence Agency & their futher output. 

 

Here are two volumes of Ambient Dub in collaboration with Pete Namlook. Pitched up vocals make the talking sound alien. Anything from the Fax label sounds like it was recorded on another planet anyway. Just enjoying everything about these album. Classic timeless releases. 

 

Higher Intelligence Agency & Pete Namlook – S.H.A.D.O., Fax PW34, 1997.
decryption codes in comments

Intruder Detector    
Secret Location    
Space Interceptors    
Skydiver    
Maintaining Scan for UFO's

 

 

 

Volume 2 is another incredible collaboration. Right up there with the best of either Namlook or Higher Intelligence Agency...

 

 

Higher Intelligence Agency & Pete Namlook – S.H.A.D.O. 2, Fax PW41, 1999.

Countless    
Inner Sense    
Begend    
UFO Detection System (Approach - Intercept - Verify)

 

 

 

At one with my surroundings,
NØ