NEWS
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Artist of the month : Apparat
House | Wednesday 15th August 2012 | Osh
Germany is well known to be a pioneer of electronic music. Germans have become prominent worldwide in the electronic scene with numerous artists on the top of the bill. This is the case of Apparat, Sascha Ring being his real name, a Berlin artist ubiquitous for a decade. He has released four albums, with the last one in 2011: The Devil’s Walk. He has performed before thousands of spectators in clubs and festivals worldwide.
Sascha gives rise to rich emotions and textures in his music. Something between Radiohead, Archive, Steve Reich and M83, Apparat sparks off a kind of euphoric melancholy. In a dark and mystical atmosphere, it is difficult to define the musical style of Apparat. Over his four albums, Sascha Ring has explored techno, pop, trip hop, a rock reminding that of Pink Floyd, and other styles, according to his collaborations. What makes the genius of Apparat is that he is not afraid to explore and to mix it up, which makes his musical universe so avantguardist.
Apparat made his first move into the music field as techno DJ in Berlin clubs in the 1990s. He used his growing reputation to create a label intended to help make a name to young artists. He then released his first album in 2001, of an electronic dance genre, called Multifunktionsebene. In 2002 he released Trial and Error and Duplex in 2003. He co-produced the second album of Ellen Allien Berlinette that became a point of reference in the electro scene. In 2005 he released the EP, Silizium, which has been categorised “crossover pop”, which included vocal tracks, instruments at acoustic sonorities accompanied by a sad tone.
Yet, it is only with the release of Orchestra of Bubbles, performed in collaboration with Ellen Allien and which was well acclaimed, that his success took on an international dimension. Apparat carried on his experiments and improved his own universe with the album Walls in 2007, inspired by trip-hop in hushed ambiance. In 2009, he released an album with Modeselektor, (a friend with whom he had already collaborated with in 2003), under the name of Moderat. The album is a perfect mix of the universe of each artist, containing instrumental electronic in a German style. In April Apparat received a Quartz Dancefloor (electronic music award).
The Devil’s Walk, his last album (2011), more personal and intimate, illustrates the virtuosity of Apparat. The album combines rock and electronic with classical tones and the addition of the enthralling Sascha voice. The album takes us in another world through its enchanting crescendos as well as its complex and thoughtful instrumentality.
Finally, Apparat is part of those artists that can make everything possible. He never ceases to explore news horizons surprising us every time with his overflowing creativity. By looking at the diversity of what this solo man has made, it is good to see that such mastery of music is not a myth nowadays.
Candice Chechirlian
