This is their Debut-Album. (Now re-released for the second time.) At that time the band was formed by: Chris Goellnitz -vocals, voices ; Stanley Carr -synthesizers, electronic percussion ; Wilhelm Reich des Abendlandes -acoustic guitars,bass ; Samuel Koelewijn -acoustic percussion.

What a great debut!!! It's more based on synthesizers and electronic arrangements than the later albums and it was a great start for this extraordinary band. A fascinating trip throughout Psychedelic, Wave, Pop and (electronic) Avantgarde. This music is just incalculable. You could never tell what will happen in the next minute or even second. And that's what makes this music so enchanting and irresistible.

1.) Apoka

Nice pop-song, not too simple. Starting with a sorbic poem spoken by Danka (Sorbic is the only native minority language in germany. (Like the celtic languages in britain.)) The term "Apoka" is best defined as a place where certain inner processes take place. Staying there can change you very much.

2.) I found a shadow

This is my favourite song on this album. Those strings in the beginning, then the guitar after the first verse... A very beautiful synth-pop piece It's just perfect!
"I found a shadow in the sand, all dark and wet and beautiful. I drew some circles into it and spoke the words of night and ocean...."
"....So I'm just counting years....drawing crcles...."

3.) Despair

This one sounds a bit like the Legendary Pink Dots, just for the trumpet.

4.) And now, after all

Very simple song. Only a vibraphone creating a simple tune with some interesting variations and Chris shows us how fragile his voice can be. It seems like thin ice crystallized out of music. If you touch it, it would break into thousand pieces.....
"In the glasshouse I will throw my stones against the sun, but nothing breaks. Nothing ever breaks."

5.) Rose aus Stein (Rose made of Stone)

Darkest song on this album. A favourite of the audience at concerts. To me the lyrics were very helpful after the loss of a close friend....

6.) Knochenkind (Bone-Child)

Really great Neofolk, very different from the other songs.
" This is not the time to regret /This is not the time for weeping /It's time for letting go /It's time to celebrate the future /We are not dead /We will return as butterflies /Flowers growing on a summer day"
"You have to go to the west /It's the land of the dead /And you will find yourself inside of the pyramids"

7.) Blüten im Mai (Flowers in May)

They call it a Ballad, I prefer "Rondo", 'cos this is a ballad in the classical definition, not a "Rock-Ballad". Very interesting, mainly piano and guitar.

8. /9.) Machine /Second Machine

With this song they won the Band-Contest "Go for Goth", announced by the biggest german independent Music-Magazin "Zillo" in the year 2000. But this is not a Gothis-Song, no, this is Synthie-Pop at it's very best. Depeche Mode can't make it better!

10.) Drei Worte (Three Words)

Again really good Synthie-Pop. I love this song. And because I love it, I translated the lyrics into english, for better understanding (you may find the original german text on their homepage (www.disease-musik.com/english.htm or www.sturmgeweiht.de))

My thoughts for you scattered on cold asphalt
Warm rain on me....I'm stll alive
Puddles on the dark street, dead eyes -clear as glass-
They stare upwards -they stare at me!!!!
Music far behind me, no more laughter for me
A black heaven covers me
Colourful lights from the city, one nights last lie
A breeze of life blows along like a picture of you
My face on black stone, silently fades every piece of you
Once more chase 3 words through my heart, that I can go on
Far away from here..... but I only hear the rain
Tears from nowhere remind me on every second spend with you
Heaven without shadows, now clear and forever full of air
A lake of red water, blue light from everywhere
Strange hands on my body, too late for your world
Once more chase 3 words through my heart, that I can go on
Where are you now? Are you the rain, are you the street,
Are you the light? ....can't find you.....


11.) Nangijala

The title of this song is taken from Astrid Lindgrens book "The Brothers Lionheart". This one is very atmospheric and touches me really deep inside. It transports very intense feelings, especially when the singer starts to chant the word Nangijala like a mantra or a conjuration, experimenting with the way to sing it, so that it differs every time. I think it is influenced by Tangerine Dream.

12.) End

Reprise of the sorbic poem from the first song.


For further information try out the following homepages:
www.beautifuldisease.com
www.unidentified-recordings.com (here you will find some soundfiles)
More soundfiles: www.musicline.de

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