On 22 May 2020, in the middle of the Corona period, we spontaneously shot a video in Markus’ barn. This time demands inner confrontation with oneself and others. We wanted to set an artistic sign for freedom, self-expression and creativity. The special thing about Intuitive Music is that we play without composing or planning in advance. This way we live the moment as it shows itself to us.
FREE TIME
Experimental, intuitive music with performance character
Dorit Schäffler – clarinet, bass clarinet, dance
André Füsser – percussion, performance, painting
Anne Krickeberg – cello
Marc Mennigmann – keyboards
Volkmar Müller – keyboards, monochord
Matthias Goebel – vibraphon, marimbaphon
Markus Stockhausen – trumpet, flugelhorn
A movie by Levi Krämer, produced by Markus Stockhausen.
New Release THE LAB “Balanced” with Lukas Keller on bass
Another THE LAB release – this time it’s a piano trio on steroids. From the liner notes:
For “Balanced”, drummer Sven Kosakowski and pianist Marc Mennigmann invited bass player Lukas Keller to THE LAB in Dortmund. The recording was started and they began to let music happen without any previous arrangements or notes. In the editing process, the pieces were only cut or shortened. This is a collection of ad hoc compositions, sound experiments, improvisations and pieces that sound like they were composed – but aren’t.
After “Welcome”, “Three Word Poems”, “Tracks” and “What We Need”, “Balanced” is THE LAB’s fifth album.
This is of course another free addition to the catalog of all my lovely subscribers.
THE LAB „Welcome“ – another new album released today
“Welcome” is THE LAB’s fourth album dedicated to intuitive music. It documents the first time that the musicians involved played together in this constellation. They met at THE LAB in Dortmund, the recording was started and they started to create music without any previous arrangements or notes.
In the editing process, the pieces were only shortened and in some places, shakers and natural tones were added. There were no second takes or any other overdubs. So they created these more than 100 minutes collection of ad hoc compositions, sound experiments, improvisations and pieces that sound like they were composed – but aren’t.
New music for your lovely people! It’s release day today and I am happy to announce the latest album of THE LAB, called „What We Need“ is available now.
This seven-track album with 61 minutes playtime started as an experimental trio recording of Karlo Wenzel on trumpet, Sven Kosakowski on drums and me on keyboards and electronics. The recordings were edited and then sent to UK bassist Steve Lawson, who added low notes and some experimental sounds. Mostly he used the same intuitive approach, just playing along to the recording and adding what the music demanded. All recordings were edited, mixed and stirred around a little, and we finally had “What We Need”.
This album is another free add to the back-catalogue of my subscribers.
Thanks for your support, no matter if you are a subscriber, purchase the album, or just spread the word of the new release!
You will find “What We Need” at my BandCamp site: https://mennigmann.bandcamp.com/album/what-we-need
THE LAB Manifest:
Create, innovate, collaborate, share.
Be yourself and let the music flow. Challenge yourself and create the unknown. Try to avoid musical habits. Improve yourself and play something new. Take risks, be prepared to fail, but always turn the mistake into something beautiful.
Make quick decisions. If something gets boring stop it or change it. Think process, not product. Give something away and tell a good story. Ignore the rules, but never play a note without a purpose. Play what you like to hear.
90% of the things you will hear on this album is a grand piano. But it is not piano music. The piano was played using several playing techniques, mostly without using the keys. The sounds were sampled and then played using algorithmic, generative computer programs which are fed with my piano playing. So most of this music is no music at all. It just pretends to be music. It follows some rules that make you think that it’s music, but it isn’t. Or is it?
The cover photo is by Hajo Müller, by the way. Hajo is doing a crazy beautiful and funny project called “Air Musicians”. Check it out at: www.hajo-art.com/air-musicians/
Last week my friend Markus Hücking died unexpectedly. I met Markus a few months ago for the first time in 30 years. We spent an afternoon with vibraphone-player Thomas Klecha-Faure and bassist Ralf Wißdorf at THE LAB full of intuitive music and fun and joy of life. In the evening I had dinner with him. We talked for hours and made up for the 30 years. Now he is no longer in this world.
“Hello & Goodbye” covers the music of this last session. You can download it for free, but you can also buy it for any amount you want. Just click on “Buy Digital Album”, download for free or name your price. The proceeds on release day will go 100% to Markus’ girlfriend. Thank you!
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