released: 1997
12´´LP EFA 01573-1 CD EFA 01573-2
Label: Liberation and Ecstasy
tracklist:
1. isis: play mp3 / download
2. seth: play mp3 / download
3. semuta: play mp3 / download
4. prana: play mp3 / download
5. thelema: play mp3 / download
6. can-d: play mp3 / download
7. chew-z: play mp3 / download
8. therion: play mp3 / download
9. maya: play mp3 / download
Sideline Interview 1998
Q.: Who is SUBSTANZ T and when and how did you decide to make music together?
A.: Substanz T are Arne Stevens and Alexander Lange. We founded the band in 1991.
Q.: By the way what is a SUBSTANCE T?
A.: The plot of the novel, SCANNER DARKLEY, by Phillip K. Dick revolves around a fictitious drug called substance D (translated into German as Substanz T), the consumption of which causes a psychic schism and results in a phase shift of the personality. We felt the ambivalence of the plot reflected in this drug to be an ideal parable by which to name our music.
Q.: Your album INTERSOLAR is not your first release?
A.: After producing numerous tapes and contributing to various underground CD samplers, we produced our debut LP, SIRIUS B KONTAKT, for None Records together with Gregor Knüppel. It was followed by collaboration with the Frankfurt DJ Stefan Ludley. With him we arranged the two songs E280 and T280 of the Sirius B Kontakt LP. The result of this collaboration is the EP: ESSENTIAL TRANCE MIXES (None/Liberation and Ecstasy).
Q.: On this CD we perceive influences from techno as well as the industrial and ambient spheres? Your reaction?
A.: Our method of working bears close resemblance to dream work. Dreams process a wide range of events and experiences which are rarely identifiable components in the final make up. In this way our music is a Polaroid of our dreams and as such of our personalities.
Q.: Do you think such blending of styles and sounds fit well together?
A.: The perceivable world contains nothing pure and unadulterated. Any hypothetically pure substance must exist beyond time and space, thereby existing beyond the bounds of our perception.
Q.: Could you explain us the DOGONS mythology?
A.: The Dogon are a Sudanese tribe who have held knowledge of the Sirius system for centuries. Every 60 years they celebrate a ritual called Signu. The purpose of this ritual is the renewal of the world. The calculation for the Signu ceremony is as well as all Dogon rituals centers on the orbit of the darker star, Sirius B (Digitaria) about Sirius A. Digitaria symbolizes the WORLD´S EGG, the infinitesmal smallness which released all that is visible and all that is invisible during it's creation.
Q.: There are not many lyrics (or even no lyrics) on this album? Is it because you haven't found a good singer yet or is it because you think vocals are not suited for the music you're playing?
A.: It was our intention to produce an instrumental album, however since our music changes just as our personalities change, it is quite possible, that we might record a vocal album some day.
Q.: Some of your track names are referring to the Egyptian mythology? Is it just because you think it sounds good or is it a miore serious influence for you?
A.: We consider all influences to be serious.
Q.: Your CD also features a video of the song ISIS? I have the impression that more and more bands are trying to combine sounds/pictures/videos on the same CD support? Do you think it will evolve even more in this direction in the future?
A.: The combination of music with pictures or video is another form of creative expression, which is important to us. Naturally we hope for further development in this area.
Q.: What are your influences when you are producing your music?
A.: Whatsoever stimulates the senses is fair game.
Q.: What kind of equipment are you using? Your opinion on the revival of the analog (or pseudo analog) synths?
A.: We personally use pure analog as well as analog resembling digital equipment, and welcome every new innovative synth.
Q.: Have you ever played live? What can we expect from SUBSTANZ T on stage?
A.: Our live-concerts are based on a variety of sequencer loops. These are processed live, which is to say modulated, remixed, etc. In this there are no fixed structures, and the development of a concert is unpredictable. For this reason we always record our concerts, as they are of immeasurable inspirational value to us.
Q.: What are your plans for the future?
A.: All options for the future remain open.
reviews:
www.nezzwerk.com.
Well, in the past few years, we've seen this artist do many remixes and appear on many compilations. Now finally after three years, I pick up this release, and surprisingly enough, it is surely not dated nor disappointing to say the least! Infact, I can see in many respects why this artist has done several mixes for various artist such as F242 and In Strict Confidence.
The focus on this release strongly deals with various trance genres, technoid rhythms, and elements of dark ambience. The album begins its journey with the video track (bonus on cd), Isis, which takes you on a goa trance-like trip with spacey grinding loops and intensified running dark string ambience; nice psychedelic video as well!
Your journey continues on with the next few tracks pacing into more rhythmic trance themes adding touches of break beats and drum'n'bass elements that dirge forward with immense dark string conduits.
When we get to track four (prana), we are slowly moving into some tribal and jungle elements spliced with building ambience. The ambience leads into the next track that switches into more breakbeat structures that lead you to the brilliant hypnotic and spacey loops of can-d that enters the mind for eight minutes and forty-six seconds. You are then swallowed by the heavily layered rhythms, militant breaks, echoing synth loops of track seven titled chew-z. Track eight, therion, shows the noisiest side of substanz-t, and contains strong driving synthetic samples and beats that could definitely be suited for a Hymen release. The finale is quiet, dark and subtle maya. Another strong one to add to your collection.
submitted by alan on 4-Apr-2000
The Best.
Rare breeds these days - good hard-hitting techno albums that mix rock hard rhythms with flowing and inventive melody lines and electronic effects, but that's exactly what we have here, particularly in evidence on the tracks with more going on where samples, loads of rhythm layers and all manner of forefront leads and melodies come into play to create tracks that are not particularly dancey by way of their stilted rhythm patterns and, as a result, come across as way more inventive and enjoyable than your average techno album. With a variety of influences at work and a wealth of tight, flowing, soaring strong compositions, this is a mature and serious, big, beefy and at the same time quite atmospheric, listening experience that's so much more than the genre or the past musical history of the band would suggest. Strongly recommended.
Text: Andy Gee
Groove 6/97
Und wieder schippern wir durch die intergalaktischen Welten, wahlweise auch im Quicktime-Video via 14´ Monitor, diesmal aber ohne die Zuarbeit von Stefan Ludley. Sci-Fi-geprägte Mischung aus EBM-Reststrukturen, Snareroll, Trance- und Choralflächen sowie extensiver 303-Einsatz, vielleicht gar nicht mal so unähnlich zu dem Sound, den Olliver Lieb früher bei Harthouse/Eye Q prägte. Aber auch Aphex Twin geneigte Distortion-Trommelorgien, wie bei Therion, finden auf Intersolar platz. Geeignete Hintergundmusik für den Starfield Smulation-Screensaver.
Beam Me Up 5/97
Hab ich mich doch gerade noch darüber beschwert, es gäbe keine innovative Trancemusik mehr, da ziehe ich mit sicherem Griff diese Scheibe aus dem unübersichtlichen CD-Haufen. Naja...Trance ist das auch nicht immer, was die Herrschaften da machen aber das ist es ja gerade, was man fordern muß: Stilbruch! Nicht diesen ewig gut hörbaren Einheitsbrei. Substanz T - wir behalten Euch im Auge!
New Life 5/97
So stelle der Leser sich vor, die Lebewesen moderner Teppichlandschaften haben die Faxen dick und beschließen einen Ausflug in´s All. Mit an Bord sind neun Kapitel aus dem Buch Zwischen den Sonnen, ein Werk mit der Fähigkeit, die Hirnstationen dieser Welt mit elektronischen Traumabstrakten zu füttern. Also liege ich des nachts noch wach und höre Substanz T; die kosmischen Lichter gehen an! Space-Techno mit einer gehörigen Portion Hypnose und den abwechslungsreichen Gesichtern einer Reise durch den Raum. Dabei vermag man nur schwer zu deuten, was genau geschah, als wir uns in den Trance-Tanzpalästen auf Chew-Z wiederfanden oder die Schluchten von Maja durchzogen - auf der Suche nach dem alten Indianer, der die Felsen mit Figuren versah. Dies ist nicht die eine Geschichte, dies ist die Datenvernetzung rundum und quer durch die Zeit. Wer was wann und wo sieht, es bleibt Ihm selbst überlassen. Substanz T fördern Techno (Isis) ebenso wie den Ausstieg aus dem Bewußtsein (Seth) und die Atmosphäre verschollen geglaubter Plätze (Prana). Die Götter zünden ein Feuer an, hell und klar, auf das unser Raumschiff weiß, wo es landen soll. Steig ein und entführ Dich selbst.
Prinz 5/97
Bereits mit dem Debut-Album Sirius B Kontakt verabschiedeten sich Substanz T von ihrer krachigen Industrialvergangenheit. Die Experimentierfreude hat das Frankfurter Duo aber bis heute nicht verloren. Auch auf Intersolar lassen sie sich gerne mehrere Minuten Zeit, um aus einem bloßen Rauschen wunderschöne Ambient-Loops entstehen zu lassen. Melodie und Rhythmus wachsen oft organisch aus einer faszinierenden Monotonie heraus. Als kleine Zugabe ist auf der CD noch das Video Isis für PC und Mac untergebracht. Intersolar ist der perfekte Soundtrack für einen Weltraum- spaziergang - einfach spacig.
Malibu 5/97
Die Trance-LP des Monats! Arne Stevens und Alex Lange auf Liberation & Ecstasy. Ein blauschwarzer Wirbel aus Acid Trance/Goa/Dark Techno und massenweise auftretenden gesundheitsgefährdenden Extasen. Das Ganze weit weit weg von gängigen ausgelutschten Klischees.