VICTORY OF THE BETTER MAN  > L'Utopiste < CMP 44

1. In einem Zug... 7:16
2. L'Utopiste 4:08
3. Gondola 3:12
4. Middle Rose 3:38
5. Isabelle 6:06
6. Büffelfänger 3:10
7. Danton lit 6:05
8. Dravis' Bar 5:02
9. Last Lachs 5:28
0. Mole 7:28
#. Rest 3:20

all titles by: Bernhard, Fredebeul, Kratzenstein, Quintus, Rattay

Harald Bernhard: voc, perc, keyb, specials
Martin Fredebeul: ss, as, bcl, fl, p, keyb
Matthias Kratzenstein: b, keyb, p, g, editing
U.K. Rattay: g, synth, sounds
with
Marc Lehan: dr, perc
Petra Sahm: voice & vision

Recorded at Ztudio Zerkall by Walter Quintus & Matthias Kratzenstein (1989/90)
Mixed by Walter Quintus
Produced by Walter Quintus & Matthias Kratzenstein with Kurt Renker
Concept & Supervision: VOTBM
Cover & Artwork: Ulf v. Kanitz
Digital Recording

 

>L'Utopiste< is an exceptional mosaic textually composed of innumerable cross-references drawn from literatute, everyday banter, lyrical expression, the "slang" of the day and the groups own unique sensibility. They treat their text as their music leading to the creation of the linguistic equivalent of a tone-poem. Their words exist as phonetic links to the fabric of their music.

Victory Of The Better Man is a promising new formation; a melting pot of likewise promising musical characters. Compatriots on a mission to explore and achieve the optimum of what music is capable of expressing: an attempt which requires a protracted, creative process of development. Within >L'Utopiste< there is certainly no Utopia.

VOTBM was formed in 1988 in Cologne, Germany by the visual artist, singer and lyricist Harald Bernhard, reeds and piano-player Martin Fredebeul, bass and keyboard-player, sampling-specialist and sound-engineer Matthias Kratzenstein and guitar, synth and sound-surfer U.K. Rattay. The basics of >L'Utopiste< caught the ear of guitarist/producer David Torn who discovered VOTBM for the label CMP Records

>L'Utopiste< was nearly two years in the making. In the process of production, the unique skills of CMP's sound-engineer Walter Quintus came to the fore leading the members to make him an equal member of the ensemble. The album was released in Europe in the fall of 1991 to critical acclaim and licensed to J!mco Records/Japan for a release in late 1993. The US discovered the band finally in 1994

VOTBM is an obscure German band that's somewhere between Aqsak Maboul and Howard Devoto. The music is very experimental but lyrical in spots, with a collage of sounds and textures strewn with totally dada, macaronic lyrics throughout. JAZZIZ 12/94

Grandiose Kakophonie in Wort und Ton mit Würde und Können zelebriert - das ist doch schon was! SPEX 11/91

Wer keinen Sinn für das Andere, das Neue, Besondere hat, sollte von L'Utopiste die Finger lassen. Für die Spezis kann die CD jedoch zur aufregenden Reise durch Zeit und Raum werden. KEYBOARDS 12/91

Ach ja, die Musik ist..., wenn man sie nur beschreiben könnte. Seltsam, ja wirklich sehr seltsam und viel zu ausgeflippt, um da noch mit analytischen Begriffen hinterherzuhinken. Ein Hörgenuß mit 11 Gängen. STEREO 2/92

Verbijsterende avantgarde free pop. Opscene 4/92

VOTBM ist so spannend wie selbst ein Kip Hanrahan nur in seinen besten Momenten. Ernsthaft beizukommen aber ist solch unvergleichlicher Eigenbrötlerei nun wirklich nur durch eines: unbedingt reinhören! MUSIKEXPRESS/SOUNDS 11/91

Aber muß man denn wirklich alles verstehen, was einem gefällt? TIP 21/91